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F&M Newsletter - January 2003
A Gift of Time!!
You can bank at Farmers and Merchants State Bank twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. For our customers with internet access, you can check your account balance, account activity and history, and transfer funds from one account to another. With a simple click of the mouse, you can manage your finances from your home, workplace or on the road. For first-time internet banking customers, visit our website at www.bushnellbank.com. Click on Internet Banking, click the application in Step 1, complete and print it out. When you are registered, you can access your accounts any time of the day or night. If you would prefer to bank by phone, Farmers and Merchants State Bank is also ready for you. Call our tollfree number (877-428-2171) and follow the instructions. You can obtain your account balance, specific deposit or check information, loan balances and information, and transfer funds between accounts. It's easy to keep track of all of your accounts whether you are at home or 'gone south for the winter'! Coming soon will be another time-saver. Yes, this spring you will be able to sign up for bill-paying services through F & M. Watch future newsletters for more information about this time-saving service.
Visit us today at www.bushnellbank.com or call us at 309-772-2171 for more information on these great products. We want to serve all your financial needs.
A person's idenity can be stolen by the use of credit cards, phone or utility service theft, and taking government documents or benefits. Knowing how a thief operates may help protect you identity. Thieves can obtain your social security number, driver's license number, bank account numbers, passports, etc. by simply stealing your wallet, purse or your mail. They also may listen as you talk on the telephone, or watch as you use an automated teller machine (ATM). Thiever also may trick you into disclosing personal information via phone, the mail, or on the Internet. Once they have obtained your information, a thief will apply for credit cards, loans, etc., using incorrect addresses so that you are not immediately aware a crime is being committed. If you become a victim of idenity theft, you have a problem that could harm the financial history you have worked so hared to obtain. Repairing your credit history requires time and money as thieves use a "buy now, pay later" approach and may charge thousands of dollars to you before you become aware there's a problem. Following are tips that should give you a good start in protecting your personal information and data.
Let Us Re-Introduce . . . Mike Steelman! 
Mike Steelman, of Bushnell, became part of the F & M family in 1984, serving as legal counsel and Assistant Trust Officer. Mike became president and Chief Executive Officer in 1996, and in 2001 was elected chairman of the Bank's board of directors and continues as CEO of the Bank.
Mike was born in White Hall to Glenn and Ella Dee Steelman, and moved to Bushnell at the age of five. He graduated from B-PC High School, Western Illinois University and Northern Illinois University College of Law. He also served our country from 1968 to 1972 in the U.S. Navy, married his wife, Laura, and they became parents to their daughter, Lainie. Mike serves as either an officer or director of the following: Bushnell Public Library Board, Bushnell Economic Development Corp. and Illinois Bankers Association. In his spare time he enjoys reading (currently reading "The Histories" by Herodotus), art (particularly watercolors), traveling and exercising. When you don't see him jogging, you may find him and Laura gardening, tending their roses and landscaping their yard. Some recipes Mike enjoys are: BRUSCHETTA
Peel, chop and seed tomatoes. Add garlic, oil, salt and pepper. Marinade at room temperature at least two hours. Serve on grilled bread or crackers. KING RANCH BEEF CASSEROLE
Brown hamburger with onion. Drain. Add spinach, tomatoes, salt and pepper and set aside. Combine soups, sour cream, milk and garlic powder. In 9"x13" casserole dish, layer ingredients as follows, half the tortillas, meat mixture, chilies, half the cheese, half the tortillas, soup mixture and half the cheese. Bake for 30 to 40 min. at 350º. For best flavor, prepare the day before. Can be frozen. Serves 8-10. PIE CRUST
Put dry ingredients into center of pie pan. Add liquids to center and mix well. Form pie crust with fingers. Bake at 425º for 12 to 15 minutes.
FRENCH SILK CHOCOLATE PIE
Melt chocolate and allow to cool. Cream butter, add sugar gradually, and cream well. Blend in chocolate and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition. Pour into baked pie shell and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Top with whipped cream and nuts as desired.
PDCO recently traded at $41.50 per share, with a 52-week range of $38 to $55.11. The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is currently 26.7, and the mid-cap company is not yet paying dividends. Earnings-per-share increased from $.021 in 1992 to $1.67 in 2002 with sales-per-share increasing from $6.49 to $23.90 for the same time period. Patterson Dental is consistent in performing well, with management controlling costs and has virtually no debt. The company has successfully acquired smaller distributors, greatly improving both the top and bottom lines of their financial statements. Many analysts feel this company has shown continuous growth since it began public trading ten years ago. The company has also had three stock splits during that period. For further information on Patterson Dental Company or any investment, please contact Shirley Rapp, or any of the professionals at 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.
Friends in Motion
A really big birthday wish goes out to Aleen Caylor of Geneseo who recently celebrated her 90th birthday. We hope it was great Aleen! Our own Debbie (and Roger) Powell is beaming. Her son, Chase, was recently the recipient of the Most Improved Senior Award for the first quarter of 2002-03 at B-PC High School. Way to go, Chase! Speaking of Powells, did you know that we have three Powell 'pals' her at F & M? Yes, Lou (Powell) Reno is a cousin to Roger (Debbie) Powell and aunt to Eric (Betsy) Powell, so in a round-about way all three of our F & M ladies are related!
The McDonough County Social Services Access Committee representatives will be in Bushnell on January 22nd from 8:30 to 11:00 AM at 770 W. Hurst. Walk-ins are welcome, and no appointment is necessary.
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These services are provided to our customers to save time for your busy schedule. If you are retired and travel all winter, you can check to make sure your social security or retirement checks are directly deposited to your account. For those who work out of town, you can bank by internet or phone at a time convenient for you. We love to have you visit in person, but the time you save will allow you time to do something fun, or time to relax and do nothing at all.
Frank and Kathryn Havens of Prairie City, and Gerald (Buck) and Claire Dosier of Canton recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries. Jerry and Sharon Walter of Prairie City celebrated their 40th anniversary. Congratulations everyone!!
