Spring into the Swing Giveaway

It is Thursday once again and Systematic has another giveaway that I'd like to share with you.

 

It's our Spring into the Swing Giveaway. It's geared toward Missouri State University Students and will be going from now until Febuary 11th. Here is how you can enter and the rules:

 

Simply “like” us on Facebook and then send us a FB message with your name and phone number by February 11th for a chance to win one of 12 back-to-school inspired prizes aimed to help you spring back into the swing of things. Once you enter, you could win:

• one of two $100 gift cards to the Missouri State Bookstore,
• one of two $50 gift cards to 5 # Apparel,
• one of four $25 gift cards to the Bistro Market, or
• five of twenty free play passes to 1984 Arcade.

Once you’ve liked us on Facebook, please stop by our 318 South Avenue location for cookies, coffee, and a friendly conversation about the products and services we have to offer college students. We’ll enter your name into the drawing five more times.
Systematic Savings Bank hopes that 2013 brings you another wonderful semester at MSU. We look forward to serving you. Good luck, students.

Your contact information will only be used to contact you if you win. No purchase is necessary. You do not have to have an account with Systematic to enter. Winners will be contacted by 5:30 p.m. on February 15th.

An individual’s chance of winning depends on the individual’s number of entries and on the number of participants. Systematic Savings Bank is not responsible for lost or stolen gift cards after the cards are given to the prize winners.

Apps that will help you keep your resolutions this year

Happy New Year! Do you have active plans to reach those New Year’s resolutions? Whatever your plans for the New Year are, here are some apps that will help you achieve those goals for 2013.

If your plans are to manage your finances better, then Pageonce is the app for you. It’s free and a personal finance app that makes a note of the incoming/outgoing numbers of your various bank accounts, credit cards, monthly bills.

If your plans are to get more organized this year, try LifeTopix for $1. It manages calendars, to-do lists, agendas, private information, projects, and travel plans. LifeTopix is a blank canvas that adjusts to whatever you want it to be and it syncs across numerous devices.

Want to learn something new? Get iTunesU for your Smart Phone. Topics such as art, business, science, literature or mathematics are just some of the genres you can expect to find on this free service.

If you want to lose weight, LoseIt is a free app that can track your dietary and exercise information daily, so you don’t have to.

If you’ve decided to drop a bad habit, The Habit Factor will break down your expectations into several tasks that can be done easily with habitual training. $5.

Do you want to travel more in 2013? My Trips is a $2 app that helps you build the perfect travel itinerary to anywhere you please.

Good luck!

Getting the most from your bonus, article from MSN.com

Happy LAST THURSDAY of 2012!! We made it through another year. I hope you have big plans to celebrate the start of 2013 and are thinking about what to do with that year-end bonus you might be receiving. If you’re still not sure, Richard Barrington from MoneyRates.com has these suggestions for getting the most out of that bonus:

1. Treat yourself -- within reason.

Splurge. Indulge. That may not be what you were expecting to read in an article on financial advice, but it is very important to get some enjoyment out of your achievements. The important thing is to set limits. Otherwise, your financial windfall may make you feel like you have a license to spend money, which can lead to burning through more than the windfall itself.

Instead, budget a portion of your bonus and reward yourself with some short-term gratification. Then take the rest (ideally, the majority) of that bonus and put it to good long-term use.

2. Pay off credit cards.

While interest rates generally have been falling to record levels, the Federal Reserve reports that rates on outstanding credit card balances recently reached their highest level since 2010, at 13.22%. As a result, using your bonus to pay off a credit card may be one of the most productive moves you can make with it.

3. Get your mortgage above water.

With 30-year mortgage rates now around 3.5%, the only thing that has stopped some people from refinancing is that they still owe more than their homes are worth, due to the decline in housing values. With housing prices starting to recover somewhat, a year-end bonus might make the difference in getting your current mortgage loan above water. That, in turn, could put you in position to take advantage of some of the lowest mortgage rates on record by refinancing.

Look at this as the best of both worlds: You get to spend the money by putting it toward your home's equity, but you still get some ongoing benefit from that money in the form of interest savings.

4. Max out your retirement contributions.

If you haven't reached the contribution limits on tax-deferred plans such as an employer-sponsored 401k or a traditional IRA, then putting your bonus into one of those plans can have multiple benefits: You can defer paying taxes on the amount contributed, build your retirement savings and compound those savings with future investment earnings.

If your employer makes 401k matching contributions, you might even be able to boost the effective size of your bonus by qualifying for that matching money.

5. Start a college savings fund.

If funding a college education is in your future -- whether for yourself, your spouse or a dependent -- then contributing to a tax-advantaged college savings program such as a 529 plan might be a good use for your bonus. According to figures from The Economist, U.S. college tuition in 2010 represented 38% of the median U.S. annual compensation. For most people, that's too heavy a load to bear all at once, so some advance savings can make paying for education much more manageable.

Not only that, but a 529 plan can allow you to take a tax deduction now and pay no tax on distributions from the plan later on -- as long as the money is used for qualified education expenses.

