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A Letter from our President | Customer Connection Newsletter | Press
Let me be the first to welcome you to LaPorte Savings Bank! Since 1871, we have worked to bring LaPorte County and Northwest Indiana communities quality banking products and people they can trust. With a mere 400 depositors and a single shared office at the end of our first year in business, today we have grown to serve more than 26,000 customers from eight full-service banking centers. We are excited at the growth our company has experienced and look forward to bringing our “Community Bank” way of doing business to more communities in the years ahead.
One thing that has remained constant throughout our existence is our commitment to providing quality personalized service and taking a vested interest in the communities that we serve. This is your community bank...we welcome your ideas and suggestions to better serve you! |
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We hope that your visit to our website has been enjoyable as well as informational. Should you have additional questions about the products and services we offer, please visit with one of our knowledgeable Customer Service Representatives at any of our convenient locations.
We appreciate your loyalty and thank you for choosing LaPorte Savings Bank.
Sincerely,
Lee A. Brady
President & CEO
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Fraudulent Email Alert
A fraudulent email is in circulation currently that provides a message regarding a stopped electronic payment notification. The subject line of the e-mail states: "Unauthorized ACH Transaction." The e-mail includes a link that redirects the individual to a fake Web page. Do not click on the link. Both the e-mail and the related website are fraudulent.
Be aware that phishing e-mails frequently have links to Web pages that host malicious code and software. Do not follow Web links in unsolicited e-mails from unknown parties or from parties with whom you do not normally communicate, or that appear to be known but are suspicious or otherwise unusual.
If malicious code is detected or suspected on a computer, consult with a computer security or anti-virus specialist to:
- Remove malicious code or re-install a clean image of the computer system.
- Use anti-virus software and ensure that the virus signatures are automatically updated.
- Ensure that the computer operating systems and common software applications security patches are installed and current.
- Be alert for different variations of fraudulent e-mails.
If you have any questions regarding this notice, or if you believe that you have received this type of email, please contact LaPorte Savings Bank’s Customer Operations Department immediately at (219) 362-7511 or 1-866-362-7511.
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Debit Card Phone Scam
Pre-recorded messages are being received in the Utah area to random banking customers with the warning that the customer’s debit card have been closed or deactivated. When consumers call the telephone number provided by the fraudsters they hear a recording that requests their 16-digit card number and PIN to reactivate the card. Please be aware of this scam and understand that LaPorte Savings Bank will never contact you in this manner. If you receive a message similar to the one described above, please contact us immediately at (219) 362-7511.
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Kids' Safety Festival
Saturday, June 5th
2000 Franklin Street, Michigan City
1:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m.
In cooperation with The Michigan City
Police and Fire Departments.
Children grow and change so quickly. Do you have something
that lists your child’s most up-to-date statistics?
JOIN US!
- Balloon Animals
- Face Painting
- FREE DNA Identification Kit
- Tour a Police Car and Fire Engine
- Refreshments
- and More!
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Westville Launches Community Fund and Unity Foundation Offers Challenge Match
Monday, March 22, 2010 the Unity Foundation of LaPorte County announced that a new endowed fund has been established to benefit the Town of Westville. The fund, called the Westville Community Fund, will “benefit primarily the residents of Westville, Indiana. Purposes may include, but not limited to, community and economic development, education, youth activities, park improvements, community safety, communications, in and near Westville.” Two groups came together to donate $5,000 to get the fund started; the Westville Chamber of Commerce and LaPorte Savings Bank. The fund will be permanently invested and the earnings from the fund will create a stream of income to support Westville for generations to come.
At the same time, the Unity Foundation announced that it is offering a community building challenge to build the new fund and develop Westville’s skills in identifying and responding to opportunities and threats. The challenge has two parallel tracks and must be completed within 3 years:
- To build the fund: Unity Foundation will match every new two dollars raised with one dollar up to $12,500. The $12,500 match can be used any way the Recommendation Committee believes is best. To take full advantage of the match, the community must raise an additional $25,000 in principal within 3 years.
- To build community capacity: In addition to raising funds, the people of Westville will be invited to participate in community awareness, visioning and planning process. The expected outcome is to have a group of formal and informal leaders in place, with input from Westville residents, who can recommend how the matching funds and future income from the Westville Community Fund will best be used. Support for this track shall be provided through Leadership LaPorte County.
