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New Tripoli Bank announces a leadership transition today that will take effect June 30, 2022.

David R. Hunsicker, current Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of New Tripoli Bank, will be serving in the capacity of Chairman of the Board and President effective June 30, 2022. He has spent 49 years working at New Tripoli Bank. He became Chief Executive Officer and President in December 1996 and Chairman of the Board in January 2011.

During his tenure as CEO, the Bank’s financial performance has been stellar. Assets grew from $109 million to $590 million, and the Bank has been given consistent 5-Star ratings by Bauer Financial. Under his leadership, New Tripoli Bank expanded from its home market in New Tripoli to Claussville in 1999 and Upper Milford in 2019.

During his career, Mr. Hunsicker has been a leader in the industry. He served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia from 2013 to 2018. He currently sits on the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s President Advisory Committee, the Board of Directors of the PA Bankers Association, and the Board of Directors of Atlantic Community Bankers Bank, where he also serves as Audit Committee Chair. He has also served on the Boards of numerous other organizations.

“I have been fortunate to lead an outstanding organization and a great team for many years,” said Mr. Hunsicker. “We are successful because of the dedication of our Board and employees, and the support of our customers and the communities we serve.”

John M. Hayes, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of New Tripoli Bank, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer effective June 30, 2022. He will be responsible for all daily operations of the bank.

Mr. Hayes has over thirty-five years of banking and financial services experience. Prior to joining New Tripoli Bank as Chief Lending Officer in 2016, from 2006 to 2016 he was President of AFC First Financial Corporation, a national leader in residential energy efficiency and renewable lending programs. He was also Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of East Penn Bank.

During his career, Mr. Hayes has also been a leader locally and in the industry. He is currently Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, a member of the Board of Directors of Barry Isett & Associates—a multidiscipline engineering and consulting firm—and he chairs the Lending Advisory Committee of the PA Bankers Association. From July 2019 through June of 2021, he served as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“New Tripoli Bank is a special organization, now 112 years old,” said Mr. Hayes. “I thank the Board of Directors, Dave Hunsicker, and our team for this opportunity and I look forward to working together to ensure our service to our customers and communities for another 112 years – at least.”

“John Hayes has shown he has our core principles at heart, that People are More Valuable Than Money,” said Mr. Hunsicker. “I look forward to the Bank’s continued strong performance and presence under his leadership.”

According to a survey put out by Lending Tree, 56% of Americans donated to charity in 2021. That generosity supports the various organizations putting these donations to work for health care, education, environmental protection, the arts, and numerous other causes.

Unfortunately, it also opens the door for scammers who capitalize on the goodwill of American citizens to line their own greedy pockets.

Every year, we hear about new scams involving faux fundraising for things like veterans, disaster relief, and other charitable causes. Scammers know how a sad story about someone rebuilding after a hurricane or someone coming home after serving our country can turn off the skeptical parts of our brains and get us to open our hearts and wallets to them. Charity scammers are especially active during the holidays since it's the biggest giving season of the year.

Consumers can protect their contributions and prevent becoming a victim by learning how to identify a charity scam.

Red Flags for Charity Scams

• Similar Sounding Name – Scammers will often use names that sound similar to legitimate charities to intentionally create confusion for consumers.
• High Pressure – Fraudsters will try to force a hasty decision by creating an atmosphere of immediacy. They may cold call, identifying you as a previous giver, and ask you for renewed support or to update your credit card information. In these situations, they are attempting to catch you off-guard and extract your financial information.
• 100% Guarantee – Every organization has some level of administrative costs. While most people want to ensure their donations are going toward legitimate program expenses, an organization that promises 100% of your funds are going directly to an individual in need might require additional scrutiny.
• Donation via Wire Transfer or Gift Card – Legitimate charities will not ask you to make payments via money order, wire transfer, or gift cards. If you are asked to pay by these means, hang up immediately. Never provide the information from a gift card over the phone or email; after verifying the legitimacy of the charity, take any gift card donation directly to the location of the charity and request documentation of your contribution.

Here are some tips that can help you avoid falling prey to a charity scam:

• Always research before giving!
  • Visit the PA Department of State's online charities database to verify an organization's financial information concerning expenses for program services, fundraising, and management.
  • You can check to see if an organization has been subject to corrective action by the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations by checking its enforcement and disciplinary actions page.
  • Check whether an organization is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a Tax Exempt Organization.
  • Groups such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch offer information and ratings about charitable organizations.
• Don't feel pressured to make a donation on the spot. Take time and do your research before sharing personal or financial information or sending money.
• Check websites very closely. Scammers can direct you to fake charity websites where personal and financial information are taken for nefarious purposes.
• Avoid wire transfer, money order, or gift card donations. Any requests for these kinds of payments should send up immediate warning flags.
• Direct your payment to the charity. Never make a check payable to an individual; write the check to a verified organization.

