Failure is an inevitable part of learning any new skill, whether that skill is riding a bicycle, learning to drive stick, or tackling your personal finances. When we fail, it’s tempting to throw our hands up in the air and claim defeat. However, for something as important as managing your finances, giving up simply isn’t an option.

Effective budgeting is a powerful tool to help you manage your money, save for the future and avoid long-term debt, but there are several common mistakes people make that can derail their progress and increase their financial anxiety. Here is a list of several common budgeting pitfalls you should avoid on your road to financial wellness.

Not Tracking Spending

Take a moment to think about how much you spent on food in the past week. Do you know the exact amount? How about your monthly bills, like rent or gas? Maintaining an accurate budget means knowing exactly where your money is going by tracking variable expenses, such as groceries or entertainment, as well as fixed costs like rent and utilities.

Why is this important? Because tracking your spending helps you determine where you may be overspending. If you are not paying attention to your spending, you may be missing opportunities to save.

You should formulate a system for tracking your expenses. Some people prefer spreadsheets and pen-and-paper while others rely on budgeting apps to keep track of their spending.

Ignoring Expenses

Most people maintain a monthly budget that tracks income and expenses on a month-by-month basis. However, this doesn’t account for irregular expenses that occur at longer intervals throughout the year. Examples include property taxes, insurance payments, school or tuition fees, annual subscriptions, and membership dues. Not taking these expenses into account could leave you short on cash during certain months of the year.

A solid method of preparing for irregular costs is creating a fund specifically for paying off one-time or irregular expenses. Look at your past bills for taxes, school, insurance, etc., and determine how much you pay annually for these expenses and when the payments come due. Calculate what percentage of your income you must set aside each month so that you will have the funds available when you receive these irregular bills.

Setting Unrealistic Goals

Your budget should attempt to find a balance between saving and comfort. If you set savings goals that are too ambitious, you may find yourself struggling to keep up with your plan. It’s important to allocate some of your budget toward entertainment and fun to prevent you from burning out and abandoning your savings plan. Start off with small, achievable goals and work your way up to more ambitious targets.

On the other hand, setting loose goals can also be problematic. It’s important to set a budget that considers your responsibilities and needs—such as bills, groceries, and utilities—so that you don’t find yourself taking on debt because you didn’t save enough.

Not Having an Emergency Fund

There is a popular saying that goes “no plan survives contact with the enemy.” In this example, the enemy of your budget is surprise expenses that make it harder to maintain your savings plan. If you’re balancing out your budget to the point that your income and expenses are equal, even the smallest financial hurdle can cause you to stumble before you reach the finish line.

The best thing you can do is include an emergency fund in your savings plan. Budget some portion of your monthly income into an emergency fund that is separate from your normal savings. In addition, do not dip into these funds except in the case of a financial emergency! This acts as a cushion for future expenses that can’t be accounted for.

Neglecting Your Budget

Your budget is not set in stone. You need to remain flexible and adjust your plan whenever something changes in your financial situation or even in the broader economy. You should revisit your budget any time you encounter a big financial change, such as moving or changing jobs. Pay attention to things like inflation which change the amount you spend each month on things like groceries or gasoline and don’t forget to adjust your budget accordingly.

The key to budgeting is practice. Like any skill, you are going to make mistakes when trying to achieve your financial goals. It’s important to not let these hurdles deter you from sticking to your plan, but it is equally important that you remain aware of any traps you may fall into. By successfully avoiding or managing these budgeting hurdles, you’ll put yourself on track for a bright financial future.

Michele Hunsicker is an Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for New Tripoli Bank. She has been part of the Bank's finance department for over twenty years and has worked in banking for over thirty-five. Michele serves on the board of the Northern Lehigh Food Bank and regularly volunteers with her local church.

The beginning of the New Year is an interesting time. It’s the time of year when people reflect on the past year of achievements while planning goals for the next. The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions has been around since people began celebrating the flipping of the calendar, and just as old are jokes about how difficult it is to actually follow through with your New Year’s resolution.

When it comes to achieving a long-term goal like a New Year’s resolution, I find it helpful to commit to smaller milestones that incrementally lead toward the larger ambition. These small successes throughout the year help maintain my focus and remind me how good it will feel when I finally reach the finish line.

Some of the most common New Year’s resolutions are to save more money or improve one’s financial situation, but the vagueness of these goals often leads people to fall back into old habits before they achieve their wish. If your resolution for 2024 is to improve your personal finances, here are some smaller objectives you can aim for that will help you stay on target.

Set a Savings Goal

It can be hard to commit to a resolution without a tangible reward at the end. Having a clear goal in mind helps motivate you to stick to your plan throughout the year and provides a sense of achievement when you finally reach the finish line.

