Regardless, the survey is one of the most important things we do at our bank to know how we can improve, and what we’re doing well.

Our survey is conducted every two years via e-mail. We use a representative sample of business and personal account customers, and use a third-party survey research company to collect and assemble all the data.

We do this to ensure the information we receive is accurate, valid and reliable. Then we anxiously await the results to see exactly how we’re doing.

As you’ve already read in our lead story, we did pretty well this year. In fact, we did extremely well. Our customers are happy, and we are delivering the services they want and need.

It’s one thing to deliver service with a smile, but if that service is not what a customer wants, all the friendly faces in the world won’t keep that customer happy. That’s why we are so pleased to know we are giving our customers what they want, when they want it, and with a smile.

So we’ll keep trucking along, doing what we do best. And occasionally we’ll stop to ask our customers how we’re doing.

By the way, the smiles come at no extra charge.

The post Happy Customers appeared first on Adams Dairy Bank.

At the time of this writing, our nation’s leaders were still debating the pros and cons of tax increases, budget cutting and fiscal planning. At Adams Dairy Bank we debated the value of an article about our economic future with so much still undecided. But the truth is, the best way to face uncertainty is with deliberate action.

So, with a view from atop the fiscal cliff, we offer some sound advice for 2013.

Let’s all make a New Year’s resolution to take charge of our financial well-being. Let’s get in shape, physically and figuratively. By being proactive and deliberate in managing our finances, we can avoid uncertainty and feel better about the future.

Start Now

There’s no better time than now to take charge of your financial well-being. It’s January, a natural time to start-over, renew and refresh. But it’s also just a few short months until April 15th. So don’t delay and start now. There are still plenty of things you can do to impact your 2012 tax liability.

Consider opening an IRA account at Adams Dairy Bank. Consult with your tax advisor early and if you would benefit from deferring income through an IRA, come see us. We’ll be happy to help you set up an FDIC-insured savings plan.

No Roller Coaster Ride

As debate rises over the impact of the fiscal cliff, we might all just feel like we’ve jumped off a cliff. The stock market will likely take a roller coaster ride as news of Washington’s progress, or lack of progress, makes investors nervous.

Want to eliminate the upset stomach that comes with the ups-and-downs of the stock market? Consider getting off the ride for a little while.

As investors go to the sidelines to wait out economic uncertainties, they often forget the advantages traditional banks offer. FDIC-insured accounts are the best place to protect yourself from stock market volatility, both short- and long-term.

Money Market Accounts, Certificates of Time Deposit and Individual Retirement Account Certificates of Time Deposit are just some of the money savings instruments available to you at the bank. Each provides different features and benefits, and all can provide a safe respite from the uncertainty of the stock market.

Only 355 Days until Christmas

Well, give or take a few days, depending on when you read this article.

If you found yourself sharing a little too much Christmas cheer this year, you might be facing some unexpected bills left over from your holiday shopping. Nobody likes to start a New Year with bills or debt.

Take charge of next year’s holiday spending by opening an Adams Dairy Bank Christmas Club account. You can start saving now for next season without worry or anxiety. A Christmas Club account is the easiest way to save today and reduce your economic uncertainty in the future.

A Cup of Coffee

Still feeling a little uneasy about your economic future? Not quite sure how to improve your own financial well-being? A simple cup of coffee might be the perfect cure.

Give us a call and make an appointment to come by the bank for a cup of coffee. Let’s talk about 2013, and together, let’s enjoy the view from up here.

The post The View Looks Good From Here appeared first on Adams Dairy Bank.

We work very hard to know our customers, not just by name, but to know about you, your family and your business. We’ve even become very fond of the customer pets that occasionally come to visit the bank. And we want you to know us as well.

Did you know Kevin Vogt was recently re-elected treasurer of the Blue Springs Rotary Club? Have you stopped by our parking lot for a hot dog and lemonade on Saturday mornings? Or did you witness our wicked bowling talent at the Blue Springs Economic Development Corporation bowling tournament?

We enjoy being active members of our community. But when you can’t come join us, you can definitely join in the fun on our Facebook page. This is our way of inviting our customers to be even more engaged with our associates, not just as your bankers, but also as your neighbors.

So, the next time you get that sweet new truck, don’t be afraid to come by the bank and show us. You might even wind up on Facebook.