6. Rebalance your portfolio.

As your goals, income and gains or losses change, your investment portfolio needs to be readjusted periodically. Rather than having to force security sales to make these adjustments, the most efficient way to rebalance a portfolio is to do it when introducing new money into the program.

7. Get a better savings account rate.

If you are putting some of your bonus into a savings account, take the opportunity to ensure that your account is offering a competitive yield. Be sure to shop for the best rates before you settle on a new savings account, and be aware that making a larger deposit might qualify you for higher rates.

8. Eliminate checking account fees.

Free checking accounts are getting harder to find, but banks generally will waive checking account fees if you meet a minimum balance requirement. The money from your year-end bonus might beef up your account enough to meet that threshold, and those savings could amount to more than you would earn in interest on the same amount of money.

A year-end bonus is your reward for 12 months of hard work. If you put that bonus to work wisely, you could see it continue to reward you over the next 12 months -- and beyond.

Winter Hours

It's snowing in Springfield!

We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year, from all of us at Systematic Savings Bank. In light of the season, we have some winter hours to share with you:

• Systematic will be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. December 24 for Christmas Eve and December 31 for New Year's Eve.
• We will be closed December 25 for Christmas and January 1 for New Years.



Pictured left to right: Phyllis Ann, Judy, Benny, Dani, and Anne


Have a safe and happy holiday season! May your days be merry and bright.

Help. Give. Hope.

In light of the Christmas season, I want to pay a special tribute this week to a local non-profit organization that is dear to our hearts year-round: Help Give Hope. Michael Brady, our president at Systematic Savings Bank, has been volunteering every season for years in Help Give Hope’s Christmas Project and is happy to be a part of this programs growth.  

Help Give Hope is an organization based right here in Springfield that assists needy families, in particular children, in southwest Missouri. It was founded originally to provide help during the holiday season, but Help Give Hope now offers year-round assistance to children in need.

During last year’s Christmas Project Help Give Hope provided clothing, toys, furniture, appliances, food and automobiles to 228 families— including over 800 children.

Throughout the year they assist families with utility, rental assistance, gas vouchers and educational help. They even offer a used car program.

100% of all donations to Help Give Hope go directly to the families in need and all donations are private.

If you’re interested in donating or volunteering with Help Give Hope this Christmas season, please check out their website: www.helpgivehope.org they could always use another helping hand.





Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Systematic Savings Bank.

The Systematic Christmas Tree

This week we’ve been decorating for the holidays. So I thought while we were in the spirit of things, this would be the most appropriate time to update everyone on the happenings here at Systematic.

First of all, thanks to everyone who participated in our holiday giveaways. We received a great response from you guys. We will be contacting winners on December 3^rd so make sure to be checking your email, voicemails, and Facebook messages.

Second, the December art walk is next Friday, December 7 from 6 p.m. – 9ish. We’ll be showcasing paintings from local artist, Tyler Patterson and various art works from Drury University students. As always, we’ll provide fresh-baked cookies and hot coffee all evening. Don’t miss out! We’ve even decorated for the festivities. See you there.

Also, know that if you open a checking account with us before December 31^st of this year you get a $10 gift card to the Mud House. Who doesn’t love free espresso?

From all of us at Systematic Savings Bank, Happy Holidays!

Paint the Town Red Holiday Giveaway

So...the holidays are approaching. That means this is the perfect time for me to shamlessly promote our new giveaway. Read below for all of the rules on how to enter.  

Contest entry time: November 1st – 22nd (3 weeks) Act now!

 

Paint the town red this holiday season with one of our two holiday giveaways. From all of us at Systematic Savings Bank!

Simply “like” our Facebook page anytime between November 1st-November 22nd, and you could win the Perfect Night Out in Downtown Springfield Package for two. Enjoy a movie at the Hollywood Theater, dine your heart out at The Aviary Café and Creperie, and then relax afterward at the Mud House. Gentleman, we got your back and won’t tell her otherwise. Ladies, don’t miss this opportunity to doll up and go out! That’s an $80 value, on us. Must be 17 or older to enter. Make sure you send us a Facebook message with your name, phone number, and Email address so we can contact you if you win.

Once you “like” our Facebook page, tag us in a status and tell everyone about your favorite Systematic Savings Bank post, blog, or event by November 22nd to enter for a chance to win our follower-appreciation giveaway. You could win one of three $25 gift-cards to the new Scotch & Soda on South Avenue. Be the first of your friends to try it out! Must be 21 or older to enter. Please enjoy responsibly.

The winners of both giveaways will be announced on December 3rd. Check our Facebook page for the announcement.

No purchase necessary. Be prepared to present your ID when you come in to pick up either prize. If you already like our Facebook, you are automatically entered into the Downtown Springfield package for two. Make sure you tag and mention us in a status to enter for one of three gift-cards to Scotch & Soda. Systematic Savings Bank is not responsible for lost or stolen gift-cards or any misdemeanors that may occur when the cards are given to the prize-winner(s).