Your goal could be something small like saving up to purchase a new video game console, setting aside money for a vacation later in the year, or something as large as buying a new automobile or putting a down payment on your first home. Your target should have a specific dollar amount and time frame for reaching your savings goal.

Establish a Budget

You can’t improve your financial situation if you don’t comprehend your situation in the first place. A budget compares your monthly income against your expenses while separating them into categories, creating a visual representation of your finances.

Now think about your savings target and how much you need to set aside each month in order to reach your goal within your time frame. Consider reducing your expenses in categories where you can comfortably cut back on spending. Make sure to check your spending regularly so you know when you’re getting close to the limits you’ve set for your budget in each category!

Throughout the year, experiment with different budget plans to see what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to shift your priorities if you start feeling the pinch in certain areas. Your main priority with establishing and maintaining a budget is being more aware of your spending habits.

Tackle Your Debt

This has been discussed many, many times on this blog, but it bears repeating: paying down your debt should be a top priority. By focusing on tackling your debts, you reduce the amount you pay in interest over the long term and put the money you’d otherwise put toward debt payments into a savings account.

Make a debt payment plan—and commit to it! Organize your debts from highest to lowest interest rate, then put extra monthly income into paying down the balances with the highest rate, while also paying your monthly minimum payments for all your accounts. As the year progresses and you pay down your debts, you’ll find you have more money to spend in other categories.

Become a Foodie!

This is not for everyone, but for those of you with time in your day to spare, growing and preparing our own food is an excellent way to save money. Think about the foods you love; are there meals you regularly purchase pre-made or dishes you typically order when eating out? Most recipes can be found online and purchasing the ingredients to prepare yourself will always be cheaper than ordering from a restaurant or buying a pre-made meal kit.

If you have the space to do so, consider planting a garden to grow your own fruits and vegetables. Not only does this save on the cost of buying produce, but it also provides an easy opportunity for exercise and promotes eating healthier—for those of you who also made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight!

Think Forward

Breaking free of an “in-the-now” mentality is difficult but crucial if you wish to achieve a specific financial goal. When you look at your monthly budget, after accounting for bills, debts, food, and other necessities, it’s tempting to look at the money left over as free for you to spend. This is why the first suggestion I made in this blog was to set a savings goal—it’s important to get into the habit of setting money aside for future expenses.

You should expand this thinking beyond a goal for 2024. Plan to put portion of your monthly income aside for retirement savings and/or an emergency fund. You should always have a plan for how to continue paying your bills, debts, and other necessities after retirement, or in the event of an unforeseen circumstance such as the loss of employment or a disaster. You can make this process easier by budgeting a portion of your monthly income to automatically transfer into a dedicated savings account.

Looking for more ideas on how to improve your financial wellness in 2024? Consider reaching out to a friendly Community Banker at New Tripoli Bank and asking about our savings products. There’s no shame in asking for help when it comes to improving your finances and our employees have experience with customers going through similar situations.

Sundra Sherwin is Vice President of Branch Administration for New Tripoli Bank. She has over 25 years of banking experience and has been with New Tripoli Bank for 15 years, working in various positions at the Bank. She has been promoting financial literacy in our community through her work with the Bank for years.

Of the many lessons parents need to teach their children, one of the most difficult concepts to impress upon children is the importance of financial literacy. While most American parents have no trouble talking to their children about religion, politics, or dating advice—as much as children probably groan when their parents bring up that last one—when it comes to money, nearly half of all American parents say they don’t know how to discuss money in a way they think their children will understand.

However, there are several ways you as a parent can teach your children good money habits. It’s one thing to sit your child down and explain a topic to them; it’s another to have them reach the conclusions you want through their own observation and experience. Consider these options to help prepare your children for a future handling their own finances:

Make Them Earn Their Allowance. This is the easiest and most obvious one, but it’s vital for children to understand the relationship between the amount of work they’ve put into earning their allowance and the cost of the things they buy with it. You can set dollar amounts for regular tasks such as washing the dishes or organizing their bedroom, with longer tasks like mowing the lawn being worth extra money.

Let Them Spend. While it is tempting to stress upon your children the importance of proper budgeting and fiscal responsibility, doing so without allowing them to reap the rewards will leave them without the motivation to practice good saving habits. It is important that your child develops a positive relationship with money and recognizes that saving allows them to purchase the things they want. Allow your child to buy something small they really want—a toy, candy bar, or comic book, for example—so they can feel the satisfaction of spending the money they earn.