Westville Chamber representative, Deb Lowenthal said, “The Westville Chamber is pleased to start this fund where families can leave gifts to benefit Westville for future generations. This makes good sense and we look forward to watching it grow and help our community.”
Lee Brady, President and CEO of LaPorte Savings Bank said, “LaPorte Savings Bank has made an investment in Westville by opening a new branch here. We’re delighted to be co-founders of this fund that will benefit Westville far into the future.”
Maggi Spartz, Unity Foundation President said, “It is our hope that every community in LaPorte County has a place for people to leave permanent gifts to their own town so there is money for needed projects.”
The Unity Foundation of LaPorte County helps donors carry out their charitable desires and helps them learn more about the causes they care about. It supports nonprofits through grants and technical assistance with management issues. In addition, Unity provides a permanent, growing source of grants, as well as a neutral meeting ground and leadership on important issues facing the county. For more information, please visit www.uflc.net.
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LaPorte Savings Bank announces launch of BankingThatsDifferent.com
“When an individual selects a bank, they are choosing someone they trust to look after their money. Over the last nearly 140 years, LaPorte Savings Bank has appreciated the level of trust our customers have placed in us.” stated Lee Brady, President and CEO of LaPorte Savings Bank. “By launching BankingThatsDifferent.com, it will allow us the opportunity to connect with, and listen to; our customers and community members to learn what they feel are the most important aspects of their banking relationship(s).”
BankingThatsDifferent.com encourages visitors to try a Decidedly Different approach to community banking with LaPorte Savings Bank and provides an account incentive offer upon completion of the survey. LaPorte Savings Bank invites community members to visit www.BankingThatsDifferent.com now through March 31, 2010 to learn more and to provide their survey responses.
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Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006, Effective December 1, 2009
The UIGEA, signed into law in 2006, prohibits any person engaged in the business of betting or wagering (as defined in the Act) from knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in unlawful internet gambling. The Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board have issued a joint final rule, Regulation GG, to implement this Act.
As defined in Regulation GG, unlawful Internet gambling means to “place, receive or otherwise knowingly transmit a bet or wager by any means which involves the use, at least in part, of the internet where such bet or wager is unlawful under any applicable Federal or State law in the State or Tribal lands in which the bet or wager is initiated, received or otherwise made.”
In accordance with the requirements of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 and Regulation GG, this notification is to inform you that restricted transactions are prohibited from being processed through your account or relationship with our institution. Restricted transactions are transactions in which a person accepts credit, funds, instruments or other proceeds from another person in connection with unlawful Internet gambling.
If you do engage in an Internet gambling business and open a new account with us, we will ask that you provide evidence of your legal capacity to do so.
Please contact our Compliance Department if you would like additional information on UIGEA or Regulation GG.
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FDIC Consumer Alert - Fraudulent Emails Circulating
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous reports of a fraudulent e-mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC.
The subject line of the e-mail states: "check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage." The e-mail tells recipients that, "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets."
The e-mail then asks recipients to "visit the official FDIC website and perform the following steps to check your Deposit Insurance Coverage" (a fraudulent link is provided). It then instructs recipients to "download and open your personal FDIC Insurance File to check your Deposit Insurance Coverage."
This e-mail and associated website are fraudulent. Recipients should consider the intent of this e-mail as an attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to online banking services or to conduct identity theft.
The FDIC does not issue unsolicited e-mails to consumers. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT follow the link in the fraudulent e-mail.
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IMPORTANT DEBIT CARD FRAUD NOTICE
It has been reported that phone number (845) 765-9464 is being used by criminals to actively collect debit card and PIN information from consumers in the New York area. Text messages are being delivered to random NY area consumers with the warning that their debit cards have been closed or somehow compromised. When consumers call the telephone number they hear a recording that requests a 16-digit card number and PIN. If this text message is received, consumers are being urged not to call this telephone number. The telephone number is still active and should be brought out of service later today.
Reports of the same text message, including the same phone number, have been reported in our community.
At LaPorte Savings Bank, we would like to remind our customers that we will never request your card information or PIN number over the phone, through an automated system, or via email. We ask that debit card customers diligently protect their card and PIN information to prevent fraudulent activity from occurring on their account.
