Know?
Did You
0th is
October 3 orn Day
y
Cand C
National
peoplestalk
a publication of Peoples State Bank
autumn 2011
TRAVELING ABROAD
WITH YOUR DEBIT CARD
The vacation is planned, you’re heading
to Europe for fun and relaxation and your
debit card is in your wallet ready to go with
you. Wait, your debit card might actually
cause you some frustration if you are not
aware of a couple of very important facts.
Foreign country ATM’s are not programmed
the same as in the United States.
•D
on’t assume that the ATM will allow you
to withdraw from your savings account.
Most foreign country ATM’s may only
allow access to the primary checking
account linked to the card.
• If you don’t receive the cash from your
ATM withdrawal and receive an error
message, copy it down or take a picture
of the error displayed on the screen and
document the date, time and name of the
bank in case your account is debited in
error.
• Withdrawal limits set by the foreign
financial institution may be lower than
what we set at Peoples State Bank. In
addition, the exchange rate may impact
withdrawal limits. You may request 400
(Euros) at the ATM but the exchange rate
brings the withdrawal amount to $450
which may be over the withdrawal limit
set by the bank.
• T ake time to research ATM locations in
your destination cities or countries to
ensure that you know where to go if you
need to withdraw cash. The major ATM
networks all offer ATM locators online.
Use ATMs only at banks as some ATMs
at other locations may not be as safe.
• Not all international ATMs are active
24/7 and some foreign banks only
update transactions during normal
business hours. If you withdraw the
maximum daily amount from the ATM on
Friday you may not be able to withdraw
cash again until the following Monday.
• There is an exchange rate fee and foreign
usage fee that will be added to your ATM
withdrawal; this rate may vary.
What about using your debit card for
purchases? Your debit card (or credit card)
may not always work overseas.
More than 130 countries in Europe, Asia
and Latin America have switched from using
the magnetic strip on the back of the card
to authorize transactions to chip-and-pin
technology for transaction authorization.
This change is being done to reduce fraud.
Cards with a magnetic strip are easier to
counterfeit while the chip-and-pin cards are
more difficult to counterfeit. The chip-andpin card’s account information is encrypted
and stored on a chip embedded in the card.
The transaction is not authorized without a
personal identification code (PIN).
With
the
chip-and-pin
technology
merchants may not know that they need to
swipe the card or may not accept a card
with a magnetic strip. This may leave you
unable to make your purchase if your card
is not accepted.
Also, unattended machines (toll booths,
parking garages, gas stations and ticket
kiosks) can only accept the pin-and-chip
cards, once again resulting in not being
able to complete your transaction.
So what do you need to do before traveling
internationally?
•V
erify that your PIN is working before
leaving on your trip. If you don’t
remember your PIN, a PIN reminder can
be sent to you but it will take around 10
business days before it will arrive.
• Let us know that you will be traveling
and include the countries that you will be
visiting and dates that you will be gone.
• Have several sources for cash and/or
purchases available. Carry some foreign
currency and consider carrying a travel
card also, which can be used to access
cash (available at any Peoples location).
• Exchange rate fees and international
usage fees will be assessed on foreign
purchases. These fees may vary.
Preplanning and having a backup plan for
alternate cash and/or purchases will be
one of the steps to a stress free vacation.
Please contact Peoples Customer Service
Department with additional questions or to
notify us of your travel plans.
Always see the Potential.
NEWS AND NOTES
The Latest on Mortgage Rates
We are again in a period of low mortgage rates. As of this
writing, the rates vary from 3.25% to 4.00% depending on
the term of the loan which could be from 15 to 40 years.
What makes this low interest rate period so different than
past low interest rate periods is qualifying for that low
mortgage rate. Real estate values are lower and underwriting
guidelines have tightened up dramatically. Home sales in the
Wausau area have dropped significantly since 2005.
• In 2005 home sales were 1637.
• In 2010 home sales were 1162.
• Through the first six months of 2011
home sales are 484. We are on pace
to finish at under 1000 sales.
Meanwhile, inventories of homes for sale have increased. In
2004 there were 859 homes for sale in the greater Wausau
area. As of August 1st, 2011, the inventory of homes was
1363. With the supply greater than the demand for homes,
the values of homes have decreased. This has prevented
some homeowners from obtaining fixed rate loans because
they cannot meet the loan to value requirements.
Change is not all bad. Change was needed to
improve the credit quality of the secondary
market product. Many customers are being
approved for loans; however you will
notice that the process has changed.
There is more information needed
from the customer for loan approval.
Due to the amount of fraud in the
mortgage origination process
and the poor performance of
mortgage loans, the process
needed to be changed to
better qualify the borrower.
This is a great opportunity
to apply for that low fixed
rate loan. Don’t hesitate
to call your Peoples State
Bank Mortgage Banker
and apply for your
mortgage loan today.
Underwriting guidelines in the fixed rate market are
constantly changing and have tightened up over the past
four years. Qualifying for that fixed rate loan has gotten a
little more difficult; debts to income ratio requirements have
decreased, while credit score requirements have increased.
These are just two of the many underwriting changes.
Buying U.S. Savings Bonds?
After December 31, 2011, you’ll need to purchase electronic
bonds online through TreasuryDirect instead of buying at
your financial institution or via mail order. Sign up for an
account today at www.treasurydirect.gov.
Opening an account is free and once opened you can:
Do you have a special memory of Peoples?