If you think you've been the victim of a charity scam, you should contact the PA Department of State's Division of Charities Investigation Unit/Audits at RA-STBEICIU@pa.gov or use the online complaint form. You should also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at https://ReportFraud.ftc.gov and contact local law enforcement through non-emergency channels.

Join us on Friday, February 11th from 3:00 – 3:45 for a livestreamed presentation on common scams and frauds our customers report to us every day, how to identify these scams and how to avoid becoming a victim. The presentation will be livestreamed on our Facebook page and is free to attend.

We will also be covering the tools New Tripoli Bank customers can use to help spot possible fraud and protect themselves from scammers stealing their money, including our online banking platform and CardValet app.

The presentation will be followed by a brief question and answer period where the presenters will answer questions posted in the moderated livestream chat.

Come ready to learn and ask questions!

Check in to our Facebook event page so you'll be notified when we go live: https://www.facebook.com/events/957243428553534/

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! From all of us at New Tripoli Bank to all of you, we hope everyone in our community has a lovely and safe holiday with your friends and families.

High wire artist and daredevil Karl Wallenda was internationally known for his dangerous stunts, often performed without a safety net. For years, he performed daredevil feats to countless audiences of stunned onlookers. Unfortunately, on March 22^nd, 1978, Karl’s luck finally ran out, while walking a tight rope over one hundred feet in the air suspended between two towers of a hotel in Puerto Rico. A combination of faulty rigging and strong winds tripped up Wallenda, who fell to his death.

While it can be tempting to follow in the footsteps Karl Wallenda and take risks without a safety net, when it comes to money, it’s extremely important to understand and effectively manage your risks to ensure financial wellness. Here are several tips to keep in mind when handling financial decisions in the new year.

Maintain Adequate Emergency Funds

Before you make any important decisions, you should make sure you can pay for your regular living expenses. At the very least, opening a small savings account of $2,000 or less can help you weather short-term, unexpected hiccups without leaving you stressed about your bills. If you have the option, a long-term savings account with several months of living expenses will keep you solvent in case of larger financial crises such as a job loss or unexpected medical issue.

Find a Second Income Source

Piggybacking on the previous paragraph, another way to protect yourself from the financial stress of job loss is to diversify your sources of income. While not everyone has the time to start a side hustle, even something as small as selling old collectibles online can add some extra money to your emergency fund. If you’re able to put money into investments, you can even earn additional money without having to commit time to a side hustle or second job.

Minimize Your Debts

Debt often carries a higher interest rate than savings or investments and taking on excessive debt is one of the highest barriers to entry for most American families. This is what’s called a debt spiral, where an individual feels a loss of control thanks to chains of ever-increasing debt obligations. By staying away from excessive debt, you can maintain greater control over your finances, which helps to reduce stress.

Maintain Good Health

Speaking of stress: staying physically fit is not only good for your health—it also positively impacts your financial wellness! You’ll find that it costs less money to maintain good health, by taking steps such as regular exercise and healthy eating, than it will when you need expensive medical procedures to fix the physical ailments and diseases that come with poor health. While it is easier said than done, what better time than the New Year to commit to starting that diet or exercise plan?

Life is full of risks, so it’s important you do what you can to protect yourself. The goal of financial wellness is to reduce the overall stress that comes with budgeting and financial planning and putting yourself in a good enough financial situation where you can start thinking about things like investing and wealth generation.

New Tripoli Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Jenna Smith to Assistant Vice President.

Jenna has been with New Tripoli Bank for 16 years, starting as a teller and then progressing through the branch network, moving up to Customer Service Representative, IRA Specialist, and Assistant Branch Manager. She was selected to fill the Branch Manager position for the bank’s Claussville office in 2019. Jenna is a certified IRA Services Professional and has completed the PA Bankers School of Banking. She is currently in her second year at the PA Bankers Advanced School of Banking.

New Tripoli Bank thanks Jenna for her dedication to the bank and wishes her continued success in her new position.

The jugger's dodge minivan pulling onto the street.

On November 18th around 11 AM, a bank jugging occurred at the ShopRite on Freemansburg Avenue in Bethlehem. The female victim, who had just left the Bank of America on Butztown Road and headed to the ShopRite, was followed by the depicted Dodge minivan, which had been parked next to the victim's vehicle at the bank, watching as the victim withdrew a sum of cash and put the envelope in her vehicle's glove box. Once at ShopRite, the person in the Dodge minivan waited for the victim to enter the store before exiting their minivan, smashing the victim's front passenger side window, and stole the envelope.

If anyone has any information relative to this incident, please contact Inv. Fox at (610)-419-9646 or email at efox@bethlehemtwp.com

This criminal act is referred to as "bank jugging." A criminal actor watches for people entering and leaving banks until they notice someone who they suspect has left the bank with cash on them. The actor then follows that person to their next location, before proceeding to take the money by force or breaking into the individual's car or home to steal the unattended cash.

