The Oakleaf

On Saturday, August 21, we celebrate National Senior Citizens Day. On this day, we should all take a moment to let the seniors in our lives know how much we appreciate them. They are our parents, grandparents, and mentors, and they have set the foundation for much of the important work we do each and every day. One way we can honor our seniors is to do our part to protect them from scammers. Unfortunately, scammers target our nation’s seniors at alarming rates. We encourage you to talk to the seniors in your lives about telephone and letter scams. These scams are a form of elder abuse, and are all too common.

Buying a home can be a complicated process. But as community bankers, we can help navigate you through it every step of the way. And what better time to highlight that commitment than American Housing Month.* So here’s a reminder that we can help you realize your dream of homeownership or plan your move to a new home in the current economy. 

With interest rates so low, homeownership remains very affordable, which is why people have been buying homes throughout the pandemic. To prepare yourself, the best way to start is by allowing a mortgage lender to educate you about the current housing market. We can help you understand what mortgage programs are best for you and which you can afford, including the amount you’ll need to put down and pay monthly.

Being armed with this knowledge is especially important now with the housing inventory so low and home buying so competitive. In fact, it’s not unusual for many people to make offers on the same house within one or two days. Becoming prequalified can give you an edge in that process.

Education for First-time Homebuyers
We are focused on building relationships, so we enjoy spending time educating our clients to make things as easy and affordable as possible. This is important when it comes to big financial decisions like buying a house. And especially for first-time homebuyers, who often have low-to moderate incomes. Connect with a mortgage originator to review your options.

Owning a home is only one part of your financial picture – a picture that changes as you and your family grow. Please remember that we want to help with your other needs including banking, insurance, and financial growth and planning. Please give us a call. We’re always ready to help.




*The American Bankers Association and its foundation celebrate June as American Housing Month to highlight banks’ commitment to help customers reach their housing goals. This month and all year round, that commitment includes education on housing, lending as well as options to help people struggling to pay for their home.

This content was originally featured in the Putnam County Examiner

April 22 marks National Teach Children to Save Day, a “holiday” I’d advocate more Putnam County families learn about. As a mother of two children, ages 11 and 14, as well as a banking professional, I know the reasons it’s called out on the calendar and the importance of talking about financial literacy sooner rather than later.

While the approach may vary from family-to-family, below are a few short tips that have worked for my own family.

February is a time to come together in celebration of the contributions that Black Americans have made throughout American history and a time to pause and reflect on the ongoing struggle for equality and social justice. The theme of Black History Month this year is, The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity. As we take into consideration all that Black History Month represents, I cannot help but think about how timely and appropriate this theme is given all that our country, and specifically our Black neighbors, endured in 2020. While the year has ended, the work for racial justice continues.

History is full of examples of leaders in business, science, and other fields who, through their ability to inspire and guide people, have made the world a better place.  We celebrate our nation’s highest elected office on Presidents’ Day, this year on February 15. With this celebration, especially in the midst of a challenging environment, we thought it a good opportunity to ask Tompkins Mahopac Bank President and CEO Jerry Klein for his thoughts on the subject.

This Valentine’s Day, we’ve been thinking a lot about how much we care about our customers, employees, and the communities we serve.

Big news to share!

Tap. Sign Up. Make a Difference - an easy request that benefited so many. In early fall, Tompkins donated $5 dollars to our local United Way chapters for every new user that signed up for our digital banking service. The donation directly benefitted the United Way’s COVID Relief Fund to help our communities during this trying time.

As a community bank, we’re dedicated to supporting businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to providing loan programs, we can help businesses hold on to the resources they have through services that help prevent fraud.  This is especially important now, when companies are operating with reduced staff, many of whom are working remotely. It’s a time when businesses are especially vulnerable to fraud. In fact, industry experts predict there will be an “explosion” of business and consumer fraud in the coming years.