But Groundhog Day was last month….

In the movie Groundhog Day every day was like the preceding one. For me, it feels like I just finished last year’s tax returns yesterday and now it is filing season once again. How time flies. Unfortunately, with filing season we also get tax scam season. The hackers and criminals are always looking to make a buck so we need to protect ourselves. Fortunately, you can take steps to reduce your risk of getting scammed. First and foremost, you can reduce your risk by being aware of the more popular scams. You can learn a lot by visiting the IRS website, www.irs.gov as it has a wealth of information about scams and filing in general. Getting educated about potential scams and safeguarding your data will reduce your risk during tax season. Oh, and don’t forget to file!

It was a Dog’s Life

The same week my friend died we euthanized our 13 year old dog. She had cancer and was fading rapidly. I don’t wish to compare the impact of a human’s life with that of a dog but both have value and can teach us something. Our dog was a pound puppy, rescued from a tough city life and brought to the country. She loved to run and was always wagging her tail and smiling. For 13 years she would greet me when I came home from work, looking for a pat on the head, a walk, dinner, a treat. Hers was a simple life but she was always in a good mood, always happy to see you. She loved it when our now-grown children came home to visit because they would invite her up on the couch – usually forbidden territory. She looked so content curled up with them, it really didn’t take a lot to make her smile. Maybe that is her lesson – keep smiling, be happy when around family and friends, and enjoy each day.

Lessons from a Life Too Short

Last week we buried a friend who died way too young, he was 57. I knew him primarily through our shared passion for golf. He loved the comradery and competition of golf as well as the fellowship during and after a round. In addition, he was a good husband, father, friend to many, and businessman. That was reinforced by the large number of people who came to his wake and funeral – there to honor him and support his wife and two children. At both events the tears were softened by laughter as we remembered good times we had shared. He looked for the good in people and experiences, seemingly always in a good mood. In his 57 years I believe he managed to accrue a full measure of life experience – he truly enjoyed each and every day. While he made it look easy, I know he worked hard in all of his endeavors, especially in tending to relationships. After all, what is more important than our relationships with those we love? Even when career and life demand so much of our time and energy it is vitally important that we tend to our relationships with those dear to us. I know I can do a better job in this area and his example and memory will, hopefully, help me to fully appreciate each day and to be a better person. It seems like the least I can do to honor his memory.

Holiday Reflections

As we approach the Holiday Season and the end of the year it is a good time to reflect on what we are thankful for. It could be something as simple as the fact that is hasn’t snowed yet (at least as of the day I am writing this) or having our health, or having family close-by during the holidays. It is so easy to focus on the negative – just read or watch a news report and you will feel instantly depressed. The reality is that the vast majority of people are good-hearted and kind. I truly believe that and would find it difficult to get out of bed each day if I did not believe it. That doesn’t mean I don’t have days when I wonder if I am kidding myself, wondering if kindness can survive in our modern world. But, at least so far, I have been able to find that kernel of kindness and remain optimistic about our future.

I invite you to join me in looking for, and finding, that kindness in others. I promise you, it is there. And if we can show our own humanity and kindness we can make a huge difference; as the saying goes, “Be the change you want to see.” The only way we can make this a better world is to do our part and look for the good in others. A little kindness goes such a long way! I wish you all the blessings of the season and the happiest of New Years.

Kindness is contagious, Infect Someone Today!

Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

When you hear the work kindness, what comes to mind? For me, it could be one of many things; holding the door for someone, a warm smile and a kind word in passing, saying thank you to someone who has provided good service, a $3 tip on a $7 lunch at Mulligan’s. I could go on for quite a while, but will stop here. I am sure that you could come up with a long list and we would have some items in common but some would be unique to each of us. The tremendous range of ways we can demonstrate kindness is what makes it so powerful. It is so easy to be kind, it doesn’t have to take long or cost anything but still has such an impact on the person to whom it is expressed.

Oh, and I am the only one who feels like it, kindness that is, seems to be in short supply of late? For all those reasons Biddeford Savings launched our Path to Kindness initiative last month. The idea is simple, treat someone with kindness and let us know how it made you feel. As you can see on our website, www.biddefordsavings.com/pathtokindness, many have shared their stories. Thank you to all of them and to all of those who have lived out kindness without telling us about it. There is still time to let us know about it, again that can be done on our website. On December 15, 2015 we will select five of those stories and the author of it will be able to designate a charity of their choice to receive $500. In the meantime, keep up the kindness, it really can be contagious!

What are you thankful for?