Encourage Them to Save. Every parent knows what it’s like to be inundated with requests for video games, toys, or other expensive purchases. Sit down with your child and help them calculate how long it will take with their current allowance to save up for the item. Ask them to consider how much of their allowance they spend each week and how much less they’d be willing to spend if it means being able to buy the item for themselves. For particularly pricey items, you could consider contributing to help buy the item, promising that you will pay for half of the purchase if your child follows through with saving up for their half.

Open a Bank Account. Many banks, New Tripoli Bank included, offer starter checking account options to get children started with handling their own money. You should consider opening an account for your child even before they’re hired for their first job. Bank accounts can help a child see the gradual process of building up a bank balance and learn how to track their spending over time.

Introduce Investing. Whenever your child earns money, whether through allowance, birthday gifts, or even odd jobs like babysitting, have them set a little aside each month into a long-term savings or investment account. When your child is old enough to buy a car or start college, hand over control of the account to them, showing them the benefits of long-term financial planning.

Practice What You Teach. As previously stated, children learn by observing their parents. Don’t be afraid to let your children sit in while you’re going over your monthly budget and answer any questions they might have about the process. Be earnest with your children about your family’s finances; if you’re experiencing financial hardship, you can teach them how to stick to a budget and cut back on nonessentials. When your children start handling their own finances, they will be better equipped to respond to these same issues.

There is no one surefire way to instill good money habits in your children, which is why it’s important to take a wholistic approach to teaching financial literacy to your children. Whatever methods you choose, it’s important that a child’s experience with money while growing up mirrors what they will experience in the real world. Earning money over time, understanding the relationship between time and cost, opening and maintaining a checking account, and stressing the importance of saving and investing ,are all principles necessary for a child to develop a healthy relationship with money.

Michele Hunsicker is an Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for New Tripoli Bank. She has been part of the Bank's finance department for over twenty years and has worked in banking for over thirty-five. Michele serves on the board of the Northern Lehigh Food Bank and regularly volunteers with her local church.

Owning a small business today can feel like David facing down Goliath, with the popularity of retail brands like Amazon and Walmart. However, if there’s one strength that small businesses have to compete against the convenience of online shopping or the ubiquity of big box retailers, it’s their ability to provide attentive, personalized customer service.

While all businesses seek to ensure all their customers have a positive experience, small business owners have the advantage of being able to get to know each and every one of their customers personally. Social media has made it easier than ever to communicate directly with consumers and cultivate brand loyalty. Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool to grow your business, and happy customers are your strongest advocates.

Here are some tips for how you and your employees can leave the right impression with your customers.

Make it Personal

While it may be challenging to grow a business with a small customer base, you can use this to your advantage and spend more time getting to know the customers you already have. Big brands cannot possibly know their millions of customers personally. Small businesses, on the other hand, have the ability to learn each customer’s name, understand their preferences, and go the extra mile to create a personalized experience each time they walk through the door.

For example: a pet groomer could send reminders to their clientele when it’s time to trim their pet’s claws, with a link to set up an appointment. Employees at a coffee shop could keep track of its regulars, greet them by name and be sure to ask if they’d like their usual order when they walk through the door. Personalizing the experience strengthens your relationship with your customers and conveys that loyalty goes both ways.

Utilize Technology

I’ve already mentioned how social media is an excellent communication tool for your business. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms allow you to set up business profiles where your customers can follow you to receive regular updates, letting them know when their favorite product is back in stock or announcing upcoming sales and events.

Social media also allows customers to reach you directly with questions or feedback, allowing you to respond quickly to their needs. Just make sure you maintain awareness of how the things you or your employees post on social media reflect upon your business.

Invest in Your Employees

One thing small business employees will often hear when answering the phone is how happy the customer is to be speaking with an actual person. Most national brands maintain such a high call volume that they have opted either to outsource their customer support or have switched to a completely automated customer support line.

You need to make sure each of your employees is well-versed in your products and has the necessary skills to meet your customers’ needs. Because you have so few employees, each one of them is vastly more important to you than they would be working for a larger business. While this means you should be very selective with your hiring, you should also invest in proper training for each employee. Train your employees in customer service best practices and quiz them on frequently asked questions about specific products or services. A small business is only as strong as its weakest link.

Each employee should be knowledgeable to the point that you feel comfortable leaving them to their own discretion when handling customer issues, rather than requiring you to be on-hand at all times. Employees who understand all aspects of your business can provide personalized service and quickly meet a customer’s needs. Moreover, it shows a level of respect that can motivate them, as they feel like they contribute more to the business.

Listen to Your Customers

The best way to improve your product or service is to listen to what your customers have to say about your business. A customer is more inclined to do business with you if they feel like they are being heard. Proactively reach out to customers for comments and provide them with an outlet to submit constructive feedback, whether through a follow-up email, phone call, or even just a public request for responses via social media.

