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.

Autumn is here and while the leaves and temperatures are falling, it seems like the price of food and gas aren't following suit. On top of that, the changing season means more reasons to spend money including increased utility bills, updating your winter wardrobe, and planning for holiday purchases. Here are some tips to help you rake in some savings this fall season.

Winter-proof your home. Some TLC in the fall goes a long way toward cutting down on winter utility bills. Consider improving your home insulation by caulking or  using weather-stripping on windows and doors, and clean out your gutters to help with drainage. Cleaning or changing your furnace filter and checking if your roof is in need of repairs are two economical habits essential to prepare for the winter months. You should also consider switching to energy-efficient lightbulbs; though they cost more upfront, they'll save you money on electric bills in the long run.

Save on Appliances. Keep an eye out for your household appliances that are in need of replacing. Stores will put appliances on sale during the fall season to make room for new inventory and the latest models that come out just in time for holiday shopping. If you're shopping in person, ask sales associates if you can purchase floor models, which often come at a discount.

Clean Out Old Items. Take a long, hard look at your closets and storage spaces: they're probably full of items you haven't used in several years! Fall is a great time to clear out these items and make some additional cash while you're at it. Reach out to your neighbors about hosting a garage sale to sell off old, unwanted items, or post them to online shopping sites like eBay or Facebook marketplace. If you have a lot of old, still wearable apparel, clothing swaps are a great way to change up your wardrobe without spending a dime.

Set a Budget. Did you spend a little too freely over the summer? Fall is the perfect time to get your budget back in line. Go over your expenses and identify areas where you can cut back. With the holidays fast approaching, saving extra cash now means you'll have more in your pocket for holiday purchases. New Tripoli Bank's online banking tool makes it easy to track your spending and allows you to set up automated bill payments to make sticking to your budget simpler.

Embrace DIY. Before you spend money on autumn accessories or Halloween décor, tap into your inner artist! Fall is a great time for DIY projects which can be a fun, cost-effective activity to enjoy with your family.

Finding ways to be frugal this season can help you save money while allowing you to enjoy everything the fall season has to offer. The best way to get started with your savings goals is signing up for Free Checking with New Tripoli Bank, which gives you access to our online banking tools that make it easy to keep to a budget.

The wave of mail check fraud and mail theft continues to affect communities throughout Lehigh County. In a recent news release, PA state police asked for public assistance to identify a vehicle connected with multiple thefts from residential mailboxes. The latest thefts took place on the 5100 block of Arrowhead Drive in North Whitehall Township, where police report two men in a maroon sedan stole mail from a mailbox. State troopers then responded to a second theft in the 7900 block of Saegersville Road in Heidelberg Township, where men in a maroon sedan were seen stealing mail from a mailbox. Authorities have asked that anyone with information related to these thefts contact state police at Bethlehem at (610) 861-2026.

As always, New Tripoli Bank recommends customers take steps to protect their sensitive financial information from mail theft and mail check fraud:

• Set up online bill pay using our online or mobile banking tools, if you feel comfortable doing so. You can learn more about setting up automated bill pay here.
• If you want to continue mailing checks, we recommend you drop them off at your local Post Office or hand them directly to a USPS employee.

We also advise our customers write their checks out in gel or felt tip pen to help prevent the check from being altered. If you plan to use a blue mailbox to mail checks, try to deposit your checks around the time of the last mail collection of the day so the check does not sit in the mailbox for long.

If you have been a victim of a scam, whether it be check fraud or another scam, please reach out to New Tripoli Bank at 610-298-8811 and we can help you. You can also contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 or visit https://www.uspis.gov/report to file a report.

For more information on mail check fraud,  you can watch our Helpful Hints video on the topic!

New Tripoli Bank recently held a month-long coloring contest in July, encouraging our customers' kids to color in pages for a chance to win a fabulous gift basket. We were overwhelmed by the number of submissions we received and thought it would be nice to include them all on our website, so anyone who did not have a chance to enjoy them when they were hanging in our branches can see them!

Thanks to all the children who submitted art and brightened our branches with your coloring skills.

Judy Peters, Senior Vice President who handled Executive Assistant Duties and Shareholder Relationships at New Tripoli Bank, is officially retiring from the bank effective August 1st, 2022. Judy has worked for the bank in various capacities in her 47-year career and is looking forward to making cherished memories with her grandchildren.

