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Visitors To Gilmore Bank

On April 20th I had the pleasure of meeting with 17 bankers from two regional community banks in Japan: Banshu Shinkin Bank and Tajima Shinkin Bank.  The visit was arranged by Kinyu Keizai Press Company, a publisher of financial news in Japan. Kinyu organizes such trips annually to allow for the study of worldwide trends in community banking.  

This year's delegation chose to study practices and trends in California's community banks. They were interested in  how banks like Gilmore connect with our local communities, how we compete against national bank, what innovative products and services (such as online banking) we offer, and the impact of the recent mortgage crisis on our bank.  They were particularly interested in hearing about Gilmore Bank's Health Savings Account and our process for consumer loan approvals.

In addition to visiting with those of us at Gilmore, the group met with with David Haithcock of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and California Independent Bankers (CIB) as well as Pacific Premier Bank. They are now headed to the Bay Area and where they will visit the Bank of Marin, Bank of the West, Bank of Alameda, and Union Bank.  

Building an 
Emergency Fund

We KNOW we need to save. Financial advisors tell us we need to build enough readily available cash to cover at least 3-6 months worth of living expenses. Yet most of us struggle to save ... usually because we don’t have a budget or financial plan in place. Saving money is forgotten about until we need it, but by that time, it's too late.

The success of the 401k or similar retirement plans is that it's automatic.  Contributions are deducted directly from our payroll check before we have the opportunity to spend it! Yet, the same strategy can likewise be used to build a more readily available savings fund.  By simply setting up an automatic transfer from your checking account into a savings or money market account each time your paycheck is deposited can help build savings at a rapid pace.

Gilmore Bank would be glad to help you think through a smart savings strategy to keep you and your family financially secure for times when unexpected circumstances require extra cash. Call us anytime,toll free, at 877-549-2100

How Green Are You Banking

Green banking is a great opportunity for consumers and businesses to simplify banking and make changes that are good for the environment. Electronic banking IS green banking. Using debit cards and online banking allow us to both go paperless and reduce risk for fraud and identity theft. E-banking … or Gbanking as Gilmore Bank likes to refer to it ... is smart for a number of reasons.

• Using online banking, direct deposits and automatic payments protect the environment by reducing the number of car trips to the local ATM or bank.
• There are more controls in the electronic world … controls that are not present when you use checks which contain your signature and account number.
• Managing accounts online enables users to identify fraud more quickly … and helps avoid late fees.  Those who pay bills and manage account activities online are generally more aware of their finances and fraud can be detected earlier.