Celebrate Independence Day with local festivities

Ohio Valley Bank Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tom Wiseman smiles during the 2019 River Recreation Festival Parade, where he was honored as grand marshal.

One of the best parts of summer is Fourth of July fun, which is plentiful in our communities. In part two of our summer event series, we are highlighting area Independence Day celebrations. For other local summer events, check out part one of the series here.

In Gallipolis, Ohio, the River Recreation Festival returns after a year hiatus. Festival organizers are thrilled to celebrate the Fourth of July with a lineup of family events, including the annual Rotary Mile, a parade and live music. The parade will take place noon Saturday, July 3. Kids Day is set for July 3 as well. Of course, the fireworks will illuminate the sky that evening. For a full schedule and to register for the parade, visit www.gallipolisriverrec.com.

Jackson, Ohio, will host the 24^th Freedom Festival 5K, set for Saturday, July 3. The race, which is a tradition in the community, runs through the residential and business sections of downtown Jackson. Registration is set for 8 a.m., with the race starting at 9 a.m.

Celebrations continue in Point Pleasant, W.Va., with Liberty Fest. The event, slated for Sunday, July 4, features a jam-packed schedule of patriotic family fun. Events begin at 4 p.m. with the parade set for 5:30 p.m. on Main St. Additional activities include live music, bounce houses and face painting for children. Fireworks, beginning at 10 p.m. at Riverfront Park, will cap off the festivities. For parade information and/or to sign-up, call the city building at 304-675-2360.

The Bend Area’s Independence Day activities also will take place Sunday, July 4, with a parade in New Haven, W.Va. The New Haven/Mason July 4^th Parade will kick off at 11 a.m., with lineup beginning at the city building. For more information, call 304-882-3203.

Meigs County, Ohio, hosts a variety of Fourth of July fun with events set to be held in Racine, Rutland and Middleport. Along with parades and family activities, each village hosts their own fireworks display. For times and additional information, contact the villages’ administrative buildings.

Don’t see your community’s event? No worries. Many towns are currently ironing out their plans and will announce information at a later date. As we get closer to Independence Day, continue to check with your local chamber of commerce and/or tourism center for more Fourth of July fun in your area.

From all of us at OVB, have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

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Soak up summer fun with local events

OVB is a proud sponsor of the Jackson City Library’s Summer Reading Program, which kicks off this month.

Community First is at the center of Ohio Valley Bank. As summer gets underway, we are looking forward to enjoying the many events and festivals offered in the area. From Independence Day Celebrations to concerts and free activities for children, our local summer fun options are plentiful.

After a year of pandemic restrictions, it certainly feels good to embrace the summer sun! This month many events get underway, including the Raised Around Rio Farmers and Artisan Market, which takes place every Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. in Rio Grande, Ohio. In Pomeroy, Ohio, the Meigs County Farmers Market takes place each Saturday morning now through October. Locally grown seasonal produce is available at the market along with flowers, plants and baked goods. Gallipolis, Ohio, also sees the return of Gallipolis First Friday beginning this evening from 6-9 p.m. downtown. Gallipolis First Friday events feature extended hours at local shops as well as specials, sales, entertainment and more.

Also in Gallipolis, the Bossard Memorial Library’s annual Summer Reading Program has already commenced. This year’s program features a Safari theme. In addition, the library also offers activities, such as yoga classes for adults, throughout the summer. For more information on the library’s summer events, call 740-446-7323. The Jackson City Library’s Summer Reading Program will kick-off with a drive-through event on Wednesday, June 9 at 2 p.m. The special event will the first of many summer reading activities this summer. The library also hosts weekly summer reading at the Parkview School Playground every Tuesday at noon. In addition, they host Virtual Storytime for Young Patrons every Thursday at 11 a.m. For more information regarding the Jackson City Library’s summer schedule, visit jacksoncitylibrary.org. 

At the Huntington Mall in Barboursville, W.Va., children are welcome to join the free summer camp, Camp Marshmallow, each Wednesday starting June 9-July 7. The camp takes places in the mall’s center court area and is designed for children ages 6-10.