Make sure your customers know when and how they can reach you. Provide clear information on your hours of operation and contact information on your website. You should also make sure you are accessible wherever your customers are. If you have customers trying to reach you via Facebook Messenger, for example, make sure you are monitoring that channel regularly, so you don’t miss a message.

It's a competitive world out there, and every little bit counts when it comes to succeeding as a small business. Think creatively about how to implement your customer service strategy; small businesses can only get ahead by setting themselves apart. Personalizing customer service, using technology to reach your customers, training your employees to be knowledgeable, and listening to your customers are basic ways your business can build a loyal customer base and succeed.

New Tripoli Bank is proud of how we put our customers first each and every day. If you’re looking for help planning a growth strategy for your small business, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced lending team. We have years of experience helping small business owners achieve their financial goals.

Kate Hart-Zayaitz is New Tripoli Bank's Chief Lending Officer and Senior Vice President. Kate has spent many years working for various community banks in our area. She was born and raised in Emmaus and has been involved with multiple banking and economic organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley.

For many people, the most daunting part of any job application is sitting down for an interview with a potential employer. The impression you make on an interviewer can often outweigh your credentials; a good first impression can bolster an otherwise average resume while a poor interview can sink the prospects of even the strongest candidate.  When you sit down for an interview, your poise, attitude, social skills, and ability to communicate are being evaluated as much as your experience and education.

An interview is a conversation between you—potentially a stranger to the employer—and an interviewer seeking to learn more about you. Through conversation and dialogue, the interviewer determines if you’re a good match for the position they’re trying to fill. Preparation is the key to nailing this interaction, and there are several good habits every job seeker should practice if they want to ace their next interview.

Arrive On Time

The interviewer is ready for your appointment before you walk in the door. You should show them the same courtesy and arrive 10-15 minutes early. Give yourself extra travel time in case you get lost or end up in traffic. This shows you can be relied upon to arrive on time for work.

Be Courteous

Greet the interviewer with a handshake and a smile. Make sure you know the interviewer’s name, its spelling and pronunciation. If you’re unsure, you can call beforehand and ask their secretary.

During the interview, maintain eye contact with the interviewer and practice active listening when they are speaking to you. Never speak negatively when discussing previous employers, teachers, friends, or your university; doing so indicates to the interviewer that you might speak the same way about them.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare!

Before the interview, spend some time researching the company and the position you are being interviewed for. Prepare some questions of your own to ask the interviewer; it is a dialogue, after all, and asking relevant questions will show your interest in the company and that you have done your research. Bring several copies of your resume and your transcript in an organized folder.

You can practice interviewing with a friend or family member before your actual interview. There are several questions you can expect during any interview, such as:

• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• Why should we hire you?
• Why did you leave your previous job?
• What made you interested in the company?
• How do you handle stressful situations?
• What are your goals for the future?
• What are your salary expectations?

Practice answering these questions in a way that sounds natural and stays on topic. Listen carefully to your interviewer and be sure you understand a question before answering; don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.

Practice Good Posture

Interviewing isn’t just about the things you say, but how you act during the interview! Your body language can communicate confidence or disinterest, so make sure you sit up straight and maintain eye contact with the interviewer.

Speak loudly and clearly when answering questions and watch your grammar when you speak. Don’t be afraid to talk slowly and correct yourself to make sure the interviewer fully understands what you are saying.

Stay Confident

Interviewing is a skill and like any skill it takes practice. Don’t be embarrassed if you are nervous during an interview, as you gain experience this nervousness will gradually decrease.

When talking about yourself, take pride in your accomplishments, your applicable skills, your positive attributes, and your willingness to learn. Never apologize for lack of experience—everyone has to start somewhere—and instead focus on your strengths and what you offer the organization.

Be Patient

Don’t expect a job offer after the first interview. Often you will be invited to a second or third interview before an offer is made. You are likely just one of several candidates interviewing for the same position. Make sure to note if the interviewer gives you a time frame in which you should hear back from them and only follow up if you don’t hear back within that period.

End On A Positive Note

Have you ever seen a movie that had a great beginning and middle but a terrible ending? How often do those movies stick in your head after you’ve left the theater? The same is true of an interview. It’s important to end on a positive note to leave a good lasting impression.

Thank the interviewer for their time and express your interest in the job. Ask what the next steps will be in the interview process and leave with a firm handshake and a smile. That same day, you should send a follow-up letter, email, or phone call to express your appreciation for the interview and to reaffirm your interest in the job. This last step can be the difference that gets you the job offer.

Ann Bavara is Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Marketing and Compliance for New Tripoli Bank. Ann has been part of the banking industry for the over 35 years, holding many positions including consumer lender, government affairs lobbyist, regulatory compliance, and human resources mergers and acquisitions.

