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.

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

Build your own ‘pot of gold’ this St. Patrick’s Day

You don’t necessarily need the luck of the Irish to improve your financial well-being. This St. Patrick’s Day is a good time to think about your personal “pot of gold.”

There are many steps you can take to improve your finances. While searching for four leaf clovers, also be on the lookout for deals that can help you cut costs. Many businesses offer seasonal discounts and sales. Taking advantage of a sale priced item can make a huge difference for your wallet.

Do you want a credit card that actually can reward you? Look no further than Ohio Valley Bank’s limited time 0% A.P.R. Visa Rewards Credit Card special. By opening this card through OVB, you can enjoy this introductory rate for the first 12 months after account opening. You can also earn rewards points to purchase various items, including hotel stays for the vacation you’ve been looking forward to. This limited time offer is only available until March 31. For more information, contact your local OVB branch or visit http://www.ovbc.com/rewardscard. Rates are subject to change.

Sometimes lifestyle adjustments are necessary to improving your financial circumstances. However, you don’t need to be friends with a leprechaun to apply the following financial tips to your life:

• How much are you saving? You might already be saving some money, but is it enough? Building a good savings account is one of the best things you can do to prepare for unexpected expenses, such as home repairs or even job loss. By having money in a savings account you can avoid putting yourself into additional debt when it comes to covering costs. A good rule of thumb is to practice the 50/30/20 rule, which is a simple way to budget by setting aside 50% of your post-tax income on needs, such as rent or mortgage; 30% on wants such as clothing, going to the movies or dining out; and 20% on savings or paying off debt.
• Budget wisely. Speaking of budgeting, it’s a good idea to have one in place. We commonly mention the importance of budgeting on this blog as it truly is one of the first steps to financial freedom. A budget can prevent you from overspending and increasing unwanted debt. To help keep you on track, check out OVB’s Benjamin Tracker, where you can set-up personalized spending goals.
• Cut unnecessary expenses. After you create a budget you may notice you spend a lot more than originally thought. Do you pay for cable and find yourself rarely watching it in favor of streaming services? Why continue paying for a service you aren’t benefitting from? While green beer might be a special item to celebrate with on St. Patrick’s Day, alcohol can actually be a sizeable expense. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2016 Consumer Expenditure Survey, American households spent an average of $484 annually on alcoholic beverages. Like dining out, alcohol is a costly, yet unnecessary expense. To save money consider limiting these types of purchases to either special occasions or to a once a month basis.
• Go green. St. Patrick’s Day is not the only time to focus on the importance of the color green. By taking measures to “go green” in your life you can not only save money but help the environment as well. Easy ways to get started on a greener lifestyle can be anything from replacing your lights with more efficient LEDs to reducing your water output by turning off the sink while brushing your teeth and aiming for shorter showers. Going green can also reduce your household energy costs. Making sure that your thermostat is set at an appropriate temperature is a good way to save money as well. When you aren’t at home a good rule of thumb is to adjust your thermostat to a few degrees cooler during the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer. Make sure to change your filters used with your heating and cooling system regularly as well. Also, look into sealing any cracks or fix any leaking pipes you might have in your home. While sometimes very minor, these issues can rack up quite a bill in the long term. Another way to go green is to consider going paperless with your bank statements. Check out OVB’s eDelivery for more information.

We all could use a little extra luck especially after this past year, but sometimes we need to put in the work to make things happen. While you may not find a real pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, it’s never impossible to improve your financial health.

From all of us at OVB, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Financial Fun Friday: plan a dinner

Make listing ingredient costs fun by allowing the kids to turn it into an art project by creating colorful signs and pictures.

Welcome to the first edition of Financial Fun Friday, where we introduce an educational activity for the family with hopes of reinforcing money management skills.

Today’s activity is one the entire family can participate in; however, it is an especially helpful tool to get younger children to understand expenses. The “what’s for dinner” conversation is something that many families endure. Unfortunately, this can also lead to arguments. With this financial activity, you let the kids do the meal planning.

Here is a step by step guide of how your family can learn from this Financial Fun Friday game:

• Step 1. Create a spending cap for the dinner. Let your kids know how much they are allowed to spend on their dinner of choice. Stress that this amount must cover all items from ingredients to sides and beverages.
• Step 2. Pick out a recipe. Gather your cookbooks or help the kids search the internet to find their recipe of choice.
• Step 3. Go over ingredients. Once the meal has been chosen, go through all the ingredients needed and the price for each item. To make this a bit more enjoyable, instruct the kids to draw pictures or make creative labels for each ingredient. Then, have them write the price on each label. Even if you already have some of the ingredients at home, you still need to include that within the dinner planning budget as this will help illustrate the cost of meals.
• Step 4. Check your budget. After the ingredients and recipe are set, instruct your kids to add up the cost of all items to make sure they didn’t go over budget. If they did, look through their meal plan to see what cuts could be made. If they have money to spare, give them the option to add a dessert or better yet, encourage them to save. To take this activity to the next level, consider matching the leftover funds and open a savings account for your child. For information on OVB’s Statement Savings Account click here.
• Step 5. Get cooking! Once things are in place and costs have been determined, it’s time to cook. Involving your children in the actual making of the meal will help them learn additional math skills, such as fractions as they measure ingredients. Bonus? They will also appreciate the work you put in to making their meals!

