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Thank you for voting us Best Bank!

Marion County Bank was awarded the titles "Best Bank" and "Best Place to Work under 50 Employees" on Thursday, January 29 by contest sponsor, Marion County Development Commission.  Over 900 ballots were cast in the Best of the Red Rock Area contest that was open during 2014.

Thank you to all those who voted for us!  We sincerely appreciate your confidence and trust in us and will continue to work for your financial success!  We are humbled to receive these awards.

Join us for Pete Verhey's Retirement Open House!

A retirement open house in honor of Pete Verhey will be held on Friday, January 9 from 9:00am to 12:00pm at Marion County Bank.  The public is invited to help us honor Pete for his 41 years of service to Marion County Bank.  Punch and cake will be served.

Pete started his career at Marion County Bank 41 years ago as a teller.  From that position he moved to opening accounts and then became a consumer loan officer.  He soon began work in the commercial loan area and then in 1999 was promoted to President and CEO.  

While President and CEO, Pete played a critical role in keeping Marion County Bank locally owned when the Vermeer family decided to sell the bank in 2000.  Pete also led the bank in growth, from 125 million to 218 million dollars in assets during his time as President.

After ten years as Marion County Bank’s President, Pete semi-retired and transitioned to President of the Bank’s holding company, Pella Financial Group.  On December 31, 2014, Pete retired from his position as President of Pella Financial Group.

Pete has been an important part of the history of Marion County Bank and we look forward to honoring him for his work and dedication over 41 years.

Investing in 2015

Hear Sam Vande Weerd, Pat Moriarity and Jason Rozenboom of Main Street Advisory Group as they sit down with Dr. Bob Leonard for the 6^th of a 10 part In Depth series on Health and Wealth in 2015. 

Make a New Year's Resolution for Your Finances

As you're considering your New Year's resolutions for 2015, don't forget to think about your money. The New Year is a great time to assess your finances, gain control and stick to a new budget or saving plan. Taking control of your personal finances will allow you to save and prepare for unexpected expenses. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Get organized. Start 2015 by organizing your financial records and creating a plan to keep your bills and financial statements organized throughout the year.

• Consider treating yourself to a post-holiday gift of a financial organization system. Alphabetized file folders or filing systems specifically for financial organization are available in January as you begin to prepare for tax season. 
• While you're getting organized, consider buying a shredder to keep your personal information safe from identity theft. 

Create a budget. Track your income and expenses to see how much money you have coming in and how much you spend. If you have debt, establishing a budget will help you to pay down your debt while saving. 

• Identify how you spend your money. 
• Set realistic goals, especially if you plan to cut some of your expenses. 
• Use computer software programs or basic budgeting worksheets to help create your budget. Include as much information as you can.
• Track your spending and review your budget often.

Lower your debt. Establish a plan to pay off debts while you save. By paying off -- or at least paying down -- high-interest credit cards, you'll save on interest charges that add up quickly over time. 

• Make payments on time and, if possible, pay more than the minimum due. 
• Pay off debt with higher interest rates first. 

Save for the unexpected and beyond. Pay yourself first. Saving is important; it will likely help to ensure a comfortable future that can endure financial surprises. 

• If you receive direct deposit at work, ask your employer to send a specific amount to your savings account. Because the money is put into an account before you have a chance to spend it, automatic savings plans are an easy and convenient way to save. If your employer doesn't offer direct deposit, many banks allow for automatic transfers from checking to savings accounts. 
• Save at least 10 percent of your income for retirement. Enroll in a retirement plan or consider optimizing an established retirement plan. Contribute at least the maximum amount that your employer will match. Contributions made to these types of plans are tax deductible. If your employer does not offer a retirement savings plan, many banks offer Individual Retirement Accounts. IRAs offer tax-deferred growth, meaning you pay taxes on your investment gains when you make withdrawals. 
• Financial advisors often recommend keeping about three months salary in a savings account in case of financial emergencies such as hospital bills or loss of job.