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| NEWS |
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Warning to Your Customers: Scammers Taking Advantage of New Federal Economic Stimulus Package
Attorney General Greg Abbott is warning Texans of a scam that has emerged in connection with the proposed federal economic stimulus package. Under recently passed legislation, the IRS will mail tax rebate checks to eligible Texans over the next few months.
Several Texans recently filed complaints with the Office of the Attorney General after receiving unsolicited e-mails and telephone calls from purported IRS agents claiming that the taxpayers are eligible for “Bush refunds.” The scammers demand taxpayers’ Social Security and bank account numbers, claiming the IRS will use the information to directly deposit “rebate checks” into the taxpayers’ accounts.
This is outright identity theft fraud. The IRS does not call or e-mail taxpayers unexpectedly to demand personal information for direct deposits. Taxpayers solicited in this manner should just hang up or delete the e-mail.
Texans who have received these bogus solicitations can file a complaint with the IRS at www.irs.gov or by calling 800.829.1040. Consumers also can report such calls to the office of the Texas Attorney General. |
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| IBAT'S 16TH ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL VISIT |
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Here's your chance to take the community banking story where it makes a difference - Capitol Hill! Join us for our behind-the-scenes visits and show your commitment to your industry.
Please note - we only have hotel rooms available in our room block for the nights of Tuesday and Wednesday, April 29 and 30. |
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| LEGAL EASE QUESTION OF THE WEEK |
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Question: I have been told by our county clerk that filing an assumed name does not protect the owner’s name. In other words, I can have a business named the same as someone else in our county; the difference will be the location. I have been in banking for 35 years and was taught that a filing in your county gave you the right to that business name and someone could not use it. Maybe it is protected by filing with the state? Can you clarify?
To find out the answer, click on the flashing question mark. And you can also check out our searchable database of other frequently asked questions. |
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| SOLUTIONS FROM SERVICES |
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IBAT Card Program
Now you can offer turnkey merchant services to your retail customers with no expense, and let the IBAT Card Program do all the work. This easy to implement Referral Program offered by SWBC/TermNet Merchant Services will enable your bank to successfully compete for merchant card customers, strenghten your relationships with your business customers, and ultimately introduce other lucrative bank products. Online referral tracking streamlines the process and provides almost immediate response time to your customers' needs.
Merchant Services Processing Provided by SWBC/TermNet
Through the IBAT endorsement of SWBC/TermNet, your customers will be able to take advantage of a complete menu of payment processing solutions that will enable them to accept and make payment transactions simply, efficiently, safely, and at highly competitive costs. SWBC/TermNet is committed to offering your bank customers the industry’s safest and most cost effective methods for payment acceptance.
The Benefits to the Bank
Providing high quality merchant processing services to your commercial customers can create a variety of additional sources of income as well as enhance your bank offerings including:
þ Referral Fees
þ Monthly Residual Income
þ Marketing Material
þ Salaried SWBC/TermNet Sales Executives.
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| BAKER WEEKLY |
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The Treasury yield curve continues to steepen as the risk of recession begins to take shape…Treasuries took a beating Thursday as the government auctioned off $9 billion of its 30Yr paper at 4.449%, the lowest in auction history…As of Friday, Fed Fund futures indicates a 70% chance that the Fed will cut its overnight borrowing rate 50bps to 2.50% by their next meeting on March 18...Read more in this week's Baker Weekly.
Although this information has been obtained from sources, which we believe to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy. This is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. |
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| ON THE EDUCATION FRONT |
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IBAT Appraisals Summit
March 6, 2008
Omni at the Colonnade, San Antonio
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How to Create and Maintain a Sales Culture
in a Community Bank
March 11-12, 2008
Omni San Antonio Hotel
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COMING SOON |
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For a complete listing of upcoming events, CLICK HERE. Meanwhile, please mark your calendar for some of our key upcoming events.
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February 21, 2008 - Arlington |
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March 6-8, 2008 - Grand Bahama Island |
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Operations Compliance Summit
April 17, 2008 - Dallas |
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April 29-May 1, 2008 - Washington, DC |
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IBAT Leadership Conference
June 19-21, 2008 - Moody Gardens, Galveston |
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September 20-23, 2008 - Hyatt Lost Pines Resort, Austin/Bastrop |
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October 5-10, 2008 - Dallas | | |
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Contact IBAT or if you have comments or questions about this newsletter,
email or call Bonnie Kankel at (800) 749-4228. |
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