Next year Peoples State Bank will be celebrating its 50th anniversary and we
need your help. We’re looking for your bank stories, your pictures, memorabilia,
etc. Materials will be collected and used in several formats including in print,
bank displays and on our web site. Please contact Jennifer Mulder, Director of
Marketing, 715.847.4069 or [email protected] if you have information
you would like to share.
• Buy, manage and redeem Treasury securities online
24/7, from the convenience of home, work,
or wherever you have secure Internet access.
• In addition to savings bonds, you can buy and
manage marketable Treasury securities: Treasury bills,
notes, bonds and TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected
Securities).
• Establish multiple registrations in one account.
• Schedule recurring purchases for savings bonds and
marketable securities.
• Establish accounts for minor children and for specific
purposes such as education or vacations.
• View and print your account summary, including
recent purchases, payments and account balance.
For more information please visit www.treasurydirect.gov.
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Want your business featured? Contact us at [email protected]
Active Family Chiropractic,
“Your Health Is Our Priority.”
Active Family Chiropractic has been part of the Wausau Community since 2003. Active
Family Chiropractic doctors and staff teach and practice the true principles of chiropractic
wellness care. Our philosophy is that chiropractic goes beyond an adjustment, it becomes an
integral part of a person’s life to assist them in reaching the goals of great health and well
being.
Dr. Renée Felver-Christensen is a Wausau native that is dedicated to helping individuals and
families achieve wellness objectives. Dr. Renée also holds the title of Diplomat in Clinical
Chiropractic Pediatrics (DICCP). The DICCP designation gives pregnant women, mothers,
and fathers’ confidence that Active Family Chiropractic’s highly trained doctors and staff will
provide the best care for themselves and their children.
At Active Family Chiropractic we strive to provide the best care for individuals and families.
We work with our patients to make sure they can improve their overall health and continue
to for many years to come.
804 Rib Mountain Drive, Suite D
2
Wausau, WI 54401
715.848.9355
www.afcwausau.com
Strasburg’s North Country Taxidermy
We are a full-service taxidermy shop that does everything from alligators to zebras. We cover
all of your mammals, reptiles and fish, sew rugs, and create scenes and bases that transforms
your trophy back to its natural setting.
We are a family owned and operated business that is dedicated to meeting the needs of all
customers. We will work with you in choosing styles and settings that meet your specifications,
and have the necessary experiences to turn out a truly unique mount.
All are welcome to stop in without an appointment and check out our showroom and meet
our staff.
6851 US Hwy 51
Hazelhurst, WI 54531
715.356.4273
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday 8:00am – 4:00pm
Sunday seasonal or by appointment only
Webolution Designs, LLC
Full-service web design and development firm. We do everything from simple, static sites,
to full blown eCommerce sites and even customized apps for the desktop and mobile
environment. We work with databases, perform search engine optimization and specialize in
ColdFusion, JavaScript, XML, (X)HTML, SQL...just in case any geeks out there want to know.
We are here to serve you. We get excited to see our clients utilize technology to improve
the world around them and their end users’ world. That is why our tag line is “We all want
to change the world”. Technology can be a force in enhancing our workplace and life as a
whole. In providing the aforementioned services, we also seek to instruct and educate clients
on the possibilities of technology.
E6668 Woodland Road
Aniwa, WI 54408
715.297.4734
www.webolutiondesigns.com
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Closed on Holidays
peoples in the community
Aspirus
Women’s Golf Outing
Peoples “Peeps” took second
place in cart decorating and
in golf at the Aspirus Women’s
Golf Outing on Monday,
August 1.
Komen Race
“Peeps for the Cure” were out
in full force again this year for
the second annual Komen Race
for the Cure held on Sunday,
August 14.
Relay for Life Team
Peoples Eagle River office
participated in the Northwoods
Relay for Life and raised over
$2000 in cash donations on
August 6 & 7.
As a community bank we believe in being a strong community partner.
Our community is the people we help each day, the local organizations
we support and the people we work with every day.
Devils Food “Celebration” Cake
Submitted by Christine Schlichte, Peoples
The following recipe was given to my Mother by a good friend of
hers and quickly became a family favorite, requested every year
to be our “Birthday Cake”. I have since passed on the tradition
and make this “One and Only Birthday Cake” for our family
members on their special day. Enjoy!
Devils Food/Celebration Cake
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter = 2 sticks (Margarine does not work; butter makes it better)
2 eggs beaten and added to creamed mixture above
2 ½ cups flour
2 ½ teaspoons soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup cocoa
1 cup buttermilk
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 cup boiling water
Marathon
Celebrates 20 years
The Marathon office held a
week long 20th anniversary
celebration in late August. The
celebration included a 20th
anniversary parade float at the
annual Fun Day’s parade held
over Labor Day weekend.
Cream butter and sugar together, add eggs. Mix dry ingredients
together, alternate dry ingredients with buttermilk, add vanilla.
Add the boiling water last, adding slowly. Bake at 350 degrees
for 30-35 minutes.
Cream Cheese Frosting
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 ½ cups powdered sugar
Dash of salt
Cream together cream cheese and butter, add vanilla and a dash
of salt, add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until well blended
and very creamy.
Christine bakes this as a 2 – layer cake. She recommends after
you add the boiling water, use a whisk to mix in slowly at first.
Frost with cream cheese frosting, or it is also good with chocolate
frosting too.
Tastes even better the next day, gets very moist.
888.929.9902 | www.psbwi.com
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investor site www.psbholdingsinc.com
Member FDIC