/index.php en http://www.hastingscitybank.com/index.php/news/read/important-information-about-your-checking-account/ Avoiding overdrafts and overdraft feesAccommodating customers when they inadvertently overdraw their accounts is a service that banks have always offered, and one that customers value.  They value avoiding the embarrassment, costs and other adverse consequences of having a check bounce or a transaction denied.When you overdraw your account, expenses are incurred.  If a check bounces, you usually have to pay a fee to the person receiving the check as well as to the bank.  There are ways to avoid these expenses and we’d like to help you understand them.It is important that you keep track of how much money is in your account.  While you are able to obtain a current balance through Online Banking, Telephone Banking or a visit or call to your local Hastings City Bank branch, only you know what checks or charges may be outstanding that will affect that balance.  In today’s world, electronic services allow very little, if any, “float time”.  Items coming into the bank are posted several times a day and balances can change with each posting. If you do not have the money in your account, do not write the check or make a withdrawal. If you should have an overdraft it’s important for you to know how we pay checks, debit card and ATM transactions. Hastings City Bank authorizes one time Debit Card and ATM transactions only if you have sufficient funds in your account at the time of the authorization.  If you do not have sufficient funds, your transaction will be denied.  There is no fee for a denied transaction. When two or more items are presented in the same day, we are allowed to pay them in any order.  We pay them in this order: Preauthorized debits - we reserve the funds to cover that amount. Scheduled debit card or other automated payments through bill pay, auto debit, etc. Written checks. Within each category, while your account has a positive balance, we pay the largest items first so your most important bills are paid first. If, after clearing preauthorized debits, there is not a sufficient balance for the remaining items, they may be returned for non-sufficient funds (NSF).  You will be charged $30 for each returned item.  These items are returned to the payee.  Please note that the person receiving the returned NSF check may charge you, as well.  If it results in a late payment, late charges may apply. If checks or other scheduled items cause an overdraft balance in your account, and that overdraft is not corrected in 5 business days, you will be charged an overdrawn account fee for every 5 business days your account remains overdrawn.  The overdrawn account fee is $15. These fees will not change without advance notice.  You should deposit funds to cover the overdraft and pay the fees as soon as you are charged.  Pre-authorized one time Debit Card and ATM transactions will always clear your account and will not trigger an overdraft fee since we would not have authorized the transaction if you did not have the funds in your account at the time of the transaction.How can you avoid overdraft fees? You may ask yourself a few questions to determine if overdraft protection from your savings account or a line of credit is in your best interest: Do I use my debit card frequently to make purchases because I usually don’t have enough cash or other forms of payment with me? Do I get close to a zero balance in my account by the time I make a new deposit? Am I often not sure of my account balance before needing to make a purchase or cash withdrawal? Do I often use my debit card when I am out of town and away from a Hastings City Bank location? Will I need to use my debit card in an emergency or for an unexpected purchase?  Would it be important to me that my transaction be approved regardless of my account balance? I do not anticipate taking my account to a negative balance, but if that happened I would consider paying a transfer fee for the convenience of completing the transaction. If I were trying to make a purchase for an amount more than what is left in my account, I would rather pay a transfer fee to avoid the embarrassment of being declined.There are ways your Hastings City Bank representative can help you prepare for these types of events: Link your savings account to your checking account.  If your checking account is overdrawn, funds will pull from your savings account and your transaction will be completed. There is no charge to set up this service.  The fee for each transfer of funds is $10, less than an overdraft fee. Consider opening a Check Credit Overdraft Protection Account.  This is subject to credit approval.  It is a line of credit which will cover overdrafts. Charges for this arrangement are a $30 annual fee and a $10 transfer fee, less than repeated overdraft charges.  