The French Art Colony in Gallipolis is bringing live music every Thursday this summer with their Hot Summer Nights 2021 concert series. General admission is $5. For more information, visit http://www.frenchartcolony.org. More live music can be found across the river in Point Pleasant, W.Va. every Friday starting June 11 with the Mayor’s Night Out series. This year’s musical lineup features a variety of styles, including folk-rock, pop, gospel and more. Performances take place from 8-10 p.m. at Riverfront Park and admission is free. Those seeking live music in the Huntington area can get their fix with the Pullman Square Concert Series, which kicks off next month on Thursday, July 9 from 6-9 p.m.

Also in Point Pleasant, the American Duchess is scheduled to dock at the Riverfront Park Friday, June 11. Saturday, June 12, is a busy day in Point Pleasant as well with the Timeline Event at Krodel Park’s Fort Randolph. The event features demonstrations on frontier life skills. Also at Krodel Park, June 12 will be the Mason County Family Resource Network’s 28^th Annual Parent/Child Fishing Rodeo. Registration is set for 7:30 a.m., while fishing will take place from 8-11:30 a.m.

In Jackson, the Chamber Golf Outing is set to return Thursday, June 10. For information and/or to register, call 740-286-2722 or email jacksonareachamber@yahoo.com.

July of course brings a variety of Independence Day celebrations and events to the area. Check back next week for part two of our summer local events series, which will detail Fourth of July fun in our communities. 

On July 3, the Summer Ice Cream Festival is scheduled for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Heritage Farm in Huntington. The event will feature farm family fun, including wagon rides, animal encounters, Smithsonian-affiliated museum displays and old-fashioned homemade ice cream.

July summer fun will continue on the 24^th in Point Pleasant with the West Virginia State Farm Museum’s Tractor Parade & Show. For more information, visit http://www.wvfarmmuseum.org. The Main Street Car Show is also set for Saturday, July 24, in Point Pleasant. The event, hosted by the Main Street Merchants, will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, July 26, will see the long-awaited return of the Belle of Cincinnati Dinner Cruise in Point Pleasant. The cruise will feature a buffet-style meal as it travels along the scenic Ohio River. To purchase tickets, contact the River Museum at 304-675-0144. Additional information is also available at http://www.pprivermuseum.com.

Both July and August also feature the return of fair season, a summer staple and favorite of many. Stay tuned for fair information in an upcoming blog post next month.

From all of us at OVB, have a terrific summer, you deserve it! As always, remember to think Community First as you make your summer plans.

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Financial Fun Friday: The Seeds of Saving

In this edition of Financial Fun Friday, we are embracing the spring sunshine with the Seeds of Saving activity. After a long winter, many folks have already started preparing their summer flower and/or vegetable gardens. Why not involve the kids and make it educational?

The Seeds of Saving is a great way to encourage financial responsibility. To do this activity you will need the following items:

• Packet of Seeds – We recommend letting your child choose what they would like to plant. Involving them in this part of the process will help them be more engaged in the activity as a whole.
• Soil/Dirt.
• Flowerpot or space designated in a garden for this planting project.
• Various gardening tools, such as a small shovel and gloves.
• Watering can.
• Paper or notecards to record progress.

To start the Seeds of Saving, first have your child pick out seeds to plant. Explain to them that seeds, like finances, need care and responsibility. After the seeds are planted, emphasize how plants, like savings, often start out small and in order to grow, both need regular attention. Chart the progress by taking either daily or weekly photos of the plant.

To really connect the comparison of growing a plant with growing finances, consider giving your children $.25 each day they water and tend to their plant or set a weekly amount. As the plant grows, your child’s savings will grow. This will help motivate them to both save and tend to their new planting project.

Once the plant is fully grown, use the money earned during the process to open a savings account for your child. Getting children involved in the banking process at a young age is a great way to familiarize them with the process, which can help instill a sense of financial responsibility. Make the trip to the bank a fun, educational experience. For more information on Ohio Valley Bank’s savings options, visit our helpful resource page for children here.

For additional bank related news, like and follow OVB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

OVBC annual shareholders meeting wrap: Community First at forefront

Larry Miller, OVB President and Chief Operating Officer

The Ohio Valley Banc Corp.’s annual shareholders meeting took place Wednesday, May 19. This year’s meeting was held in a virtual format due to pandemic restrictions.

This past year was filled with highs and lows for everyone, including OVB. However, the company’s Community First mission provided a guide to adapt and move forward despite the challenges 2020 provided. Larry Miller, OVB President and Chief Operating Officer, stressed the importance of keeping Community First at the heart of the bank throughout the many changes the pandemic continually provided.

