
Before Purchasing
Know what you can afford. Keep track of your monthly finances and determine how much money you can afford to spend after paying for groceries, bills, and other necessities. Once you have a number, stick to a spending plan to make sure you don’t live beyond your means.Research the product. It may feel like a lot of work for something as simple as making a purchase, but proper research can help you avoid buying a product or service with a history of complaints or missing a lower price for the same product. Check product reviews for common issues people have with the product. Investigate the company selling the product and make sure you are buying from a reputable seller; check the Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have been filed against the company.Beware social media ads. There are many ads that pop up on Facebook and Instagram with great deals. Be sure to do your research before you buy. Use Google search to verify the product and seller. There may be scammers that use Facebook ads, advertising great deals to trick you into entering your card information.Read the fine print. Before you sign a contract for a big purchase or hire someone for a service, make sure you read and understand everything you are agreeing to. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you’re unsure about something and never sign until you are 100% comfortable. Make sure you get everything in writing, and never pay in full until the job is done and you are satisfied with the workmanship.
While Shopping
Make sure to compare prices. Being a consumer in the age of smart phones means instant access to information that consumers in previous generations could only dream of. If you see a product that you’d like to purchase at a retail store, take the time to look it up online and see if other stores are selling it at a better price. Some retail stores offer price matching, so you don’t even need to make another trip!Be careful with financing options. Companies sometimes offer 0% financing options for larger purchases (for example, window installations and furniture), which can be great for staying within your budget. However, make sure you understand the terms of any contracts you sign, as these offers usually come with extremely high interest rates that you will be required to pay if you fail to make your minimum monthly payment.Though most shopping still happens in retail stores, many people have switched exclusively to shopping online since the pandemic, which can come with a whole host of problems for consumers who aren’t careful! When shopping online:Stick to secure, reputable sites. Look for URLs that start with https://. These websites use encryption to protect your sensitive data. Keep an eye out for red flags such as spelling mistakes, malfunctioning features, or a lack of contact information. When in doubt, search the site’s name to see if the search results are filled with articles about frauds related to the site.Avoid shopping on public wi-fi or public computers. Hackers will often target users on public networks with keyloggers or other methods to steal your information. You also never know who is watching you in a public place, so it is best to avoid entering personal information in such situations.Make sure to read all contracts and agreements. Don’t click the check box without reading the documentation. It is especially important to read a website’s terms of use to understand how the company plans to use your data and if they share it with other companies.Look for a return policy. Any reputable company will have a link to their return policy somewhere on the front page of their website. It’s important to understand your rights as a consumer before you buy.
After Buying
Keep a copy of any receipts, warranties, or service contracts. Consider creating a binder to hold all this documentation, as you may need it later to make a claim or in the event of a recall. You should make copies of any receipts printed with ink that could fade quickly.Be a responsible borrower. If you financed a purchase or used your credit card, make sure you have a plan to pay it back quickly! Try to pay down outstanding balances immediately if you can. You can also contact a credit counseling service for additional help managing debt.Make a complaint. If you’re not happy with your purchase, contact the seller and give them a chance to fix the problem. If the issue cannot be resolved, you may want to consider making a formal complaint to the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission.It’s easy to be a smart consumer if you arm yourself with the proper tools. A New Tripoli Bank checking account gives you access to our mobile banking tools such as email/text alerts that are customizable to you, which makes keeping track of spending and budgeting even easier. You can download the CardValet app to help monitor your accounts for fraud. Just make sure the next time you go shopping to keep these helpful tips in mind!
New Tripoli Bank donated $10,500 to the Cetronia Ambulance Corps to show its support for their organization’s mission to provide emergency medical services, transportation, and community health resources to the Lehigh Valley region.
“New Tripoli Bank is committed to making sure our local emergency services teams have the funds they need to maintain and upgrade their equipment,” said John M. Hayes, CEO of New Tripoli Bank.
Cetronia Ambulance Corps is one of the largest providers of ambulance services in Eastern Pennsylvania, employing 135 full- and part-time career associates, 20 active volunteers and boasting a total fleet of 41 vehicles. As the regional leader in EMS, Cetronia Ambulance Corps fields over 45,000 calls annually, covering an emergency service area that spans across 130 square miles, and a non-emergency coverage area that encompasses five counties. They also provide emergency response training and education programs for groups, businesses, and individuals.