For additional clarification of this press release, or if you are concerned your card has been compromised, please contact our Operations Department at (219) 362-7511 or 1-866-362-7511 during normal business hours. After normal business hours consumers may call MasterCard’s Hot Card Service at 1-866-546-8273.
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Refinance and Save Monday Today!
The Making Home Affordable Program is part of the Obama Administration’s broad, comprehensive strategy to get the economy and the housing market back on track. The Making Home Affordable Program offers borrowers the ability to refinance their current home mortgage loan through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) with increased flexibility due to current market conditions.
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO REFINANCE IF. . .
- Your home loan is owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac – Not sure? You can check with your mortgage servicer (the company you currently make your monthly loan payment to), or you can go online to www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup or www.freddiemac.com/mymortgage to check;
- At the time you apply, you are current on your mortgage payments – This typically means that you have not been more than 30 days late on your mortgage payment within the last twelve (12) months, or, if you have had the loan for less than twelve (12) months, you have never missed a payment;
- The amount you owe on your first mortgage lien does not exceed 125% of the current market value of your property;
- You have a reasonable ability to pay the new mortgage payments; and,
- The refinance improves the long term affordability or stability of your loan.
Was your loan completed on or before May 31, 2009? Think you may qualify for the Home Affordable Refinance Program?? Let us help you find out for sure! LaPorte Savings Bank’s knowledgeable Mortgage staff can help you understand the Making Home Affordable Refinance Program and can assist you in your refinancing efforts.
Contact us today at (219) 362-7511 or toll free at 1-866-362-7511 to learn more!
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Online Convenience Added with CouchLoans.com
LAPORTE - LaPorte Savings Bank is pleased to announce the unveiling of couchloans.com – a quick, convenient way to access the bank’s full service Online Mortgage Center from the comfort of your home computer. This user-friendly, secure site allows individuals to complete online applications to purchase a new home, refinance current home loans or apply for a home equity loan or line of credit.
Lee Brady, President and CEO of LaPorte Savings Bank stated, “The addition of couchloans.com benefits consumers by streamlining the application process. Busy schedules can limit the amount of time customers have to meet with a lender. With our Online Mortgage Center and couchloans.com, customers have 24/7 access to complete an application when it’s convenient for them while working with a lender they trust.”
LaPorte Savings Bank understands that online convenience is essential to meeting the needs of today’s consumer and couchloans.com provides a trustworthy resource for those looking to take advantage of the current lending climate. With rates near all-time lows, immediate appointments with area lenders are scarce. Applying online at couchloans.com allows customers to lock in the low rate they want rather than waiting weeks for a face-to-face appointment and risking rates changing.
Quick, convenient, and comfortable mortgage lending service from a reputable and experienced lender you can trust. Visit couchloans.com today for more information.
LaPorte Savings Bank – a Decidedly Different Community Bank – operates eight locations within LaPorte and Porter County. The company has served the community since 1871 providing a broad range of personal and business banking services. LaPorte Savings Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member of the FDIC.
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SBA Warns of Fraudulent Attempts to Obtain Bank Account Information from Small Businesses
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration issued a scam alert today to small businesses, warning them not to respond to letters falsely claiming to have been sent by the SBA asking for bank account information in order to qualify them for federal tax rebates.
The fraudulent letters were sent out with what appears to be an SBA letterhead to small businesses across the country, advising recipients that they may be eligible for a tax rebate under the Economic Stimulus Act, and that SBA is assessing their eligibility for such a rebate. The letter asks the small business to provide the name of its bank and account number.
These letters have not been sent by or authorized by the SBA, and all small businesses are strongly advised not to respond to them.
The scheme is similar in many ways to e-mail scams often referred to as “phishing” that seek personal data and financial account information that enables another party to access and individual’s bank accounts or to engage in identity theft.
The SBA is working with the SBA Office of Inspector General to investigate this matter. The Office of Inspector General asks that anyone who receives such a letter report it to the OIG Fraud Line at 1 (800) 767-0385, or e-mail at OIGHotline@sba.gov.
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Debit Card Usage and Internet Gambling
The Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board recently announced the release of a joint final rule to implement the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. The Act prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection with unlawful Internet gambling, including payments made through credit cards, electronic funds transfers, and checks. The final rule requires U.S. financial firms that participate in designated payment systems to establish and implement policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent payments to gambling businesses in connection with unlawful Internet gambling.
