Summer 2017 Newsletter

Summer, Summer
Is almost here, 
Time for fun,
And swimming gear. 

Trips to the beach
Are always such fun, 
Along with baseball,
And games where we run. 

Summer, Summer
Is almost here, 
I can hardly wait,
Let's give a big cheer!

What Does The Manager Do?

When you visit your local F&M Bank branch with Mom or Dad, you probably see lots of different people doing tons of different things. We thought it would fun to show you what all those people do and how it affects you! This month, let's learn a little bit about the duties of a branch manager.  

A manager is the person who oversees the daily activities of the branch. They have an office located in the branch so they can see all the customers coming and going and make sure there are enough people working to take care of all our customers. Managers take a lot of phone calls and try to work out all the day to day issues that someone may have. For example, someone who lost their checkbook might be very scared and upset. The manager will work to encourage the customer that their account and personal information will stay safe!   

Managers can also help customers that want to buy new homes. Customers may have a lot of questions because it’s so new to them. The manager makes sure the entire branch is up to date on all new accounts the bank offers so we can serve our customers in the best way we know how. You may have one of those special accounts, it’s called the “Treehouse Savings” account.  One day you may need a new car and guess what?  The manager just may be able to help you with that.

The manager is involved in all departments of their branch. They stay very busy making sure their team is ok. Their team is kind of like their kids.

The manager’s goal is simple. They love their customers and their team and want what’s best for them just like Mom and Dad take care of you.

The next time you’re in the bank see if you can pick out the manager and stop in and say hi! Maybe they will even take you on a tour of their branch.

What is a Savings Account? 

A savings account is a bank account where money is kept so that it can safely grow. Your Treehouse Account is a saver! Since you opened a savings account, you can now deposit money into the account or withdraw money from the account, with your parents permission. These accounts are perfect for saving for big spends like a car or college!

Once you put money into your account, it is then used to make loans to other customers so they can purchase things they need. But don't worry, your money is always there when you need it! Plus, your money that is in the account earns interest, a small fee paid to you by the bank.

Complete the savings account quiz to be entered to win a prize!

A Few Hot Tips for Caring for Your Pet This Summer

School is out and summer is about to begin. Are you ready for vacation? Remember your sunscreen and drink a lot of water!  I bet you hear that a lot from your parents. But did you realize summer time can be dangerous for our pets also? We love our pets and want to protect them as much as we can. Here are three tips that can help your special pets have the best summer ever.

Respect the heat. Did you know that animals can get overwhelmed by the heat? They are very limited in their ability to deal with heat. Dogs release heat through their paw pads and by panting. People can sweat through all of the skin on their body. Please make sure your pet has plenty of fresh cool water and keep them from running around outside during the hottest hours of the day. Also, be sure to test the pavement before your pets walk on it! If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for a dog or kitty. 

Keep bugs away. Ticks and fleas are bad and can carry many diseases. One thing you can tell your parents is to keep the grass cut short where your pet runs and plays. This will help you be able to see those nasty little bugs. Also talk to your parents and vet about ways to keep your pet protected.

Find out if your pets need sunscreen. If you have a pet with short fine hair and pink skin, they can get sunburned just like you. Talk to your parents about the best sunscreen for your pet. Some sunscreens may cause your pet to become very sick if they were to lick it off their fur.

Summer pet safety isn’t very hard, it just requires some thought and attention. Watch over your pet just like you would watch over your baby brother or sister. If you follow this simple rule everything should be just fine.

At F&M Bank, our employees love animals, and most have pets of their own. Below, you'll see Sadie, the Shetland Sheep Dog, and Izzy, the cat, who belong to our Marketing Specialist, Kelsey Wakeman. She makes sure her animals are always happy and healthy, especially during the summer when heat and bugs cause problems! 

Easy Jell-O Popsicles

Stay cool this summer and enjoy a Jell-O popsicle! They're super
simple to make and a delicious treat to snack on!

Ingredients:

Instructions: 

Frozen Dog Treats

Don't just enjoy your Jell-O popsicles alone! Dogs love frozen treats too! By following the below recipes, you can help your pups stay cool this summer. 

Peanut Butter Banana Pupsicles

32 oz plain yogurt

3 Tbsp  peanut butter

1 banana

1 Tbsp honey (optional)

Directions: 

1) Blend ingredients together in a blender or
food processor. I used the blender, because it
has a spout.

2) Fill silicone molds or ice trays. You can
find paw and bone molds on Amazon.

3) Freeze.

4) Keep leftovers in an airtight container.

Pumpkin Banana Pupsicles

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree- not pumpkin pie filling

1 banana

1 cup plain yogurt

1 tsp honey (optional)

Directions: 

1) Blend pumpkin puree and banana until smooth.

2) Combine yogurt and mixture into a large bowl, if you are adding honey do so now. Spoon or pour into silicone molds or ice trays.

3) Freeze.

4) Keep leftovers in an airtight container.

*Variations:

Use homemade peanut butter by warming non-salted peanuts the oven, then blending in blender or food processor until smooth. Use dog treats as a pupsicle stick.

One of our tellers, Heather King, makes these frozen treats for her pup Hank on hot summer days. He loves pupsicles!