The FBI offers several tips to avoid becoming a victim of bank jugging:

• Be on the lookout for individuals backed into parking spaces who do not exit their vehicle to conduct business.
• Be vigilant when using ATMs, as juggers typically target individuals using ATMs. However, individuals leaving the branch should exercise caution as they could also be targeted.
• Be vigilant when arriving and departing. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t leave your car or the building if you notice suspicious vehicles parked in or around the parking lot.
• Conceal your money before you leave the bank/credit union.
• Don't openly carry bank bags, envelopes or coin boxes.
• Watch for people following you.
• If you suspect you are being targeted/followed, call 911 and keep the dispatcher on the line to describe your location, where you are headed, etc. and keep driving until a marked police car finds you.
• Never leave a bank bag (hidden or not) in your car unattended.

As we head into November, the weather starts to get colder, the sun starts to get lower, and the holiday shopping season officially begins! With all the hustle and bustle of Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday discounts, trying to find the perfect gift, this time of year can be perilous for the unwary shopper. Every year around this time, incidents of fraud rise as criminals use the increased shopping activity to scam victims out of money, personal information, or even their purchases themselves.

Before you begin holiday shopping this year, take some time to familiarize yourself with the best practices for shopping safely. "Know Before You Shop" is critical to you having a happy holiday season!

Shop with reputable retailers

It’s best to shop directly with online retailers you know and trust. Bookmark your favorite shopping sites to get there quickly and safely. Avoid typing the name of the retailer into your browser bar.

A tiny typo could land you on a fake site that looks just like the real one. Many scammers create lookalike websites and buy URLs that are similar to legitimate retailers, in order to catch consumers who enter addresses containing typos. You might make a “purchase” on one of these illegitimate sites and unwittingly hand the scammers your credit card number and other personal info.

Vet new-to-you businesses

Did you spot an amazing product from a new seller? Make sure you do your homework and research any business you’ve never purchased from in the past. Look for online reviews and search the Better Business Bureau website for complaints. Check the “contact us” page on the website for a U.S. address and phone number. Then take it a step further: call the business to verify.

Why? The FBI reported that some scammers hijack the contact info of real U.S. businesses to make their shady site look legitimate.

Beware amazing deals

Did you spot an ad on Facebook or Instagram offering rock-bottom prices or an eye-popping offer of free stuff? Reports of lost money from social media scams have more than tripled in the past year, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Remember, if an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is! The FBI found that many sites at the center of its recent spate of complaints were advertised on social media platforms.

Always compare prices before you buy. Abnormally low prices could be a red flag that you’ve landed on a fake site that’s been set up to snag your personal information or steal your money.

Don't browse on public Wi-Fi

Avoid shopping from public Wi-Fi next time you’re sipping a latte at your favorite coffee shop. The guy staring at his phone at the next table could be a hacker spying on your online activity.

Shopping online often requires giving out information that an ID thief would love to grab, including your name, address and credit card number. You should be mindful of your surroundings whenever you're entering personal information; you never know if someone is watching over your shoulder.

Check site security before you buy

Look for a lock icon in the browser bar of a site to verify that they use SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption. The URL should also start with “https” rather than just “http.”

Secure websites are configured to mask the data you share, such as passwords or financial info. Shopping exclusively on secure sites reduces the risk that your private information will be compromised while you shop.

Don’t fall for email scams

You might get emails or texts offering amazing bargains or claiming there’s been a problem with a package delivery. Delete suspicious messages from unfamiliar senders. Don’t open attachments or click links in unsolicited or unexpected messages, because they could infect your computer or phone with viruses and other malware that can steal your personal information or require costly removal.

Guard your personal information

Here’s a general rule: No shopping website should ever ask for your Social Security number. If a site does request this type of very personal information, run in the other direction!

Get in the habit of providing the minimum personal information necessary in order to complete your purchase.

Keep an eye out for fraud

Double-check your bank and credit card statements for fraudulent charges at least once a week. Alternatively, set up account alerts to notify you of any new activity on your card. When you receive a text or email notification, you can check your account to make sure you recognize the charge.

Mind the details

After you make the purchase, keep the details in a safe place. Hang onto the receipt, your order confirmation number and the tracking number the seller provides. If you have a problem with the order, this information will help you quickly resolve the issue.

Track your stuff

After you make an online purchase, keep tabs on it to make sure it’s headed your way. If the merchant refuses to provide shipping information or respond to your requests for the status of your order, contact your credit card issuer for help. They may remove the charge from your bill and look into the matter.

Report scammers

Did you get scammed? If so, file a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Tip: If you suspect you may be a victim of ID theft, the FTC offers an identity theft recovery plan.

But following these online shopping safety tips may help you foil scammers and avoid becoming a target in the first place.