“We are so thankful to be serving this wonderful community that has shown us such great support for the lifesaving work we have been doing for the past 68 years. We look forward to the future and the advances that we can make because of our generous donors,” said Robert F. Mateff Sr., CEO of Cetronia Ambulance Corps, “New Tripoli Bank has been an excellent supporter of EMS over the years, and we can't thank them enough for their community-minded vision.”

Pictured from left to right: John M. Hayes, New Tripoli Bank CEO, Robert F. Mateff Sr., Cetronia Ambulance Corps CEO, Kim Blichar, Cetronia Ambulance Corps Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Michele Hunsicker, New Tripoli Bank CFO

Open a Checking Account
While a checking account can't help you improve your credit score, it does help you balance your budget while you're establishing a credit history. By making credit card and loan payments with your checking account, you will see all of your monthly transactions on a single bank statement rather than having to compare several different statements in order to get a full view of your financial situation.Another benefit of checking accounts is that most come with a debit card. Using a debit card along with your credit card is safer than paying with cash, since banks offer fraud protection and card controls to help prevent negative impact to your credit if your card is lost or stolen. Make sure to monitor your credit and bank statements regularly, so you can correct any errors and detect signs of potential identity theft.Automate Bill Payments
One of the easiest ways to damage your credit is to fall behind on loan or credit card payments. Thankfully, most banks (New Tripoli Bank included) offer automatic bill pay through their online banking platforms to ensure that your monthly bills are paid.An emergency fund is helpful for staying ahead of your bill payments. A good rule of thumb is to set aside enough money to pay for six months of living expenses so that, in the event of an emergency, you can absorb unexpected expenses and avoid penalties for late payments. Thankfully, most banks' online banking platforms allow you to set up automatic, recurring transfers between accounts, so you can set aside a portion of each paycheck for a rainy day into a dedicated emergency savings account.Show Stability in Your Credit Use
As you work to maintain your credit, you should seek to develop a good mix of credit—for example, paying down a mortgage loan plus credit card payments—to demonstrate that you can manage different types of credit, which can improve your credit score. It is also better to pay down your credit gradually instead of immediately paying off your debt all at once, as it shows you are capable of making payments on time.If you are planning to use credit for a large purchase, you should adjust your credit usage leading up to the purchase. For at least three to six months prior to your purchase, you should focus on paying down existing debt and avoid incurring new debt.By establishing these spending and saving habits early, you'll be able to make your money work for you so you can speed up your recovery from temporary financial roadblocks and remain financially healthy. If you are concerned about your financial wellness, New Tripoli Bank offers checking, savings, and lending options to help you navigate pivotal financial milestones and plan for your financial future. Reach out to one of our friendly community bankers who can help steer you in the right direction for 2023.
New Tripoli Bank donated $10,500 to the Northern Valley EMS, Inc. (NOVA) in recognition of the important role the organization serves in protecting the health and safety of the community.
“This check shows our Bank’s commitment to keeping our community safe and our faith in the service NOVA’s volunteers provide to the Lehigh Valley,” said John M. Hayes, CEO of New Tripoli Bank. Hayes was joined by Michele Hunsicker, Chief Financial Officer for the Bank, to present the check to Jason Breidinger, NOVA Board Trustee, and Kristie Wentling, Executive Director of NOVA. The Bank has shown its support for NOVA for several years through annual donations to their organization.
NOVA provides non-profit emergency medical services to North Whitehall, Washington, Heidelberg, and portions of Lowhill Townships and the Boroughs of Slatington and Walnutport, serving more than 45,000 residents of the Lehigh Valley. They operate year-round, 24-hour ambulance services as well as providing emergency response training and education programs to volunteers in the community.

Pictured from left to right: John M. Hayes, New Tripoli Bank CEO, Kristie Wentling, NOVA Executive Director, Jason Breidinger, NOVA Board Trustee, Michele Hunsicker, New Tripoli Bank CFO
New Tripoli Bank's mobile banking platform will be receiving an update targeted for a release date of January 18th. Here is a list of changes you should be aware of.
- You may be required to enroll for Fast Balances in order to use the balances link on the bottom-left of the sign-in page. In order to enroll in Fast Balances, go to "Manage Balances" in the Service Center. Fast Balances allow you to see your current balance for the accounts you enable without needing to enter your User ID or password.
- This update will require you to re-establish any FingerPrint/FaceID Biometrics to login using that feature. When enabled, this feature allows you to log in securely without entering your user ID and password.
- The new "Forgot User ID" feature will allow you to retrieve your user ID if you are unable to remember it by following a few steps, after which an email will be sent to your email address on file with your user ID.