Buying your first home is an exciting — and slightly intimidating — experience for anyone. The process can be overwhelming for a first timer who may not even know where to begin. Before you embark on your journey as a first-time homebuyer, it's important to do your homework so you can get the most out of your purchase.

With this article, I hope to help demystify the process for first time homebuyers with a rundown of what you should consider before you start home shopping.

How Much Home Can You Afford?

Before you ever start looking, it's important to pin down how much you can afford to pay each month for your home. The price of a home is more than just your monthly mortgage payments; it includes things like utilities, maintenance, property taxes, and homeowner's insurance. It's easy to end up “house poor” by borrowing more than you can afford for your first home, leaving little for you to spend on clothing, vacations, entertainment, and especially food. New Tripoli Bank's mortgage lenders can help you determine the amount you can afford.

In a competitive housing market, it can be to your benefit to shop on a smaller budget. If you shop at a lower price than what you can afford, it provides you with wiggle room to outbid other buyers when you find the house you really want.

Start Saving Early

When calculating how much money you need to buy a house, there are one-time expenses to consider in addition to the monthly mortgage payment. The down payment on a conventional first-time mortgage can range from as little as 5% to 20% of the purchase price or more, and closing costs typically range from 2% to 6%. Depending on how competitive the market is, you can sometimes ask the seller to pay a portion of your closing costs as part of the agreement, or even forego some expenses like home inspection to make your offer more competitive. You should also consider move-in expenses, which can run up to $2,500 depending on your area.

The best way to save for these upfront costs is select a target amount you are willing to spend, open a savings account, and schedule automatic transfers from your checking to this account. The earlier you start, the more you'll be able to take advantage of compound interest to grow your savings, helping you reach your goal in less time.

Clean Up & Monitor Your Credit

The higher your credit score, the easier it will be to lock in a lower interest rate on your mortgage. If you aren't currently using credit, consider opening a credit card or other line of credit and make regular use of it to build your credit score. Be sure to spend within your means and pay down your credit balances on time. It's not enough to have access to credit; banks want to see that you are able to make regular payments!

It's best to avoid opening new credit accounts or loans, racking up additional debt, or making large deposits into your accounts within two months of applying for financing. Many lenders have requirements to confirm that credit you've borrowed and funds you've deposited have been in your possession for at least 60 days, so they can verify it's legitimately yours and have proof of where the funds originated.

A popular rule of thumb is to keep your credit usage to 30% of your total credit or less. If you already have open lines of credit and your balance is over that 30% threshold, you should focus on paying down your debts to improve your creditworthiness.

Organize Your Paperwork

Before you're approved for a mortgage, your lender will need your financial records to verify your income, assets, and debts. You should have the following documentation ready before you apply for your loan:

• Proof of income and employment. This includes tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, and recent pay stubs.
• Statements for any bank, retirement, or brokerage accounts.
• Records of other debt obligations, such as student or car loans.

Explore Your Options

There are a variety of mortgages available, each with its own down payment and eligibility requirements to suit the needs of different consumers.

Conventional mortgages are the most common type of home loan. Many banks offer first-time homebuyer loans with more affordable down payment requirements and waived fees.

FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration. They are intended to assist buyers with limited savings or lower credit scores to secure housing by offering down payments in exchange for more stringent requirements for the borrower.

USDA loans are guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and are meant for suburban and rural home buyers. VA Loans are guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and intended for active and veteran military service members. Both of these loans usually require little or no down payment.

You also have options when it comes to mortgage terms and interest rates. Most homebuyers opt for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which is paid off over 30 years with an interest rate that stays the same for the life of the loan, but loan terms can be as low as 15 years, which typically comes with a lower interest rate but higher monthly payments. Conversely, an adjustable-rate mortgage often begins at a lower introductory rate compared to fixed-rate mortgages, but that rate will increase (or decrease) over time, meaning your monthly payments can fluctuate.

You should also spend some time comparing different mortgage lenders, even if you only qualify for one type of loan. Pay special attention to each lender's interest rates and fees, and request quotes from different lenders to find the offer that's best for you.

Apply for Prequalification

Once you've done the preparation and selected your lender, you should apply for a mortgage prequalification. This is the lender's offer to loan you a certain amount under specific terms. The lender will confirm the documentation you provide by pulling your credit report, verifying your employment information, and calculating your debt-to-income ratio to determine the loan amount they are willing to offer.

Prequalifications are typically good for 30 to 90 days; you should verify with your lender how long their offer remains valid. If you have concerns about your debt or credit score, getting prequalified early can help you identify problem areas that you need to fix before home shopping. Once you receive a prequalification, avoid making any big purchases or opening any new lines of credit while you are shopping for a home.