As with all loans, the funds must be repaid. Keep a small cushion in your checking account at all times to cover possible overdrafts.  This is important if you share your account with another person and are not always aware of all transactions. Set up alerts in online banking to notify you of low account balances, significant changes to the balance or direct deposits. Speak with your Hastings City Bank representative to make arrangements for any of these services.  Our goal is to help you prepare for the unexpected and achieve financial independence.  Your business is important to us and we are here to help you.  You may call us toll free at 1-888-422-2280 or visit any one of our six branch locations in Hastings, Middleville, Caledonia, Wayland, Nashville and Bellevue.  Thank you for choosing Hastings City Bank.   2010-07-28T18:40:57+00:00 http://www.hastingscitybank.com/index.php/news/read/hastings-city-bank-charity-golf-classic/ Hastings City Bank Charity Golf Classic Friday, August 6 The Hastings City Bank Bill Porter Memorial Charity Golf Classic will raise funds for local service organizations.  It takes place at the Hastings County Club with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.  Information on how to register a golf team or become a sponsor is available through the Barry Community Foundation at 269-945-0526.  Please join us for this worthwhile event that supports many of our Barry County nonprofit organizations. 2010-07-15T17:49:16+00:00 http://www.hastingscitybank.com/index.php/news/read/hastings-city-bank-and-the-coabrsponsor-senior-citizen-of-the-year/ Hastings City Bank and the Barry County Commission on Aging are sponsoring the 12th annual Senior Citizen of the Year award, which highlights contributions made by persons age 60 and older to civic and social life in the county.  Nomination forms are available at the Hastings Branch of Hastings City Bank and through the COA and are due August 2.  The award will be presented on August 12 at the COA’s Summer Picnic. “We are especially proud to once again have Hastings City Bank as our partner in giving this year’s award” said COA Director Tammy Pennington.  “They have been generously co-sponsoring this award since 2000.  Many of our senior citizens have been banking with Hastings City Bank for decades.  They’re a trusted member of the community”. 2010-07-14T17:51:49+00:00 http://www.hastingscitybank.com/index.php/news/read/news-post-bauer-0610/ 5-Star Hastings City Bank Soars Above the Competition  Media Release CONTACT: BAUERFINANCIAL, Inc. TEL: 1.800.388.6686 FAX: 1.800.230.9569 http://www.bauerfinancial.com customerservice@bauerfinancial.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: To the Editor: 5-Star Hastings City Bank Soars Above the Competition June 2010:  It is with great pride that BAUERFINANCIAL, Inc., Coral Gables, Florida, announces that Hastings City Bank, Hastings, Michigan has earned its highest 5-Star Superior rating for strength and stability. The past few years have been extremely difficult for the banking industry and the fact that Hastings City Bank continues to excel in such areas as capital adequacy, delinquent loan levels and profitability, clearly indicates it is one of the strongest banks in the country.  “With a full ten percent of the nation’s banks now on the FDIC’s “problem” list and even more on ours,” notes Karen L. Dorway, president of BAUERFINANCIAL, “the fact that Hastings City Bank continues to not just withstand the pressures, but even excel in this environment, indicates its management is doing things right. Bauer’s stringent 5-Star requirements haven’t changed, but the climate definitely has and the fact that Hastings City Bank has earned this prestigious rating sets it well above the competition.” Hastings City Bank was established in 1886 and has been serving the banking needs of its neighbors and friends for 124 years. It currently operates through six conveniently located offices in Bellevue, Caledonia, Hastings, Middleville, Nashville and Wayland and can also be found on the internet at http://www.hastingscitybank.com. Hastings City Bank: “We’re committed to providing and maintaining the personal, hometown service that has been our hallmark since 1886.” BAUERFINANCIAL, INC., Coral Gables, Florida, the nation’s leading independent bank and credit union rating and research firm, has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983. No institution pays BauerFinancial to rate it, nor can any choose to be excluded. Consumers may obtain star-ratings by visiting http://www.bauerfinancial.com. ### BAUERFINANCIAL, INC. P.O. Box 143520, Coral Gables, FL 33114 Click image to download official copy of press release. 