We have a monthly publication, which we send to our customers. If you'd like to receive our newsletter by regular mail, let us know. Otherwise, we'll keep the latest version here. These are the articles from August 2003.

LOWEST RATES IN DECADES!! REAP THE REWARDS NOW!

Which do YOU prefer? Lowest rate or best deal? Many truck and car dealerships are offering low financing offers with the purchase of 2004 vehicles. Dealerships are also offering rebates. BEFORE you sign on the dotted line, stop by our bank and check out our rates. In many cases you will save a considerable amount of money if you take the rebate offered by the dealership, and then take advantage of our low interest rates on cars, trucks and SUVs.

Ag equipment needs? With harvest time just around the corner, now is a good time to consider your farm equipment financing options.

For those of you who have an interest waiver on your equipment expiring in the next few months, you may want to check the rate your loan will begin to accrue interest. In many cases the accrual rate from the company is much higher than what’s available at F&M. Check with the company, then see us!

If you have a purchase in mind, please check with us. We have fixed rate plans and variable rate plans. Our terms are flexible to meet your needs. We also guarantee a quick turnaround on approval and the preparation of the loan.

Whatever your financing needs, we want to serve you and help you get the best deal possible. Call Doug, Pat or Don today at (309) 772-2171, or stop by the main bank Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY!

Here are a few tips to help you preserve your personal information.

• When you write a check to pay your credit card bill, write only the last four digits of your account number on the “Memo” line. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, but those handling your check along the way will not!
• Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, copying BOTH sides of your license and all credit cards. Keep the photo copy in a safe place, but close enough for immediate use. It contains all the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel if a theft occurs.
• Call the three national credit reporting organizations IMMEDIATELY to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number when a loss or theft occurs. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. Fraud line numbers include:

Really big wedding anniversaries this summer include 70 years for Kermit and Helen Oliver of Bushnell, 62 years for Joe and Louise Meloan of Highland, 55 years for Ralph and Joan Rhoades of Bushnell, 50 years for Charles and Wilma Hess of Marietta, and 40 years for Armin and Jan Blout of Prairie City. Congratulations to each of you on your anniversaries!

Were you aware that you can now pay your McDonough County real estate taxes at Farmers & Merchants State Bank? Bring your entire real estate bill to any of the tellers in F&M Bank lobby; they will accept your payment and coupon, and mark your bill paid. It’s easy, it’s quick, and you’ll be served with a smile. Your second installment is due on Tuesday, September 2nd.

Zackary Hoyle of Bushnell, was recently named as a U.S. National Science Award Winner. This prestigious honor is awarded to fewer than ten percent of all American high school students. Zack, who will be a freshman at B-PC High School this fall, was nominated for this national award by his teacher, Jona McCance. Congratulations on receiving this award, Zack.

Jeff Dyrek of Bushnell spent three weeks in a white world this spring. From April 10 to May 1, he and several others were at the North Pole on an expedition, with eight of them participating in the world’s first North Pole Marathon competition. The group endured temperatures to minus 30, with wind chills exceeding minus 50. Think about THAT the next time it’s a 95º day!!

Let Us Introduce...April Fisher!

April Fisher, daughter of Mark and Teresa Fisher of Bushnell, joined the Farmers and Merchants State Bank family in April 2002 as a part-time teller/bookkeeper while attending B-PC High School. April will attend W.I.U. this fall, and continue greeting her customers with a smile as often as her classes will permit.

April was active in the Interact Club at B-PC and served as camp counselor for both the volleyball and basketball summer camps. When she is not at work this summer, April is visiting with her friends and boyfriend, harassing her brother, Doug, and shopping! April also plans to compete in the Miss Illinois pageant in Chicago in November.

April’s favorite recipes are:

ZUCCHINI BREAD (CAKE)

2 c. grated zucchini	3 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda	¼ tsp. baking powder
2 c. sugar	1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt	3 eggs
1 c. oil	2 tsp. vanilla

Sift dry ingredients together. Add eggs, oil, sugar, zucchini and vanilla and stir thoroughly. Put into two well-greased loaf pans. Bake for one hour at 325º.