Effective January 12, 2009, LaPorte Savings Bank will begin to block all Internet gambling transactions and decline the transaction with the message “Do Not Honor” appearing.
For questions regarding this change, contact LaPorte Savings Bank’s Operations Department at (219) 362-7511 or 1-866-362-7511.
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IBA Presents Scam Warnings
Member institutions of the Indiana Bankers Association (IBA) have reported recent scams in Indiana:
A phone scam states in a recorded message that said the caller is with a local Indiana bank and
claims that the consumer’s debit card had been suspended. The fraudulent caller then recites a
phone number to call, allegedly to reactivate the card.
A website scam originating in Canada copies bank websites and distributes mass e-mails.
The e-mails claim that consumers who complete an online “bank” survey will receive $90
deposited into their accounts.
Consumers are advised to be alert and aware, and are invited to contact their trusted personal/business bankers for guidance.
To view a PDF of this and other IBA news releases, go to: http://www.indianabankers.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=234
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Scam Alerts Issued by Indiana Bankers Association
Member institutions of the Indiana Bankers Association have reported recent phishing scams in Indiana:
- Callers posing as representatives from the State of Indiana or the Department of Financial Institutions have been contacting individuals asking for personal information, including bank account numbers, allegedly to ensure that deposits are insured by the FDIC. These calls are fraudulent.
- Automated calls claiming to represent banks call individuals and allege that their debit cards have been canceled. The recorded message tells recipients to call a phone number, where they are asked to provide a card numbers, expiration dates and PINs. These calls are fraudulent.
- People representing themselves as representatives from a company called EppiCard having been sending text messages to consumers. EppiCard is a legitimate card/fraud watch company; however the call back number being left in the text messages is not EppiCard’s number.
Consumers are advised to be alert and aware, and are invited to contact their trusted personal/business bankers for guidance.
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Department of Financial Institutions Statement on Phishing
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions has received reports that callers posing as representatives from the State of Indiana or the Department of Financial Institutions have been contacting individuals asking for personal information allegedly to ensure that deposits are insured by the FDIC. These calls are fraudulent.
The Department of Financial Institutions is responsible for the chartering, regulation, examination, and supervision of state-chartered banks and credit unions and also licenses and supervises statutory activities of pawnbrokers, money transmitters, check cashers, budget service companies, rental-purchase agreement companies, licensees under the Uniform Consumer Credit Code, and licensees under the Indiana Small Loan Act.
The Department of Financial Institutions wants you to be aware of these attempts to commit scams against bank customers, especially the elderly, so that you may guard against this type of fraud. Department of Financial Institution employees will never contact individuals regarding their personal accounts at banks or credit unions. Be suspicious of phone calls or any contact from someone posing to be a “bank examiner” or an “employee” of your bank or credit union.
While a scammer contacting consumers might appear trustworthy, the scammer seeks one thing: to obtain personal information - including account numbers and balances, Social Security numbers, credit card numbers and any other personal financial information - to fraudulently take money from consumers.
For more information please contact:
Troy Pogue, 317.233.6342, tpogue@dfi.in.gov
Kirk Schreiber, 317.233.4351, kschreiber@dfi.in.gov
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LaPorte Savings Bank Announces Opening of Westville Location
June 18, 2008 – The LaPorte Savings Bank is excited to announce the opening of its eighth office location at 1 Parkman Drive in Westville, Indiana. Founded in 1871, The LaPorte Savings Bank has grown to serve more than 25,000 customers in the LaPorte and Porter County areas. The branch opened June 16 and will also be holding a series of Grand Opening events the week of July 14 thru 19.
“We look forward to partnering with the Westville community and showing them how we are a decidedly different community bank,” stated Lee Brady, President & CEO.
Jan Boardman, Westville Branch Manager, encourages customers to stop by the branch before Labor Day Weekend in order to enter the Grand Opening Drawing for prizes including a first prize $500 gift card. She states, “Westville has made us feel extremely welcome and we look forward to meeting their banking needs with everything from checking to lending at our new branch.”
The lobby of the Westville Office is open from 8:30 am through 5:00 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Drive through service hours are from 8:00 am to
5:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on Fridays. The office is open until noon on Saturdays. Wednesdays the lobby and drive-up remain open until 7:00 pm.