“To say the year 2020 was unusual would be quite the understatement,” Miller said during his speech to shareholders. “Your company had to adapt, just like you did. The leadership of your company began meeting regularly, almost every week to monitor conditions and make changes that would allow us to safely serve our customers and fulfill our Community First Mission…Community First is all about making the communities we serve better places to live and work. To help our communities thrive. Due to the pandemic, our Community First efforts took on a decidedly COVID-19 twist.”

Miller highlighted the bank’s efforts to continue helping our communities. An early project included the purchasing of 40,000 masks from local suppliers, which in addition to internal use, were also donated to area hospitals in a time when PPE was scarce. When lobbies were closed, OVB altered normal operating procedures for the drive-thru in order to better assist customers with processes such as opening new accounts, redeeming certificates of deposits and making address changes. Penalty free access was also permitted for vacation and Christmas savings accounts to aid customers who might have struggled with financial hardship due to the pandemic.

Another highlight of the past year was the facilitation of 363 Paycheck Protection Loans, totaling over $35 million, to small, medium and large businesses in the bank’s market areas, which helped protect more than 5,300 jobs. In addition, to further assist customers who struggled due to pandemic conditions, payment deferment options were extended, while late payment fees were also suspended from April-Sept. on all bank loans.

While the pandemic was a major focus of the past year, Miller stressed the importance of keeping up with the bank’s annual community projects.

“We did make time to participate in some traditional Community First initiatives, like providing ongoing support for all our 4-H scholars, distributing $17,250 to 23 young men and women. And although our major fundraiser was cancelled, we still managed to raise $2,400 for the benefit of local veterans’ organizations,” Miller said.

Miller closed his remarks by emphasizing the bank’s pledge to “continually strive to improve and serve each customer with a sense of urgency,” and also thanked shareholders.

As another Community First effort, Miller also announced the long-awaited Flag Raising Ceremony for OVB on the Square, the bank’s new administrative facility, located in the heart of downtown Gallipolis. The ceremony, which was originally scheduled for last spring, will finally take place this Sunday, May 23 at 2 p.m. at the Gallipolis City Park. Following the ceremony, tours of the building will be given to those who sign-up at the tent, located in the park, at the event’s conclusion. We hope to see you there as we celebrate this exciting project!

For additional bank related news, like and follow OVB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

OVB announces 2021 4-H Scholars

One tradition that has continued for more than 30 years is the Ohio Valley Bank 4-H Scholarship. Created in 1986, the program to date has awarded 241 local 4-Hers with the four-year scholarship.

Scholar recipients define work ethic as they exceed in academics as well as 4-H and community involvement. OVB is proud to congratulate the Class of 2021 Scholars: Madison Petro, Marlee Norris, Elizabeth Fannin, Kenly Arbogast, Caelin Seth and Riley Welch.

Madison Petro, OVB’s Gallia County recipient, is the daughter of Chris and Holly Petro. She is a member of the Triangle 4-H Club. Madison will graduate from Gallia Academy High School this spring. She plans to attend the University of Rio Grande to study nursing.

OVB’s Cabell County scholar is Marlee Norris. Marlee is the daughter of Mark and Rachel Norris. She is a member of the Chapter Ridge Runners 4-H Club. She will graduate from Cabell Midland High School this spring and plans to attend West Virginia University to study civil engineering.

Elizabeth Fannin was named the Jackson County Scholar. Elizabeth is the daughter of Aaron and Rae Anne Fannin. She is a member of the Four Mile Farmers 4-H Club. She will graduate from Jackson High School this spring. Elizabeth will attend Ohio State University this fall, where she will major in agriculture communications with plans to study law post-graduate.

Kenly Arbogast, OVB’s Mason County recipient, is the daughter of David and Kelly Arbogast. She is a member of the Haer Bears 4-H Club. After graduating from Point Pleasant High School this spring, Kenly will attend Marshall University this fall.

The OVB Meigs County scholar is Caelin Seth. She is the daughter of Shaun and Jennifer Seth. She is a member of the Meigs County Dairy 4-H Club. Caelin will graduate from Southern High School this spring and to study veterinary medicine at Ohio State ATI and Ohio State University.

Riley Welch, OVB’s Pike County recipient, is the daughter of Don and Tricia Welch. Riley is a member of the All About 4-H Gang. She will graduate from Waverly High School this spring and plans to study agriculture at Morehead State University.

