1933 was an outstanding year. Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began; the original King Kong movie premiered at Radio City; Newsweek Magazine was published for the first time. President Franklin D. Roosevelt uttered his famous quote “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself,” and he gave Americans one less thing to fear when he signed the Banking Act of 1933, which established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Continue Reading »

Imagine a community of bankers, retail shop owners, restaurateurs and politicians. Everyone there strives to do the best job to achieve personal success and create a vibrant community. Now imagine what would happen if all the residents were age 12 and under. You’ve just entered Junior Achievement’s JA BizTown. Continue Reading »

The newest addition to Susquehanna Bank’s family of branches is in an area we know quite well: Hunt Valley, MD. It’s a region that features rolling, wooded hills, picturesque Thoroughbred horse farms and golf courses. It’s also a lively business community that is home to Fortune 500 companies, a wide range of retail stores and restaurants. In May, we opened a new flagship branch along Shawan Road just off I-83, beside the office park that is home to Susquehanna’s Baltimore-region headquarters. We’d like to share some thoughts on what makes our new neighborhood an enjoyable place to live and work. Continue Reading »

Spring is such a wonderful season! It’s time for you to buy gardening tools, plan your summer vacation, buy presents for all the weddings and graduation parties you’re going to be invited to, and buy new clothes for all those spring socials. For some busy consumers, it also may be a challenging time to keep track of all these purchases and avoid overdrawing their bank account. You can avoid the inconvenience, embarrassment and cost of overdrafts by not believing two common myths. Continue Reading »

Welcome to Financial Aid 101, a course designed for those of you who will soon launch your college careers. By the end of this blog/course, you will be able to:

• Understand what FAFSA is
• Know how and when to apply for student aid
• Memorize and list the filing deadlines for all 50 states (or at least know where to find them!) Continue Reading »

Congratulations, you’ve written a powerful resume, and you’ve been selected to audition for your dream job. What are the next steps to turn the dream into a reality? Here are a few pointers about job interviews and transition issues that will help you be a contender in today’s talent-filled pool of candidates. Continue Reading »

You are in a relationship with a significant other whose growth you are fully devoted to. You want to protect and provide for each other. You can’t imagine a future without the other. You routinely finish each others' sentences and think it gets funnier each time it happens. You are definitely ready to plan a special evening dedicated to gazing at each others' financial souls. Call me a hopeless romantic! Before combining your resources, knowing that you can live in fiscal harmony is essential. Continue Reading »

You may wonder why I’m focusing on fitness when most of us are thinking of the fabulous feasts we will soon be sharing with family and friends during the holidays. To borrow a quote frequently attributed to Robert F. Kennedy: “If not now, when?” Consistent financial and physical fitness are long-term investments towards living a joyful life that don’t have to be put off until after you sing “Auld Lang Syne”. Finding a way to consistently remain active does not require a huge financial investment, or an annual resolution. Continue Reading »

Everyone knows that your credit report and credit score help determine your likelihood and cost of using other peoples’ money to get all the stuff you want: houses, cars, cell phones and a job. Let’s try to take some of the mystery out of the 3-digit credit (or FICO) score that can have such a great impact on your financial life. Continue Reading »

Some people look forward to their next networking event about as much as they looked forward to their first middle school dance. Meeting new people, trying to make a good impression, and hoping to achieve growth in your chosen profession –all in a one- to three-hour span –can make the most confident and gregarious human being feel socially awkward. Whether your goal is to increase awareness of your product, find new sources of referrals, gain new business, raise funds for a non-profit, or find future employment or employees, here are some tips to help you make all the right moves at your next networking event: Continue Reading »

Just as a doctor is a trusted resource for friends, family and party guests seeking to remedy an illness, as a banker, I am the go-to person for questions about all things financial at social gatherings. People tend to ask about credit, right after asking if the bank gives out free samples [of money]. This is not a surprising topic of conversation. After taking care of your health, managing your credit is one of the steps taken to enhance your quality of life. What are some of the payoffs? Continue Reading »