LaPorte Savings Bank has served the community since 1871 providing a broad range of financial products and services. LaPorte Savings Bank is an Equal Opportunity Lender and Member of the FDIC.
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LaPorte Savings Bank Offers Lifelock™ Services to Community
LAPORTE (April 3, 2008) - LaPorte Savings Bank is excited to offer a distinct, well-known identity theft protection solution that will be invaluable to you and your family. As occurrences of identity theft continue to rise, it is important that consumers protect themselves against this type of crime. LaPorte Savings Bank is able to offer officially licensed LifeLock™ protection services at an annual rate of just $99 - a discount off of the regular annual rate of $110 per year!
LifeLock™ television advertisements have aired recently where company CEO, Todd Davis, publishes his own Social Security number to highlight the safety and security of the product. LifeLock™ is a next-generation identity theft protection solution that makes it virtually impossible for your identity to be stolen. Unlike traditional monitoring services that notify you after your identity is compromised, LifeLock™ maintains active fraud alerts with major credit reporting agencies and requires individuals to personally authorize credit-related transactions before they can be approved. LifeLock™ backs its service with a $1 million service guarantee to reimburse stolen funds and direct expenses as well as pay professional fees in the event your identity is stolen.
Enroll in LifeLock™ identity theft protection services online today by clicking the link provided on our home page. Be sure to enter promotional code “lpsbw” when prompted to receive the discount on this worthwhile service!
Roughly 10 million Americans have their personal information stolen and misused each year, costing consumers $5 billion and businesses $48 billion.
LifeLock™ was developed to prevent this crime from affecting your life and is backed by a $1 million dollar service guarantee. LifeLock™ will:
- Request the three major credit bureaus to set fraud alerts on your behalf.
- Proactively renew these alerts every 90 days as they expire.
- Request that your name be removed from pre-approved credit card and junk mail lists and update these requests as they expire.
- Request free credit reports on your behalf.
- Do whatever it takes and work with you to restore your good name in the event that your identity is stolen while enrolled in the service.
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LaPorte Chamber Salutes Area Businesses
Caption: Chamber President Michael Seitz (left) and Chamber Chairman Richard Schmitt, Schmitt & Kaylor CPA's (right) present Russ Klosinski, The LaPorte Savings Bank, with the Salute to Business Corporate Citizen of the Year Award. |
November 15, 2007 - The Greater LaPorte Chamber of Commerce awarded over 30 area businesses with the Gold Salute to Business Award at a luncheon on Wednesday, November 14th. Keynote address was given by former news anchor and reporter Charlie Adams.
The event was developed four years ago as a way to honor Chamber member businesses that have completed the survey and have had an increase in employment, reached a milestone in years of service, or made a capital investment in their business.
Businesses awarded were American Licorice Company, Briar Leaf Golf Club, Casting Service, Carlson’s Drive-In, Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad, City of LaPorte, Comfort Keepers, Kabelin Ace Hardware, LaPorte Community Federal Credit Union, LaPorte Regional Health System, LaPorte Savings Bank, Larson-Danielson Construction Company, Leadership LaPorte County, Meridian Title Corporation, Packaging Logic, Inc., Rassel Family Chiropractic Center, State Farm Insurance – Marv Thomae, and Thermco Instrument Corporation.
The LaPorte Savings Bank was awarded the prestigious Corporate Citizen of the Year Award for their contribution in enhancing the quality of life for LaPorte and for supporting the local non-profit organizations and charities through financial donations and volunteerism. “LaPorte Savings Bank is such a tremendous asset to our community,” stated Chamber President Michael Seitz. “They believe so strongly in community involvement that they include it in their strategic plan and it is a part of their mission statement.”
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 Equal Housing Lender - Member FDIC
The standard insurance amount of $250,000 per depositor is in effect through December 31, 2013.
On January 1, 2014, the standard insurance amount will return to $100,000 per depositor for all account categories except IRAs and other certain retirement accounts, which will remain at $250,000 per depositor.
LaPorte Savings Bank is participating in the FDIC’s Transaction Account Guarantee Program. Under that program, through June 30, 2010, all noninterest-bearing transaction accounts are fully guaranteed by the FDIC for the entire amount in the account. Coverage under the Transaction Account Guarantee Program is in addition to and separate from the coverage available under the FDIC’s general deposit insurance rules.
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