Each scholar will receive a $750 check every year of the four-year scholarship, making for a total of $3,000. Scholarship checks and scholar recognition will take place during each scholar’s respective county fair this summer. OVB Communication Specialist Hope Roush described this year’s scholars as the epitome of hard work.

“As we all know this past academic year has been a challenge for our area students. From remote learning to back to in-person, these students have adapted and succeeded every step of the way. In addition, they have kept up with their 4-H and community commitments, which is all the more impressive. We are thrilled to welcome these deserving 4-Hers into the OVB 4-H Scholarship family. We look forward to following their college career and beyond,” Roush said.

OVB 4-H Scholarship winners are determined by 4-H advisors and volunteers. 4-H involvement accounts for 50 percent of the decision, while the other half considers the individual’s experiences in other groups and activities as well as academic accomplishments and potential for success.

From all of us at OVB, congratulations Class of 2021 4-H scholars!

For bank related news and events, like and follow OVB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Financial Fun Friday: Tour OVB’s Virtual Classroom

In this edition of Financial Fun Friday, we invite you to take a tour of OVB’s Virtual Classroom. The virtual classroom is a positive space featuring a variety of fun, interactive financial lessons. Along with video lessons, there are downloadable activities, such as a savings plan and budget game.

Created last spring as an effort to continue to bring the bank’s financial literacy content to youth as many schools transitioned to remote learning due to the pandemic, the OVB Virtual Classroom has since grown. OVB Communications Specialist Hope Roush described the virtual classroom as another tool to engage youth with financial education.

“While the OVB Virtual Classroom began as a way to combat the challenges of the pandemic, it ended up giving us the ability to bring our financial literacy programs to an even wider audience,” Roush said. “The free virtual classroom lessons are a great asset for teachers to work into their curriculum, but it’s also a wonderful way for families to bring financial education into their homes. The lessons are short, fun and interactive. One of the best ways to get kids to think about their financial future is to discuss financial matters as a family. Our virtual classroom is a tool that parents can use to further these important discussions.”

The newest lineup to the virtual classroom is the bank’s 2021 Teach Children to Save series. Teach Children to Save is the American Bankers Association’s annual spring campaign to bring financial literacy to youth across the nation. The new virtual classroom series kicked off on Teach Children to Save Day, which took place April 22. However, as April is host to financial literacy month as well, OVB has continued to celebrate Teach Children to Save all spring. The Teach Children to Save series feature four lessons, which all aim to emphasize the importance of saving at an early age. The new lessons include the following:

• The Pizza Budget – This lesson focuses on the “slices” of your budget. Comparing a budget to a popular kid friendly food, The Pizza Budget shows children the importance of putting needs before wants. It also highlights why prioritizing a slice for saving in your budget is essential for financial well-being.
• Go Green, Save Green – Along with Teach Children to Save, spring is also host to Earth Day. Go Green, Save Green is a lesson that will appeal to all ages, even adults, as it shows how making choices to help the environment can also aid you financially.
• Wants vs. Needs – This Wants vs. Needs lesson offers children another look at how to differentiate between the two when making spending decisions. The lesson joins a member of OVB’s Centsables superhero team as kids must help her determine what shoes to purchase.
• Savings and Interest – The Savings and Interest lesson discusses how both a savings account and interest works. It also showcases a savings craft to illustrate various expenses, which children can do at the lesson’s conclusion.

Other virtual classes include the following:

• OVB Adventures in Saving – Our 2020 Teach Children to Save lessons.
• OVB Boot Camp – Created for a virtual 4-H camp, this series focuses on a variety of banking topics, including credit, banking basics and budgeting.
• OVB Get Smart About Credit – In celebration with the ABA’s fall Get Smart About Credit campaign, these lessons discuss what credit is and how it impacts your financial future.

The virtual classroom also features a download for the bank’s Candy Cash game. Candy Cash is a tasty way to teach children how to budget as they must use the candy of their choice to make important spending decisions.

For more information on OVB’s additional financial literacy programs, contact Roush at hdroush@ovbc.com. For bank related news, like and follow OVB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

OVB Spotlight: Meet our Barboursville team

Back row L to R: Ben Pewitt, Jon Jones, Robby Shuck. Front row L to R: Rachel Stevens, Haley Mitchell, Leigh Anne Roten, Maranda Prevatt

There are many factors that keep Ohio Valley Bank running. From shareholders to board members, OVB is able to continue working as an independent, community bank. Another factor that keeps the bank going? Our team of dedicated, community bankers.