To get to know your bank better, follow us on Facebook.

The post Your Bank Has a Face (book) appeared first on Adams Dairy Bank.

We don’t spend a lot of time planning to be active citizens. Good deeds just come easy.

When our associates join our bank team they come to us already full of good deeds, philanthropic interests and civic participation. We just help nurture the spiritof our associates and follow their lead into the community.

Our customers have also been great enthusiasts of our civic and philanthropic endeavors. A fundraiser, a chamber of commerce meeting or any gathering of good citizens is a great way for us to see and know our customers outside of our banking relationship.

To our associates, customers, board members and shareholders who have stood with us in supporting the community, we say thank you. And we hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on all the good deeds you perform, every day.

Adams Dairy Bank Good Deeds

• Donated office space at Barett Park for StandUp Blue Springs
• Annually host a dinner at the Rotary Youth Camp for Boy Scouts of America
• Helped clean up the Rotary Youth Camp
• Volunteered at the Blue Springs Rotary Car Raffle
• Donated a puppy two years in a row for the Blue Springs South Football Auction
• Sponsored Blue Springs South Football Booster Club for three years
• Hosted a pizza dinner for the Blue Springs South Basketball Seniors for three years
• Served pizza for the Blue Springs South Football tailgate event
• Planted flowers along Adams Dairy Bank Parkway
• Contributed to the Blue Springs South Senior breakfast
• Made a contribution to the University of Sioux Falls Foundation
• Made a contribution at the annual St. Mary’s volunteer luncheonH
• Hosted a table at the annual dinner for the Genesis School
• Made a contribution to the Genesis School
• Volunteered at Harvesters on two occasions
• Set up the Annual Community Service League Banquet
• Donated Starlight tickets for the Golden Regiment Marching Band Auction
• Conduct bank tours for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts
• Conduct free Hot Dog Saturdays at Adams Dairy Bank
• Volunteered time painting at William Bryant Elementary
• Hosted a table at the St. Mary’s Butterfly Ball for four years
• Volunteered at the Boy Scouts of America Thunderbird District Dinner
• Made a contribution to the Jake Cavanaugh Foundation
• Sponsored Bike Night at Side Pockets with a donation to the Patriot Guard Riders
• Sponsored event at Blue Springs South High School with “American Idol” David Cook
• David Chinnery was nominated in 2008 as Outstanding Business Person of the Year
• Sponsored a table at the Blue Springs Chamber Annual Dinner several years and won best centerpiece in 2011
• Made a donation for St. Mary’s Manor clean up
• Hosted a Royal’s night out for loan customers
• Sold newspapers for the Lee’s Summit Rotary
• Sponsored The Knights of Columbus Poker- Dice Run III to benefit the Special Olympics
• Volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House on two occasions
• Made a donation to the Rainbow Center Auction Gala
• Donated food to the Grain Valley Food Bank
• Donated bottled water for Valley Fair Days
• Donated bottled water for the Rotary Peddling Against Polio bike ride

The post Good Deeds Come Easy appeared first on Adams Dairy Bank.

Identity theft is a serious crime that can cost you time and money, as well as have a serious impact on your credit report. Frequently, we see customers who don’t realize their information has been compromised until they apply for a new loan or account. Adams Dairy Bank has safeguards in place to protect your information but there are also several things you can do to protect yourself.

Identity thieves use several methods to steal personal information, such as:

• Dumpster diving – they rummage through trash looking for bills or personal information
• Skimming – they steal credit and debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card
• Phishing – they send email or pop-up messages, pretending to be financial institutions or government agencies, prompting you to reveal personal information online
• Hacking – they attempt to access your email and other online accounts to obtain your personal information

You can protect yourself by safeguarding your personal information. Here are some simple things to remember:

• Be sure to shred financial documents and paperwork before disposing of it
• Protect your social security number and personal information
• Avoid giving out personal information over the phone, through the mail or over the internet especially when using public wireless connections
• Make sure you’re protected online by using spyware and firewalls where appropriate
• Don’t click on links sent in unfamiliar emails or pop-up windows

Watch out for signs that someone has accessed your personal information. Be alert to things like:

• Bills that do not arrive as expected
• Unexpected credit cards or account statements
• Denials of credit for no apparent reason
• Calls or letters about purchases you did not make
• Charges on your financial statements that you don’t recognize

Be sure to regularly inspect your credit report. You are entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months. Request one online at www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.