BARBECUE MEAT BALLS

3 lb. hamburger (ground chuck)	2 eggs
1-13 oz. can Evaporated milk	2 c. oatmeal
1 c. chopped onion	½ tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. chili powder	½ tsp. pepper
2 tsp. salt	chopped green pepper (optional)

Sauce:

2 c. catsup

1 ½ c. brown sugar

½ tsp. garlic powder

½ c. chopped onion

Mix all of the first ingredients together. Shape into walnut-size balls and place in flat pans, one layer per pan.

Mix the sauce ingredients together until the sugar is dissolved. Pour over meatballs and bake for 1 hour at 350º. Serve over pasta or as an hors d'oeuvre.





NO INTEREST IS WORSE THAN LOW INTEREST!

If you have U.S. savings bonds in a drawer or safety deposit box, check them annually to be sure they haven’t matured. If they have, they are no longer earning interest, and you may as well have the cash under your mattress. The government doesn’t send you a maturity notice, so approximately 2 million people are sitting on bonds that are no longer earning any interest.

Are you one of those people? Are the issue dates on your bonds 1973 or before? If so, contact one of the tellers to see if your bonds have matured. You may need to cash your bonds or roll them into Series HH bonds. If you'd prefer, you can determine the status yourself by visiting www.savingsbonds.gov. However, we’d be happy to provide this service for you. Stop by and let us help you.

For Your Consideration*… by Shirley Rapp

GlaxoSmithKline (ticker symbol GSK), one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and health-care companies, creates, develops, manufactures and markets products while being committed to improving the quality of human life. A few of the GSK prescription medicines include: Flonase, Imitrex, Paxil, Tabloid, Tagamet, Zantac, Zovirax and Zyban. Some popular consumer health-care products include: Abreva, Aquafresh, Contac, Citrucel, Ecotrin, Nicorette and Tums.

Glaxo was pleased when the National Football League recently announced a three-year sponsorship agreement with GSK and Bayer Pharmaceuticals. This was the first official multi-year sponsorship for the NFL with pharmaceutical companies.

GSK recently traded at $37.22 per share, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.0. The 52-week trading range is $31.35 to $43.87, and Glaxo pays an annual dividend of $1.26 per share. Debt-to-capital ratio is 33% and a total debt of $8.5 billion. Sales per share have increased from $4.85 in 1993 to $10.76 in 2002, and earnings per share from $1.13 to $1.98 for the same period.

For further information on GlaxoSmithKline or any investment, please contact Shirley Rapp or any of the professionals of Trust-Mart® to help you implement your investment decisions.

*This column is informational only, with no investment advice given or intended. Investments in securities are not insured by the FDIC, and involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. All material presented is compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Before buying any security, its prospectus should be carefully read. Trust-Mart© is a full-service trust department of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Bushnell, Illinois.


THE CHECK IS IN THE MAIL!

The IRS started mailing advance child tax credit checks on July 25th (scheduled according to the last two digits of the social security number that appears first on the 2002 tax return), and will mail most checks by August 8th. The advance payment will be up to $400 for each qualifying child, the difference between the 2002 maximum credit of $600 and the new amount of $1,000 for 2003. You are probably eligible if you claimed the Child Tax Credit on your 2002 tax return and your qualifying child was born AFTER 1986.

If you have moved since filing your 2002 tax return you should file a change of address notice with the U.S. Postal Service. This will ensure that your advance payment check may be forwarded to your new address.

If you do not receive a check, and are eligible, you will still be entitled to up to an additional $400 per qualifying child if you claim the Child Tax Credit on your 2003 tax return. (If your child turns 17 on or before December 31, 2003, you will not qualify.)

Like any tax refund, this advance payment may be applied against a taxpayer’s past-due federal or state income tax debt.

Check with Connie, Betsy or Shirley at Trust-Mart® if you have a question regarding your eligibility to receive this advance child tax credit.

Labor Day ~ September 1, 2003

September 2002	January 2003	May 2003
October 2002	February 2003	June 2003
November 2002	March 2003	July 2003
December 2002	April 2003

 

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