In this edition of OVB Spotlight, we are introducing our Barbourville team. Our Barboursville Office is one the bank’s newer branches with both a modern sleek look and customer experience. In addition, our Barboursville team takes the bank’s Community First mission to heart by not only prioritizing excellent customer service but also through their local involvement.

Get to know your Barboursville community bankers:

Ben Pewitt, OVB vice president, commercial loan officer, has been part of the OVB team for two years and has worked in the banking industry for 12 years. Through his work with OVB, Pewitt’s duties focus on working with small business owners to help them obtain their financing needs.

“I have been very fortunate to have spent more than a decade in the community banking industry. Now, more than ever, I am excited about the opportunity I have to help local business owners. Regardless of if the request is for short-term liability or long-term balance sheet management, it is a privilege to daily serve entrepreneurs and work for an organization that enthusiastically supports the local community,” Pewitt said.

Outside of work, Pewitt is very involved with Business Networking International (BNI), the rotary and Redemption Church. In his free time, he loves being a dad to his two daughters. He also enjoys hiking, backpacking and mountain biking.

Jon Jones, OVB assistant cashier, Western Cabell Region Manager, will celebrate his 12 year anniversary at OVB this summer. His duties include overseeing the Barboursville branch as well as focusing on business development and retail lending. He described OVB’s focus on community as one of the best aspects of his job.

“Being involved in the community and helping homeowners get into a new home is my favorite part of my job,” he said.

Jones is quite involved in the community as a member of the Barboursville Rotary, where he once served as president. In addition, he is a Big Green member as well as a member of the Barboursville/Milton Rotary Golf Tournament Committee. His other involvements include being part of the BNI Superior Chapter. He also served as a board member for the Marshall University Alumni from 2013-2019.

When he isn’t working or helping his community, Jones enjoys spending time with his wife, two kids and three cats. He is also an avid sports fan and enjoys cheering on Marshall, Notre Dame and the Dodgers.

Robby Shuck, branch operations manager, has worked with OVB for a total of 18 years. He described assisting customers with their banking needs as the best part of his job.

“My favorite part of my job is being able to help my customers in about any area of banking they need. It helps develop a stronger relationship with customers and lets them know that they can come to me with questions on not just their checking account, but questions on their loans as well,” Shuck said.

Shuck stays active in the community by volunteering with his children’s sports teams and activities. He enjoys spending time wife and two children as well as their pets, which include three cats and a turtle. He also likes to play sports with his family, take walks and watch his beloved Cleveland Browns every fall.

Maranda Prevatt, assistant branch operations manager, has been with OVB for seven years. She described working with her fellow OVB team as one of the best aspects of her job.

“Parts of my job don’t always fit into my job description. Being in management comes with a very fulfilling mentorship responsibility. It’s a very rewarding experience to work side by side with my coworkers, be a source of information and to watch each other grow in our roles and careers with the company. I can confidently say this team I’m with strives to provide the best customer service in our area and leave our clients with an assurance that they’re in good hands with OVB,” Prevatt said.

Outside of work, Prevatt is a two year member of BNI. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two rescue dogs. One of her hobbies is also catching up on documentaries, books and podcasts about true crime culture.

Rachel Stevens, account service representative, has worked at OVB for three years. She described helping the bank’s customers as a great part of her job.

“My favorite part of the job is being able to converse with each of the customers and know that I am helping them understand their accounts,” Stevens said.

Outside of work, she enjoys reading and gardening as well as spending time with her two children and dog.

Haley Mitchell, account service representative, has been part of the OVB team just over a year and a half. She described working with customers and helping them with the bank’s various products and services as the best part of her job duties.

“My favorite part of my job is being able to assist customers in matching them with the best products and services possible for them,” Mitchell said.

When she isn’t helping customers, Mitchell likes taking part in various outdoor activities as well as going to the gym. She also enjoys time with her dog.

Leigh Ann Roten, customer service representative, has been with the bank for three years. Like many of her fellow coworkers, she described working with customers as the best part of her job.

“I love interacting with customers. If I can make someone smile it makes my day,” she said.