If you suspect fraud on your account, immediately place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports. A call to one of the following companies is sufficient:

• Experian: 1-888-397-3743
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

More identity theft resources from the Federal Trade Commission

When in doubt – call us sooner rather than later. We are here to help you protect yourself and, if necessary, help you recover from identity theft.

The post DETER. DETECT. DEFEND… AVOID ID THEFT appeared first on Adams Dairy Bank.

The post MORE INTEREST IN LOWER-INTEREST LOANS appeared first on Adams Dairy Bank.

529 college savings plans (named for section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code) are special investment accounts designed to help families save for higher education at eligible two- and four-year colleges, postgraduate programs, or secondary trade and vocational schools.

These state-run savings plans vary from state to state, and nowhere are the benefits greater than in the state of Missouri.

Matching Grants

This year, Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel announced the MOST Matching Grant Program to help many Missouri families save for higher education. The MOST 529 Matching Grant Program provides a privately funded dollar-for-dollar match on contributions to a 529 plan, up to $500 per year, with a lifetime maximum of $2,500 for households with a Missouri adjusted gross income from $0 to $74,999.

This is an opportunity to not only save for a college education through a tax deferred program, but gain a matching contribution from the state. This is a powerful benefit that nobody should pass up.

Limited Time to Apply

The application process to apply for the MOST 529 Matching Grant Program opened March 1, 2012, and the final date to submit an application is June 20, 2012.

Tax Benefits

Your 529 assets grow tax-deferred, and withdrawals are exempt from federal income tax when used for qualified higher-education expenses. There are additional state tax benefits and other considerations that may impact you. We encourage you to consult a tax adviser for further guidance.

Missouri at Work

Once again we applaud Treasurer Zweifel, his staff and the entire state Legislature for developing programs that truly benefit our hard working friends, families and neighbors.

Learn more about the MOST 529 Matching Grant Program.

The post Free Money and a College Education appeared first on Adams Dairy Bank.

By: Katie Jackson, Client Service Specialist

We’ve all been at the check-out counter of our favorite grocer or retailer and waited for the proverbial question: Paper or plastic? Debit or credit? Unfortunately, many people give more thought to choosing paper over plastic than they do the choice involving a financial transaction.

There is a difference between a debit and a credit transaction. It may be the exact same card you use for both, but the button you press (credit or debit) can make a difference in many ways. A wise consumer always chooses debit over credit.

Debit is Safer
A debit transaction is safer because of the PIN (personal identification number) required for each transaction.

Fraud is a concern for everyone. By using an effective PIN, you take one opportunity for fraud away from criminals. Signatures can be easily forged and can take days or weeks to identify. A safely managed PIN however, can protect you from a lost or stolen card immediately.

Adams Dairy Bank tries to protect its customers from fraudulent card use by putting restrictions on signature-based transactions that take place outside of Missouri and adjoining states. By always using your debit card you ensure that your transaction will be accepted wherever you travel.

If you will be traveling out of state and think you may need to use your debit card for a credit transaction (e.g. at restaurants), please call us so we can activate that option on your account.

A debit card with a unique PIN not shared with others can be difficult, if not impossible, for a criminal to use. Take additional precautions by never writing down your PIN, and by advising your bank if you suspect any unauthorized use of your card.

Additional Convenience
Debit provides the additional convenience of allowing you access to cash from your account immediately. Today’s consumers use cashback with debit transactions instead of going to the bank or finding an ATM.

Many users of debit transactions maintain their account balances in places other than a checkbook. And, because debits are recorded at the time of transaction, up-to-the-minute activity recorded on your debit card receipt can prevent costly overdrafts and help you better understand your balance at all times.

The Right Thing to Do
We encourage our customers to make a habit of choosing debit over credit. Debit provides a safer, more convenient method of banking. Providing safe, convenient banking services is what we do at Adams Dairy Bank.

The post DEBIT vs. CREDIT? appeared first on Adams Dairy Bank.

The post David’s Two Cents: It Takes A Community to Raise a Bank appeared first on Adams Dairy Bank.

The post GET ME OFF THIS ROLLER COASTER appeared first on Adams Dairy Bank.