As we contemplate Thanksgiving Day it is appropriate to ask that question. I hope we will all be thankful for a satisfying meal taken with family and friends on November 26^th. But, beyond that – what are you thankful for? I am blessed to have a wonderful family, good friends, my health, and a fulfilling career. Each of those requires constant “care and feeding” which I provide willingly. At the same time, I am troubled by the many challenges we face, both here in the US and abroad. I pray that we can find ways to bridge the many divides that separate us so that we can all live the best lives available to us. In closing, I wish you and yours a safe, satisfying Thanksgiving.

Path to Kindness

Our bank’s advertising tag line references “your path to prosperity.” On November 13, 2015, which happens to be National Kindness Day, we launched our Path to Kindness initiative. You can find details on our website or Facebook page. Basically, we are asking our customers and friends to engage in calculated random acts of kindness (I realize that is a bit of an oxymoron so please forgive me for that) and let us know about them. We will honor select acts of kindness with donations to charities chosen by those committing the kind acts. Our hope is that our initiative will encourage folks to be a bit kinder to each other. I believe that people are inherently good and look forward to hearing about many acts of kindness in the coming weeks.

Surfing the Net is my Favorite Sport, how can I do it Safely?

The internet is a powerful resource that many Americans have come to depend on for everyday activities like shopping, banking, and connecting with friends. Yet, for all the internet’s advantages, it can also make users vulnerable to fraud, identity theft and other scams.

Here are a few tips to help you stay safe and secure online:

Keep your computers and mobile devices up to date. Having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system are the best defenses against viruses, malware, and other online threats. Turn on automatic updates so you receive the newest fixes as they become available.
Set strong passwords. A strong password is at least eight characters in length and includes a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
Watch out for phishing scams. Phishing scams use fraudulent emails and websites to trick users into disclosing private account or login information. Do not click on links or open any attachments or pop-up screens from sources you are not familiar with.
Forward phishing emails to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at spam@uce.gov – and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the email.
Keep personal information personal. Hackers can use social media profiles to figure out your passwords and answer those security questions in the password reset tools. Lock down your privacy settings and avoid posting things like birthdays, addresses, mother’s maiden name, etc. Be wary of requests to connect from people you do not know.
Secure your internet connection. Always protect your home wireless network with a password. When connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, be cautious about what information you are sending over it.
Shop safely. Before shopping online, make sure the website uses secure technology. When you are at the checkout screen, verify that the web address begins with https. Also, check to see if a tiny locked padlock symbol appears on the page.
Read the site’s privacy policies. Though long and complex, privacy policies tell you how the site protects the personal information it collects.

By taking these steps you improve your chances of avoiding a painful wipeout while surfing.

Pay it Forward

Have you ever experienced “Pay it forward?” Recently my wife and I were in the drive-up lane at Dunkin Donuts (don’t judge us) and when we pulled up we were told the person ahead of us had paid for our order. We both smiled in gratitude and promptly paid for the order of the driver behind us. I have no way of knowing what number in the process we were or how many more drivers kept the process going, just that it felt pretty good. Stay tuned to this space, my next post will introduce Biddeford Savings’ version of “Pay it forward.”

12 Tips to keep your Smartphone Safe

The number of attacks on mobile devices is growing, in part, as a result of the increased popularity of mobile banking. According to a report by the Federal Reserve, 51 percent of smartphone users say they have used mobile banking in the past 12 months.

Here are a few steps you can take to protect the data on your mobile device:

Use the passcode lock on your smartphone and other devices. This will make it more difficult for thieves to access your information if your device is lost or stolen.
Log out completely when you finish a mobile banking session.
Protect your phone from viruses and malicious software, or malware, just like you do for your computer by installing mobile security software.
Use caution when downloading apps. Apps can contain malicious software, worms, and viruses. Beware of apps that ask for unnecessary “permissions.”
Download the updates for your phone and mobile apps.
Avoid storing sensitive information like passwords or a social security number on your mobile device.
Tell your financial institution immediately if you change your phone number or lose your mobile device.
Be aware of shoulder surfers. The most basic form of information theft is observation. Be aware of your surroundings especially when you’re punching in sensitive information.
Wipe your mobile device before you donate, sell or trade it using specialized software or using the manufacturer’s recommended technique. Some software, specific to your smartphone, allows you to wipe your device remotely if it is lost or stolen.
Beware of mobile phishing. Avoid opening links and attachments in emails and texts, especially from senders you don’t know. Also be wary of ads (not from your security provider) claiming that your device is infected.
Watch out for public Wi-Fi. Public connections aren’t very secure, so avoid performing banking transactions on a public network. If you need to access your account, try disabling the Wi-Fi and switching to your mobile network.
Report any suspected fraud to your bank immediately.

By taking these precautions you can ensure that your smartphone doesn’t do anything dumb.