Once your kids have both planned and made their family dinner, they will likely walk away with a better understanding of the expense it takes to provide food for a family. They will understand why it might not be easy to have “whatever they want” each night as they learn the importance of sticking with a spending limit. You can also expand this Financial Fun Friday lesson by involving your kids in the grocery shopping process. Go over costs of all the food it takes to feed your family for a week. By involving your children in the process, they will better understand the importance of budgeting. Hopefully, they will be more prepared to make good financial decisions as an adult as well.

For more interactive financial lessons, visit the OVB Virtual Classroom. For bank related news, like and follow OVB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Bonus: Can’t get the family to agree on a meal? Here’s a homemade pizza dough recipe submitted by one of our OVB community bankers: 

 

OVB Spotlight: Meet our Jackson team

 

From left to right: Amy Hollingshead, Anita Good, Jessica Taylor, Joe Wyant, Kathleen (Kathy) McDaniel, Brittiany Hensley, Atalanta Leach and Sara Oberholzer. 

 

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 inaugural edition of the OVB Spotlight, we are introducing our Jackson team. The folks at our Jackson Office are always willing to help our customers, and many use their personal time to volunteer in the community as well.

Get to know your Jackson community bankers:

Don’t fall into these financial pitfalls with your valentine

The holiday known for love, chocolate and flowers is quickly approaching. While you and your sweetheart are planning a lovely Valentine’s Day weekend, remember that romance should not be limited to one holiday alone.

When it comes to harmony within relationships, financial issues are often said to be one of the biggest sources of feuds. This Valentine’s Day while you are enjoying your conversation heart candies or digging into that box of chocolates, keep in mind the effort it takes to not only maintain a romantic relationship, but also one that practices healthy financial habits.

Here are some tips on how to not let money matters come between you and your valentine:

OVB joins ABA’s Safe Banking for Seniors

Ohio Valley Bank is once again participating in the American Bankers Association’s Safe Banking for Seniors program.

Safe Banking for Seniors is a campaign designed to educate senior citizens on financial issues that impact them, such as identity theft. The program focuses on identifying common scams that target senior citizens as well as provides information for financial caregivers. According to the ABA, senior citizens lose approximately $2.9 billion to fraud annually, but it is suspected that number is drastically underestimated as only one in 44 seniors report financial abuse. Safe Banking for Seniors was created as an effort to combat this growing issue.

OVB has taken part in Safe Banking for Seniors for several years. While the program is typically offered in-person, due to pandemic plans are in place for virtual presentations from live to pre-recorded formats. According to Hope Roush, OVB financial literacy leader, corporate communications, while Safe Banking for Seniors is primarily geared toward senior citizens, the program’s lessons are educational for all ages.

“Safe Banking for Seniors is a very detailed campaign. From lessons on identity theft to recognizing common scams and how to prevent them, the program is very informative for not only seniors, but all age groups as many of the issues discussed can impact anyone,” Roush said. “Our senior citizens are more vulnerable to many financial scams, which is why the ABA created this campaign. With the pandemic, our senior population is even more vulnerable to these financial crimes. I hope that through this program the bank can continue to help seniors in our community combat these problems.”

The program also added new modules for 2021, including Understanding Powers of Attorney and Choosing an Executor. Other modules include the following topics: Identifying and Avoiding Scams; Preventing Identity Theft; Choosing a Financial Caregiver; and Acting as a Financial Caregiver.

Safe Banking for Seniors encourages both seniors and their financial caregivers to follow these important tips as an effort to protect themselves from fraud:

Stick with your resolutions

As January winds down, hopefully your momentum to stick with your New Year’s resolutions is still going strong. However, if you find yourself falling behind, remember you are not alone.

Keeping up with goals and resolutions can be a challenge. As we settle back into regular routines post-holiday season, it might be harder to stay focused. Even if you’ve fallen behind, don’t let that set the tone for the rest of the year. There are many strategies that can help you crush your 2021 goals.

In part one of our new year’s series, OVB Vice President and Senior Compliance Officer Daniel Roush said his resolution for 2021 was to reduce his carbon footprint as well as to continue his journaling, which is something he has done consistently since 2005.

“We’ve been under a boil water advisory in my local area for a week now, which ironically has helped me with my conservation resolution. You never realize how much water you use until you have to bathe out of a three-gallon bucket for a week,” Roush said. “Other efforts to be more environmentally friendly are still in the works, but I am continuing to use my compost pile, and I am researching more options for recycling.”

To help others stick with their resolutions, Roush suggesting setting a broader goal or adjusting their current resolution.

“When you set a broader, less specific goal it gives you more flexibility in how you can accomplish it. By being less specific and giving yourself more to work with, you are less likely to get discouraged and quit all together,” he said.

Here are other helpful tips to make sure you stay on track this year: