The Oakleaf

Buying a home can be a complicated process. But as community bankers, we can help navigate you through it every step of the way. And what better time to highlight that commitment than American Housing Month.* So here’s a reminder that we can help you realize your dream of homeownership or plan your move to a new home in the current economy. 

With interest rates so low, homeownership remains very affordable, which is why people have been buying homes throughout the pandemic. To prepare yourself, the best way to start is by allowing a mortgage lender to educate you about the current housing market. We can help you understand what mortgage programs are best for you and which you can afford, including the amount you’ll need to put down and pay monthly.

Being armed with this knowledge is especially important now with the housing inventory so low and home buying so competitive. In fact, it’s not unusual for many people to make offers on the same house within one or two days. Becoming prequalified can give you an edge in that process.

Education for First-time Homebuyers
We are focused on building relationships, so we enjoy spending time educating our clients to make things as easy and affordable as possible. This is important when it comes to big financial decisions like buying a house. And especially for first-time homebuyers, who often have low-to moderate incomes. Connect with a mortgage originator to review your options.

Owning a home is only one part of your financial picture – a picture that changes as you and your family grow. Please remember that we want to help with your other needs including banking, insurance, and financial growth and planning. Please give us a call. We’re always ready to help.




*The American Bankers Association and its foundation celebrate June as American Housing Month to highlight banks’ commitment to help customers reach their housing goals. This month and all year round, that commitment includes education on housing, lending as well as options to help people struggling to pay for their home.

Article originally published on CardRates.com - https://www.cardrates.com/news/tompkins-bank-of-castile-on-banking-credit-education/

This content was originally featured in the Batavia Daily News

As a community banking professional and father of two children, I often think about the importance of teaching them financial literacy. During Community Banking Month, we celebrate National Teach Children to Save Day on Thursday, April 22—a perfect opportunity for both parents and caregivers to begin having conversations with their children about how to manage money. It’s never too early to get started!

Every family’s situation is different, but there are easy, actionable steps that all parents can take to teach their children the value of a dollar. For example, around holidays and birthdays, our family opts for smaller gifts and encourages our relatives to give money instead of “stuff.” I always had one rule for my children when it came to receiving money; it goes right into their savings accounts. This is just one quick way to get the conversation started.

Many industries have been deemed essential over the last year. But perhaps none has been more crucial to our well-being than farming. Even the heroic medical workers we continue to value couldn’t function without food to sustain them. That’s why we wanted to pay special tribute to agribusiness on National Ag Day, which this year falls on March 23.

February is a time to come together in celebration of the contributions that Black Americans have made throughout American history and a time to pause and reflect on the ongoing struggle for equality and social justice. The theme of Black History Month this year is, The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity. As we take into consideration all that Black History Month represents, I cannot help but think about how timely and appropriate this theme is given all that our country, and specifically our Black neighbors, endured in 2020. While the year has ended, the work for racial justice continues.

History is full of examples of leaders in business, science, and other fields who, through their ability to inspire and guide people, have made the world a better place.  We celebrate our nation’s highest elected office on Presidents’ Day, this year on February 15. With this upcoming celebration, especially in the midst of a challenging environment, we thought it a good opportunity to ask Tompkins Bank of Castile President and CEO John Mckenna for his thoughts on the subject.

Tap. Sign Up. Make a Difference - an easy request that benefited so many. In early fall, Tompkins donated $5 dollars to our local United Way chapters for every new user that signed up for our digital banking service. The donation directly benefitted the United Way’s COVID Relief Fund to help our communities during this trying time.

To celebrate November’s designation as National Gratitude Month, Tompkins Bank of Castile, Tompkins Insurance Agencies and Tompkins Financial Advisors are donating $7,500 to several food pantries in our footprint of Western New York, calling the initiative “Banksgiving,” in lieu of hosting our annual Customer Appreciation Apple Day. As with many of our usual traditions, we’ve made adjustments this year in an effort to keep our community safe and we hope that this captures the spirit of our long-held tradition, while also helping the communities we serve during these trying times.