Even after you've taken all these steps, there's still a long road between you and buying your first home. However, by preparing yourself properly for the adventure ahead, you'll be home shopping with the confidence of knowing your financial situation, what you can afford, and what kind of home you should be looking for. In future articles, I will go over what to expect during the home shopping process and after you've purchased your first home.

If you are interested in getting prequalified for a loan or have further questions about the mortgage lending process, you can always contact me or the rest of the mortgage lending team at New Tripoli Bank and we would be happy to assist you!

Gail Post is a Vice President and Mortgage Loan Officer for New Tripoli Bank who has been working in finance for more than four decades.

Volunteers are the glue that holds the community together, offering essential support to worthwhile causes and people in need. Most nonprofit organizations and charities rely on the generous help of volunteers, as many don’t have the budget to pay the salaries of a staff of full-time employees. Volunteers allow these organizations to thrive and accomplish their goals.

It can be difficult for the average working person to fit volunteering into their busy schedules. Volunteering requires you to give up a limited portion of your time and energy toward a cause without any sort of financial reward. However, there are many benefits that come from volunteering, not just for the greater community, but for you as well.

Building Connections

Our modern world of digital shopping and commuting to work can feel very lonely and isolated. Volunteering offers an opportunity for you to widen your social circle and meet new people. After all, we find friends by seeking out individuals with similar interests and participating in activities with like-minded people, which can include volunteer work!

This is especially important when moving to a new area. Volunteering for a local food pantry or rescue mission exposes you to people with common interests, helps you become more familiar with neighborhood resources, and provides fulfilling activity while strengthening your ties to the community.

Improving Your Health

There are obvious mental health benefits to volunteering, boosting self-confidence and self-esteem through doing good things for others. The sense of accomplishment that comes from helping your fellow citizens coupled with the sense of camaraderie that comes from regular contact with members of your community has been shown to reduce the risk of depression, which is often worsened by social isolation.

In addition to mental health benefits, volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have lower mortality rates than people who do not, as well as lessening the symptoms of chronic pain and heart disease. If you find yourself struggling to involve yourself in regular physical activity, volunteering is a great way to keep yourself moving.

Benefits to Your Career

Many who dedicate their free time to volunteering find a passion for things they would have never considered. Volunteering for causes you believe in provides you with new experiences that may help you discover a career path that better aligns with your ideals. Volunteer work allows you to dip your toe into other possible careers without having to dive head-first into a long-term commitment.

Even if volunteering doesn’t change your professional trajectory, it can provide you with valuable on-the-job training and work experience. One of the benefits community service offers you is a chance to improve skills which are important in any workplace, such as communication and organizational skills, teamwork, planning, problem-solving and task management.

Increased Social Awareness

Everyone feels strongly about at least one issue, but it can be difficult to make the meaningful changes you want to see in the world. If you've ever found yourself asking you can make a difference, volunteering provides an avenue for you to improve your community and make an impact.

Moreover, community service broadens your perspective on social issues by directly exposing you to the problems we face as a society. Simply reading about an issue or listening to news commentary about a social problem isn’t the same as getting personally involved. When volunteering, you interact on a personal level with families and individuals in need, earning firsthand experience and greater understanding of the difficulties these people face.

Volunteering Is Fun & Fulfilling

The most important benefit of volunteering is that it is a fun activity that provides a fulfilling outlet to explore your passions and interests. It provides a change of pace from your day-to-day routine of work, school, and family commitments and can help get you out of a rut if you feel that your daily life has become too mundane.

Many people volunteer to make time for hobbies outside of work. Volunteering can renew your creativity, jump-start your motivation, and provide you with a sense of purpose that will carry over to everything else in your life. It’s important when jumping into volunteering to focus on causes that you’re passionate about—you’re more likely to stay committed to the work if it’s something for which you care deeply. No matter what you do, it’s important to make sure that you’re enjoying the work that you do!

Michele Hunsicker is an Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for New Tripoli Bank. She has been part of the Bank's finance department for over twenty years and has worked in banking for over thirty-five. Michele serves on the board of the Northern Lehigh Food Bank and regularly volunteers with her local church.

As a small business owner, you may not consider yourself likely to become the target of a cyber-attack. You might think your business is too small for cyber criminals to take notice, or that you don't have anything valuable enough to be worth the effort. However, small businesses, like any other business, have information that is valuable to criminals, including employee and customer records and bank account information. Moreover, small businesses often have fewer resources dedicated to cybersecurity, so criminals don't have to put as much effort into hacking them compared to larger corporations.