Dave Hunsicker, Chairman and President of the Bank, said of Judy, “She has been an invaluable resource to me and the entire team at New Tripoli Bank. She was a dedicated employee who worked hard for New Tripoli Bank her entire career.”

“I so enjoyed my time at the bank, helping so many members of the community,” said Judy of her time with New Tripoli Bank, “However, I’ll still be residing in the area and look forward to catching up with many friends.”

Scam artists are impersonating the Department of Revenue by sending Pennsylvania business owners fraudulent letters in the mail that direct them to turn over their accounting records. The goal of this ploy is to trick unsuspecting taxpayers into providing sensitive financial information, which the criminals behind the scheme can use for a number of illicit activities that could seriously harm a business' financial standing.  

"This is a prime example of fraudsters impersonating a government agency as they try to convince hardworking Pennsylvanians to turn over sensitive information about their businesses," Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said. "We are urging Pennsylvania business owners to be on high alert if they receive a suspicious notice that includes the Department of Revenue name and logo. If you have any doubt at all about the legitimacy of a notice from the department, please use the contact information listed on our website, revenue.pa.gov. This is the best way to ensure you are speaking with a legitimate staff member at the Department of Revenue."

Understanding the Scam

The goal of this scam is to make the recipient of the letter believe they are being investigated by the Department of Revenue for an "alleged violation of delinquent sales tax liability." The letter also threatens taxpayers by saying penalties will be imposed on their accounts. Further, the letter includes contact information for a "Resolution Officer" and urges the business owner to provide accounting records prepared by a licensed professional, such as an attorney or CPA.

Providing this information allows the scammers to comb through the accounting records for sensitive information such as bank account numbers and other financial data, which could be used to make unauthorized transactions, request fraudulent tax refunds, and even apply for loans under the name of the business.

Although these counterfeit notices bear the department's name and logo, the notices include suspicious and inaccurate details that can help differentiate between a counterfeit notice sent by a scam artist and a legitimate notice sent by the Department of Revenue. Be on the lookout for notices that make dubious claims or include suspicious details. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• The counterfeit notice does not include a return address. A notice from the Department of Revenue will always include an official Department of Revenue address as the return address.

• The counterfeit notice addresses the recipient as "Dear Business Owner." When the Department of Revenue attempts to contact a business through a notice in the mail, the notice typically addresses the business owner or business name.

• The counterfeit notice is sent by the "Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Tax Investigation & Enforcement Unit" and claims the business is "under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Revenue and Cash Disbursement Unit." While the department does conduct criminal tax investigations and tax enforcement, the units listed on the counterfeit notice are phony. Reach out to the department directly, as advised below, to determine if the "Unit" named exists.

• The counterfeit notice claims that the business has not registered their "entity with the Pennsylvania Department of State and The Sales and Use Tax Division." If you are an established business in Pennsylvania, it is likely that you already registered your business with the Pennsylvania Department of State and have registered for a sales tax license by completing the Department of Revenue's PA Online Business Entity Registration (PA-100).

Tips to Avoid This Scam

The Department of Revenue is encouraging Pennsylvanians to keep the following tips in mind to safeguard against this scam:

• Ensure You Are Speaking With Legitimate Representatives of the Department: This scam uses the Department of Revenue's name and logo to pose as a government entity. If you have any doubt at all about the legitimacy of a notice from the department, you should reach out to a department representative by using the Online Customer Service CenterOpens In A New Window. This allows the taxpayer to securely submit a question through a process that is very similar to sending an email.

• Examine the Notice: This counterfeit notice used vague language to cast a wide net to lure in as many victims as possible. Examine the notice for identifying information that can be verified. Look for blatant factual errors and other inconsistencies. If the notice is unexpected and demands immediate action, take a moment, and verify its legitimacy.

• Conduct Research Online: Use the information in a potentially counterfeit notice, such as a name, address or telephone number, to conduct a search online. The Department of Revenue's website, revenue.pa.gov, is the best source to verify information contained in a legitimate notice from the department. 

Steps To Follow if You Have a Question

If you are concerned about a potentially fraudulent notice, please visit the department's Verifying contact by the Department of Revenue webpage for verified phone numbers and contact information. This will help you ensure that you are speaking with a legitimate representative of the department.