2010-07-02T14:50:28+00:00 http://www.hastingscitybank.com/index.php/news/read/new-hours-effective-may-1/ Please note our updated hours effective May 1, 2010 Hastings BranchLobbyMonday - Friday:  9:00 - 6:00Saturday:  9:00 - 1:00Drive ThruMonday - Friday:  8:00 - 7:00Saturday:  8:00 - 1:00Middleville BranchLobbyMonday - Thursday:  9:00 - 5:00Friday:  9:00 - 6:00Saturday:  9:00 - 1:00Drive ThruMonday - Friday:  8:30 - 6:00Saturday:  8:30 - 1:00 Caledonia and Wayland BranchesLobbyMonday - Thursday:  9:00 - 5:00Friday:  9:00 - 6:00Saturday:  9:00 - 1:00Drive ThruMonday - Wednesday:  8:30 - 5:00Thursday - Friday:  8:30 - 6:00Saturday:  8:30 - 1:00Bellevue and Nashville BranchesLobbyMonday - Thursday:  9:00 - 5:00Friday:  9:00 - 6:00Saturday:  9:00 - 1:00Drive ThruMonday - Thursday:  8:30 - 5:00Friday:  8:30 - 6:00Saturday:  8:30 - 1:00 2010-04-01T20:43:30+00:00 http://www.hastingscitybank.com/index.php/news/read/news-post-bauer-0109/ Hastings City Bank Achieves Highest Rating  Media Release CONTACT: BAUERFINANCIAL, Inc. TEL: 1.800.388.6686 FAX: 1.800.230.9569 http://www.bauerfinancial.com customerservice@bauerfinancial.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: To the Editor: Hastings City Bank Achieves Highest Rating March 2010:  In these tough economic times, it is important to know there are financial institutions that are strong, secure, and ready and able to assist their communities. Hastings City Bank, Hastings, Michigan is one such institution – dedicated to getting Main Street back on its feet. Since it exhibits overall financial superiority in such areas as: capital adequacy, delinquent loan levels and profitability, BAUERFINANCIAL, Inc., Coral Gables, Florida is proud to bestow its highest 5-Star Superior rating upon Hastings City Bank.  “The unstable economic picture, both on Wall Street and on Main Street, makes it all the more important to recognize those financial institutions that are strong and stable,” remarks Karen L. Dorway, president of BAUERFINANCIAL. “The institutions that played by the rules and did not compromise their lending standards are the same institutions that stand ready to help build the economy back up. Hastings City Bank is an excellent example of this community spirit.” Established in 1886, Hastings City Bank has been serving the banking needs of its neighbors and friends for 124 years. It operates through six conveniently located offices in Bellevue, Caledonia, Hastings, Middleville, Nashville and Wayland and can be found on the internet at http://www.hastingscitybank.com. Hastings City Bank: “We’re committed to providing and maintaining the personal, hometown service that has been our hallmark since 1886.”  BAUERFINANCIAL, INC., Coral Gables, Florida, the nation’s leading independent bank and credit union rating and research firm, has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983. No institution pays BauerFinancial to rate it, nor can any choose to be excluded. Consumers may obtain star-ratings by visiting http://www.bauerfinancial.com.. ### BAUERFINANCIAL, INC. P.O. Box 143520, Coral Gables, FL 33114 Click image to download official copy of press release. 2010-03-30T15:01:45+00:00 http://www.hastingscitybank.com/index.php/news/read/west-michigans-101-best-brightest-companies-to-work-for/ Hastings City Bank has been selected as one of “West Michigan’s 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For”! This is the second year Hastings City Bank has received this honor. The award will be presented on May 6 at The Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville.  To learn more about this award visit www.101bestandbrightest.com .        2010-03-17T14:09:00+00:00 http://www.hastingscitybank.com/index.php/news/read/bowl-for-kids-sake/ Hastings City Bankers took part in the Barry County Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake annual fundraising event on March 6 at the Hastings Bowl.  Eight teams represented the bank and raised a significant amount of money, as well as awareness for this important mentoring program.  Hastings City Bank was a corporate sponsor for the event, as well. 2010-03-06T12:25:46+00:00 http://www.hastingscitybank.com/index.php/news/read/news-post-moveyourmoney/ From the Move Your Money project. 2009-12-01T14:13:26+00:00 http://www.hastingscitybank.com/index.php/news/read/hastings-city-bank-wins-financial-literacy-award/ Each year the Michigan Bankers Association presents financial literacy awards to member banks who make a special effort to promote this important endeavor.  Hastings City Bank has been selected to receive a 2009 MBA Financial Literacy Award, which will be presented at the Marshall Country Club on May 21.  If you would like more information about how Hastings City Bank presents financial literacy information in the schools, contact Nancy Goodin at 269-945-2401. 2009-03-25T15:39:18+00:00