Cybersecurity doesn't require a large monetary investment from your business; what it does require is a company culture that embraces and proactively promotes cyber-secure practices both professionally and personally. Studies have shown that companies who engage employees in cybersecurity training both in the workplace and at home experience increased identification of potential threats, reduced incidents, and a greater ability to recover after a cyber-attack.

If you are the owner or CEO of a small business, cybersecurity starts with you. Here are things you should do to help promote cybersecurity in your organization.

Make Cybersecurity Part of Company Culture. Discuss cybersecurity in regular, direct communication with your staff and be sure to outline security initiatives with your leadership. You should stress to your employees that security should be an "all-the-time" consideration.

Select a Security Manager. Once you have goals in mind and your leadership team has set objectives, identify someone in your organization to manage your security initiatives. This person doesn't necessarily need to be a security expert or IT professional, you simply need someone responsible who can spearhead the program and ensure it is implemented as intended.

Create an Incident Response Plan. The Security Manager should draft a written IRP for your leadership team to review. This is your plan of action before, during, and following a security incident. Make sure to involve leaders from throughout your business, not just the security manager and IT team (if you have one). Customize parts of the IRP based on the needs of individual departments.

Keep Your Network Up to Date. Make sure any applications, web browsers, security software and operating systems in your business network are updated regularly. Set antivirus software to run a scan after each update. Make sure your network's systems are protected by a firewall and, if your employees work from home, ensure they follow these same practices with their home system(s).

Make backup copies of important business data and information. Regularly backup the data on all computers. Critical data includes word processing documents, electronic spreadsheets, databases, financial files, human resources files, and accounts receivable/payable files. Backup data automatically if possible, or at least weekly and store the copies either offsite or in the cloud.

Control physical access to your computers and create user accounts for each employee. Prevent access or use of business computers by unauthorized individuals. Laptops can be particularly easy targets for theft or can be lost, so lock them up when unattended. Make sure a separate user account is created for each employee and make strong passwords a requirement. Administrative privileges should only be given to trusted IT staff and key personnel.

Train Your Employees. Promote basic security policies for your staff, such as requiring strong passwords, and establish safe internet usage guidelines. Emphasize to your employees the importance of protecting not only customer data but their own sensitive information. Employees who are encouraged to practice cybersecurity in their personal lives are more likely to prevent cyber-attacks while on the job.

The best protection for any business is knowledge, both for the owner and the employees. Any cybersecurity initiatives should be tailored to your organization's needs, whether that's something more involved like formal training or as simple as a monthly email with tips and tricks. The key is to make cybersecurity a constant consideration for members of your organization.

Many low-cost and free resources are available for businesses looking to get started with cybersecurity training. You can find free training kits from the Cybersecurity Infrastructure & Security Agency which provide an excellent jumping off point for business owners who want to keep their employees engaged. Once you get started, you'll find it gets easier to keep security at the forefront of your employees' minds all year long and strengthen your business' defenses against cyber-attacks.

Stephanie Barton is a Senior Vice President and New Tripoli Bank's Chief Information Officer. She has been working for New Tripoli Bank for over thirty years and has overseen the maintenance and upgrading of the bank's digital infrastructure and security.

This fall will be the first time living away from home for many young people as they pursue college education. Some students will find it easy to adapt to their newfound independence while others may find themselves struggling to handle the added financial responsibility.

Rising tuition costs saddled on young adults, who may be unprepared to handle the stress of financial independence, can be a recipe for disaster. In 2023, the average graduate in America leaves college with more than $37,000 in debt, including federal student loans and the number can be even higher for those with private loans. When it comes time for a young person to leave the nest, financial literacy skills (budgeting, money management) can make all the difference.

Here are some tips for those high school graduates preparing to take the leap into financial self-reliance.

Learn How to Create a Budget

Budgets are your friends, and they are easy to make! First, calculate your expected income per month, including paychecks (if you have a job), grants, loans, and family contributions. This gives you an idea of how much money you have available each month and allows you to plan your spending on needs such as groceries, transportation, and so on. Once you have your needs accounted for, whatever is left can be used for saving, trips, or simple pleasures, ensuring your college experience is enjoyable without worrying about whether you can pay for basic needs.

Don’t Rack Up Debt

The idea of a student credit card sounds appealing but can be a trap for the unprepared. With proper credit card usage, a young adult can establish a record of credit card payments that help them build credit, making future loans and purchases easier. However, if the student treats their credit card like an infinite source of cash, high credit balances and missed payments could prolong the time it takes for them to get on their feet after graduation.

Some simple rules to follow when signing up for a credit card:

• Start with a prepaid card to get into the habit of budgeting. You can keep an actual credit card handy in case of emergencies.
• Research spending limits, interest rates, and terms to find the best credit card for your needs. Make sure you are aware of fees and other hidden costs that come with each card.
• Only spend what you can afford to pay back, and make sure to pay off your card in full each month.

Get a Part-Time Job

A part-time job is not only a great way to help mitigate the costs of higher education; it also provides valuable experience and helps young adults to build community and sharpen organizational skills. Even entry-level jobs require you to have some work experience and a part-time job is a great way to show initiative on your résumé.

Take Classes on Financial Wellness

Many colleges and universities offer financial literacy programs for their students. You can also reach out to administrators and academic advisors who may have information on extracurricular programs open to students.

Choose the Right Bank

College is an opportune time to find a bank that shares your values. These days, community banks boast the same mobile and online banking tools as large national banks while maintaining strong ties to the communities they serve and holding themselves to higher ethical standards. Many of these banks also offer deposit accounts with lower or zero fees for account maintenance, no minimum balance requirements, overdraft protections, and competitive interest rates. New Tripoli Bank’s Smart Start Checking Account is tailor-made for the college-bound graduate. Our mobile and online banking platform mean no matter which college you head for, you’ll have your bank account right at your fingertips.

PHEAA Student Loans

New Tripoli Bank has also teamed up with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency to offer private student loan options for students pursuing higher education. These loans are designed to reduce the financial strain placed on college students by waiving many of the fees associated with loan applications and offering low fixed interest rates.

Keep these tips in mind for those who are college bound. By learning good financial habits early, they will develop the skills they need to become financially secure well into the future.

Sundra Sherwin is Vice President of Branch Administration for New Tripoli Bank. She has over 25 years of banking experience and has been with New Tripoli Bank for 15 years, working in various positions at the Bank. She has been promoting financial literacy in our community through her work with the Bank for years.

If you’ve ever wondered if it matters where you deposit your hard-earned money, let me assure you it does.

We know there are more options for where to bank today than ever before. But consider this: community banks like New Tripoli Bank offer benefits to consumers that you can’t find at regional or national banks. Whether you’re looking for personal banking options or services for your business, here are some reasons why your best decision is to bank locally.

Personalized Attention

Do you feel like you’re just an account number in a sea of account numbers, or that you’re always having trouble getting someone to pay attention to you? You’re at the wrong bank.

Community bank employees dedicate more time to the customer. They can respond to your needs with personalized solutions that fit the situations you face because they face the same situations in their own lives. That’s why customers prefer local banks, where customer service truly matters.

Faster Decisions

At a community bank, you speak directly with the people who make the decisions, and we keep those decisions local. You won’t have to wait for your request to make its way through an internal bureaucracy only for someone you’ve never met to weigh in on your request. That’s not fair to you and often leads to bad, poorly informed decisions.

Fewer & Lower Fees

Did you know that large banks have reported making nearly $2 billion annually just through overdraft charges? Or that 75% of large banks don’t offer a checking account without fees? This is just one of the reasons why large bank customers end up feeling like they’re just another name on a ledger.

Community banks charge lower fees than national banks. The most common types of fees—overdrafts and nonsufficient funds fees—are 13-19% lower for small banks compared to large banks. We also don’t look to layer fees upon fees, and work with you to avoid these situations, giving you access to a host of tools to help you manage your money and avoid unnecessary fees. It’s not in either of our interests to charge fees for everything. Additionally, 44% of small banks have checking accounts without monthly maintenance fees—and New Tripoli Bank is one of them!

High Quality Service

Large banks would have you believe that they alone can offer the most convenience and the latest technology, but nothing could be further from the truth. Community banks offer the same services and products as our competitors and often without charging you extra for their use! New Tripoli Bank has world-class online and mobile banking options to improve our customers’ experience, with features such as account alerts, online account opening, automated bill payments, and more.

Ethics & Stability

If the last two decades have taught us anything, it’s that scandals strike larger banks with a fair amount of regularity. The same cannot be said for community banks, who are deeply rooted within the communities they serve and have a personal stake in the financial well-being of their customers. Reputation is important to community banks, and we hold ourselves to a higher standard.

Keeping Money in the Community

Most importantly, your local community bank puts your money to work fueling small local businesses. As small businesses themselves, community banks recognize their key role in keeping their local economy strong. This is why, year after year, community banks are responsible for the lion’s share of small business loans and often serve as the only physical banking presence in one-third of counties in the United States.

Now that you understand the benefits and importance of community banking, the only question left is “how do I get started?” Luckily, New Tripoli Bank’s free checking account is a great way to take advantage of the convenience and simplicity of community banking, and you can set it up 100% online or at any of our three offices. No matter which way you come in the door, we’re happy to have you here!

I hope this article has been helpful at illustrating the positives of community banking and no matter where you choose to bank, just remember to keep it local.