Hoosier Banker 11 with personal accounts or businesses. Each customer in the program works individually with a banker to develop solutions. Concerns addressed include loans, credit cards and cash flow issues that may involve fee waivers, deferrals/postponements of payments, and loans or lines of credit. Additionally, the bank has put risk-management measures in place, such as opening financial centers 10 minutes early to accommodate the elderly or those with disabilities requiring special accommodations. Bank of America also addressed community needs above the $250 million it provides annually in philanthropic commitments through measures including: an additional $100 million commitment to local communities to purchase medical supplies, food and other priorities; pledging $250 million in capital and $10 million in philanthropic grants to community development financial institutions to help support low- and moderate-income communities; and the donation of more than 40,000 face masks, hand sanitizer and gloves to not-forprofit partners that serve low- to moderate- income families. Bath State Bank transformed its popular Santa Day into a socially distanced event during the holiday season. A total of 83 vehicles stopped at the bank on Dec. 4 for a twohour, non-contact Santa Day. Approximately 500 luminaries lit up the area as numerous happy faces stopped to see Santa, receive a homemade sugar cookie and jumbo candy cane, and grab a sack of reindeer feed and a bank ornament. Santa received 101 letters during the drive-thru event. Centier Bank, Merrillville, has been helping clients at Hellenic Assisted Living Facility, Elkhart, by having associates travel to the location to assist with banking needs. The bank also assembled goody bags to give out at the holidays. Additionally, Centier Bank engaged in community events including: helping with the Education Virtual Walk/ Run event in Mishawaka last October; hosting a drive-in winter wonderland park for children and families of Chasing Dreams Inc., as well as children and grandchildren of bank associates; converting its “Centier to You” financial education series to a virtual format; engaging followers of Facebook in threads of support for area restaurants and other businesses; and providing registration assistance at a Michiana vaccination event. Citizens State Bank, New Castle, initiated quarterly mini client appreciation days to give simple tokens of gratitude to customers. For Valentine’s Day, staff passed out cards and chocolate kisses. Each branch was given a supply to distribute at their discretion. One branch, for example, wrapped the kisses in goody bags with bank “We Appreciate You” stickers, while other branches used drive-up tubes to distribute the treats. Currently, these quarterly mini events replace each market’s annual customer appreciation days to adapt to pandemic circumstances. Community First Bank of Indiana, Kokomo, made customers feel special last Halloween season with socially distanced trick or treat bags in branches. The bank also launched an online library of free financial education resources, created additional website resources for online/mobile bankBath State Bank upheld its longstanding Santa Day tradition in drive-thru format. Pictured with Santa is Michelle Brier. Twelve associates of Centier Bank volunteered at a vaccine event in January to help register recipients for inoculation. Shown are Amber Pulford (left) and Katlin Gaffron. Curbside banking signs at Citizens Bank, Mooresville, instruct customers on how to receive service in the comfort of their vehicles. Behind a protective partition, Mandi Sexton of Citizens State Bank, New Castle, hands out a valentine. Citizens Bank, Mooresville, used curbside banking to ease the processing of longer financial transactions that are less conducive to drive-thru, with the benefit of bringing banking to customers in the comfort and safety of their own vehicles. To implement, the bank created signs specifying where to park for curbside service. Each sign lists a branch-specific phone number for the customer to call. A staff member answering the call talks with the customer to determine the customer’s identity and what sort of service is needed, then goes to the car to assist.
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