Outside of work, Roten is very involved in her church, where she leads the couples’ ministry with her husband. In addition, she sometimes sings with her sons, who travel to various churches performing bluegrass and gospel music. She enjoys spending her free time with her husband and four teenage sons. She also likes to bake.

Our Barboursville Office is ready to welcome and assist you with your banking needs. Stay tuned for upcoming OVB Spotlight features to get to know more about your community bankers.

For bank related news, like and follow OVB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.   

OVB celebrates Teach Children to Save

Good financial habits begin at an early age. As an effort to stress the importance of financial literacy education for youth, Ohio Valley Bank is once again taking part in the American Bankers Association’s Teach Children to Save campaign.

OVB has participated in the Teach Children to Save initiative for several years. While Teach Children to Save Day will take place Thursday, April 22, OVB plans to celebrate all spring. New additions to the OVB Virtual Classroom are planned. Check out the bank’s current Teach Children to save content here.

Established by the ABA Foundation in 1997, Teach Children to Save as well as the foundation’s other financial education campaigns have helped reach 10.5 million youth through the commitment of more than 260,000 banker volunteers.

“Financial literacy is a major key to preparing our youth to face the challenges of adulthood,” OVB Communications Specialist Hope Roush said. “The pandemic especially showed how vital it is to stress the importance of saving. Teach Children to Save is a wonderful program that coincides with financial literacy month in April. One of the major focuses of our education programs is providing youth with essential financial skills early in life to better prepare them to make sound financial choices as adults.”

Roush added that the bank’s financial education programs are geared toward a variety of ages and can be customized to fit specific needs.

Currently, OVB is offering live or pre-recorded virtual presentations. The OVB Virtual Classroom was created last year as an effort to bring interactive savings lessons to area youth during the early challenges of the pandemic, which resulted in school closures and a shift to remote learning. The classroom has grown and has also allowed the bank to expand their financial literacy reach. More content is planned to celebrate Teach Children to Save and will be added to the classroom soon. Also check out our Financial Fun Friday lessons on this blog for activities you can do as a family. Our latest two lessons focus on budgeting. Check out our dinner budget game here and our financial take on the classic Easter egg hunt here. Be sure to like and follow OVB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for new lesson announcements and for other bank related news.

To bring financial discussions to your home, the ABA recommends the following tips to raise money-savvy kids:

• Set the example. Being financially responsible by prioritizing saving and paying bills on time will show your children the importance of implementing these money management skills. Children often follow their parents’ examples, including their financial habits.
• Explain the difference between needs and wants. Budgeting basics come down to needs and wants. By getting your children to differentiate between the two, you will help them to understand how to manage money wisely.
• Involve your children in the banking process. Taking your children to the bank with you is a great way to prepare them for adulthood. Consider opening a savings account for your child. For information on OVB’s savings account, visit https://www.ovbc.com/your-first-savings. 
• Let friends and family know about your child’s savings goal. By explaining to your family that your child has a savings goal, they will be more likely to support your child by giving them cash for special occasions, such as birthdays and holidays. Take your child to the bank with you when it comes time to deposit these funds.

To schedule a virtual Teach Children to Save presentation or other financial lesson, contact Roush at hdroush@ovbc.com.

Financial Fun Friday: Budgeting for EGGspenses

In this edition of Financial Fun Friday, we are putting a twist on the classic Easter egg hunt. Financial Fun Friday is where we introduce an educational activity that both children and their families can enjoy.

With Easter quickly approaching, this activity is a festive treat as well as an opportunity to work a little financial literacy into your holiday plans. Most everyone is familiar with the traditional Easter egg hunt. In this activity, children will get to hunt for eggs and learn how to budget.