New Tripoli Bank’s Board of Directors has approved the promotion of Andrea Harris, Bank Security Act (BSA) and Security Officer, Timothy Trach, Loan Operations Manager, and Matt Koncz, Controller and Certified Public Accountant, each to the position of Assistant Vice President.
“Each one of these employees has shown excellent leadership skills and dedication to the bank,” said John M. Hayes, New Tripoli Bank’s CEO. “The Board of Directors and I thought it was time to recognize the important role each one of them plays in our organization.”
Andrea Harris joined the bank in 2011 and has worked as a Community Banker and Accounting Specialist prior to managing the bank’s BSA/Security Department. Timothy Trach joined the bank in 2016 as a Credit Analyst, then moved to the position of Mortgage Loan Officer and then was promoted to Manager of Loan Operations. Matt Koncz was hired in 2019 to join the bank’s Accounting Department as the Controller.
Pictured from left to right: Matt Koncz, Andrea Harris, Tim Trach
Our condolences go out to the men and women of the New Tripoli Fire Company. We are shocked and saddened by the news that two firefighters, Assistant Chief Zachary Paris and Marvin Gruber, died yesterday while trying to save people trapped in a burning house in West Penn Township.
These men knew the risks they took every time the alarm rang, and they still answered the call. We are so very fortunate to have such brave men and women willing to put their lives on the line to protect our community.
Please join the bank, its Directors and employees, in sending deepest sympathies and heartfelt love for the lost, their families, and the other members of the Fire Company and their families in this difficult time.
On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, John M. Hayes, CEO of New Tripoli Bank, presented a lecture on financial literacy at William Allen High School in Allentown. This talk is part of the bank’s initiative to promote financial literacy to young people in the Lehigh Valley.
A total of 225 high school students attended Mr. Hayes’ lectures throughout the day. John discussed several financial literacy topics including the different types of bank accounts, interest rates and other banking terms, the various types of fraud and scams and how to recognize them, and tips for students to better prepare for job interviews. Students in attendance posed questions that Mr. Hayes was more than happy to answer, pulling from decades of banking experience to teach students about financial literacy.
“New Tripoli Bank has a long history of helping students understand banking, the job market, and why these issues are crucial for their future,” Hayes said. “In addition, fraud is here to stay, and students need the tools to protect themselves and their families.”
New Tripoli Bank prepared several handouts for the students to take with them following the presentation. The bank also provided promotional items that the high school faculty raffled off to students who attended the lectures. New Tripoli Bank thanks William Allen High School’s teachers for approaching the bank with the opportunity to help empower their students to make good financial choices in their futures.









Nobody likes tricks when it comes to banking. At New Tripoli Bank, we focus on the “treats” that distinguish us as your trusted bank.
We do business the old-fashioned way – one customer at a time - partnered with today’s conveniences like mobile/online banking. It’s been our philosophy since we opened the doors 112 years ago, and it continues to help us serve the unique needs of our customers today.
Community banks’ relationship focus has made us America’s favorite lenders according to a Federal Reserve small business credit survey, with approval ratings well ahead of those megabanks and online lenders.
It’s not just proximity that wins repeat business. Unlike credit unions and the Farm Credit System, New Tripoli Bank effectively serves both individuals of modest means and agricultural borrowers without taxpayer-funded subsidies.
We put our dollars to work right here in the Lehigh Valley, helping to support local school districts, fire departments, EMS departments, and other municipal services. New Tripoli Bank also helps fortify our community through philanthropic outreach and civic service. In 2021 alone, New Tripoli Bank donated over $200,000 to local aid organizations, fire departments, and historical societies.
Our employees volunteer to help in our community. They sit on the boards of the East Penn, Greater Lehigh Valley, and Western Lehigh Chambers of Commerce. Members of our organization volunteer with food banks, churches, youth sports associations, and emergency services all around the valley. For example, volunteers from the bank helped stock shelves at the Lowhill Food Pantry and others handed out free ice cream to patrons of Pioneer Apple Fest.
The treats don’t end there. Community banks have a strong track record of helping underserved Americans by providing greater flexibility to low-income and minority borrowers. It’s the community banking way. New Tripoli Bank is committed to providing community development loans that provide financing for the construction of affordable housing, non-profit organizations serving low-moderate income markets, local and state community development projects, and community revitalization efforts.
We won’t disguise tricks as treats or leave customers holding the bag during times of need. Our fates are linked, so when good things happen for you, New Tripoli Bank and our community win as well. That’s the community banking difference, and it’s pretty sweet.
Next Page »« Previous Page