To get started, you will need the following items:

• Fillable plastic Easter Eggs
• Various Easter candy
• Note Cards and/or paper
• Paper cut into strips, which can be folded and inserted into fillable eggs
• Markers, pen, or pencil
• Empty Easter basket

Here is how this financial savvy egg hunt works:

• First you will need to use note cards or cut pieces of paper to write various expenses/bills on. Examples include:

1. Groceries – $150
2. Gas – $40
3. Video games – $50
4. Rent – $500
5. Various Easter candies – $4 a piece
6. Pack of Jellybeans – $5
7. Streaming movie – $15
8. Pizza Delivery – $20
9. Internet – $150
10. Cell Phone Service – $50

• Next, cut strips of paper and place different money amounts on them. Or if you are feeling really creative, create your own play money. Insert individual strips with money amounts into the plastic eggs.
• From there, it’s time to hide the eggs! Depending on the space available to you, eggs can be hidden either indoors, outside or both. This is pretty basic and the same format you would follow for a traditional Easter egg hunt.
• After eggs are hidden, give a basket to each child participating and send them off to hunt.
• While kids are hunting for eggs, lay the cards you created out on a surface, such as a dining room table or kitchen counter.
• Once kids have returned with their eggs in tow, have them open each egg and count their “money”.
• Next, instruct the children to look at each card on the table. Explain to them that certain cards are needs, such as groceries, while other items like games or candy, are considered wants.
• Ask them what they would spend their money on first. Consider asking the following questions:

1. Why did you choose this?
2. Is this something you need?
3. What would you do if you spent all your money on candy or games?
4. Where would you be able to live if you spent all your money on wants only?

• Whether the children chose wisely or not, ask them to elaborate on their spending choices. From there, reiterate why it’s always a good idea to prioritize needs over wants.
• Finally, explain that it is ok to spend a little on wants after your needs are taken care of. Then, enjoy some Easter treats together!

If you have extra time and would like to expand on this activity, ask your kids to write down what they believe the household monthly expenses are. This is another way to reinforce the importance of budgeting. For additional budgeting activities and financial lessons, check out OVB’s Virtual Classroom.

For bank related news, like and follow OVB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

OVB Spotlight: Meet our executive assistant team

Pictured from left to right: Cindy Johnson, Adria Watson and Paula “Polly” Clay.

There are many factors that keep Ohio Valley Bank running. From shareholders to board members, OVB is able to continue working as an independent, community bank. Another factor that keeps the bank going? Our team of dedicated, community bankers.

In this edition of OVB Spotlight, we are introducing our team of dedicated executive assistants. From organizing board meetings and compiling various committee meeting minutes to maintaining corporate records as well as helping with the annual shareholder’s meeting and providing support to the Chairman and President, these community bankers work hard to keep the bank running like a well oiled machine. In addition, they are a valued asset to the bank’s executive team. 

Get to know your OVB executive assistant team:

Paula “Polly” Clay, OVB assistant vice president and assistant secretary, has worked with the bank for 45 years.

She described her work with OVB as ever-changing to meet bank needs.

“When you’re in the executive area, you never know what duties and projects may be assigned to you. It’s a new challenge almost every day,” Clay said.

She added that her favorite part of the job was the privilege of getting to work with her fellow community bankers each day.

When she isn’t working, Clay enjoys attending church regularly, where she also serves as the secretary/treasurer of her Sunday school class. She also enjoys time with her two adult children and their spouses as well as her six grandchildren, which she described as one of “life’s greatest blessings times six.”

Cindy Johnson, OVB assistant vice president and assistant secretary, has been with the bank for 43 years.

When it comes to her job responsibilities, Johnson said her favorite part was constantly learning new things.

Outside of OVB, Johnson likes to work on her flower gardens in her spare time, a talent she also brings to the rooftop flower display at OVB on the Square. She also enjoys helping with her church’s various activities. In addition, she enjoys spending time with her daughter; son and daughter-in-law; two grandsons; and grandcat.

Adria Watson, OVB executive assistant, will celebrate her four year anniversary with the bank next month.

Like Clay and Johnson, Watson described her job duties as continually evolving to meet the bank’s needs.

To further elaborate on the executive assistant team’s daily routine, she shared the following quote. 

“We just never know what we will be getting into but we do know that: ‘we are here to spend ourselves on others; for each person is a great treasure,’ – Bryant H. McGill.”

Watson described the different duties as her favorite part of her job as well as her coworkers.

“OVB has some wonderful people, and I get to work alongside the best of them,” she said.

When she isn’t working, Watson enjoys shopping thrift stores; decorating her home with various DIY projects; and spending time with her husband and three children. In addition, as a pastor’s wife, she is very involved with her church, where she also serves a beginners’ class teacher.

Our executive assistant team is focused on making sure the bank runs as smoothly as possible for both our valued customers and employees. They truly do keep OVB’s Community First mission at the heart of all they do.

Stay tuned for future editions of OVB Spotlight.

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