BANK ON HAMPTON ROADS VOLUNTEERS - THANK YOU FOR BEING SO AMAZING!: 2013

Bank On Graduation

LOOK! We are graduating yet another class of Bank On Virginia Beach participants! Come and cheer them on as they celebrate their accomplishments and look forward to the future!

William D. Sessoms, Jr., Virginia Beach Mayor &

Dannette R. Smith, Virginia Beach Human Services Director

proudly request your presence at the

Bank On Virginia Beach Graduation

Saturday, January 25, 2014

at 10 O’clock am

hosted by

Turning Point Church
2641 Princess Anne Road

Virginia Beach, VA 23456

Light reception will follow

RSVP Today!

Bankonvb@vbgov.com

Friends & Family Welcome

Bank On Virginia Beach is a unique program that involves the entire community in offering a helping hand to people needing a fresh financial start. You can join the team of volunteers who make coaching and instruction for Bank On possible.

To get started, you will want to attend an orientation session for Bank On Coaches offered January 7th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Human Services offices 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd. Materials are prepared only for the number of RSVPs received, so to reserve your spot for this session: email bankonvb@vbgov.com with the subject line: RSVP Coach Orientation.

If you would like to receive training to become a coach, there is a faith-based 10 week coach training starting January 27th. This training will meet weekly from 6:00 - 8:00 pm for 10 weeks. Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia will host this training. There is a cost of $40 for this training. RSVP to loriirwin@yahoo.com subject: RSVP 10 -week Faith-based training. This training is a great resource for churches who are developing financial ministries to expand benevolence from a hand-out to a help up. Check out the flyer for this class.

Hot off the Presses - Newsletter

Get your copy of the latest Financial Empowerment Newsletter now!

In this latest issue you will find out how you can make 2014 be the year of your financial makeover! Get information free tax services, see pictures from Financial Planning Day 2013, free education services, start your college savings for you or your child or volunteer with Bank On Virginia Beach!

This newsletter makes a great handout for church, family and friends as well! Check it out at:

Latest Financial Empowerment News

Earned Income Credit

Earned Income Tax Credit

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), also called Earned Income Credit (EIC), is a refundable credit that can offer low to moderate income families a boost at tax time. If you file a federal income tax return and you have earned income, you could be eligible for up to $6,044! To see if you are eligible for this credit, use the EITC Assistant.

The Earned Income Tax Credit can be just the ticket to making ends meet in 2014. With this credit you could:

Pay for needed repairs to your car
Pay down loans
Establish emergency savings
Save for property taxes and vacations
Start College savings for your child
Take a class yourself

Did you know that the average earned income tax credit is enough money to feed a child for a year? Don't leave money on the table this tax season. File and get your credits. If you had earned income in prior years, but did not file, check out the free tax resources at www.vbgov.com/eitc and file your taxes up to three years back!

Make plans to file early at EITC DAY at Human Services January 31, 2014 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. In addition to tax preparation there will be Certified Application Counselors to help you navigate www.healthcare.gov and explore your health insurance options. Certified Financial Planners will be available to help you make the best use of your tax refund and credit counselors on site to review your annualcredit report as well.

Free Help for Taxes

Tax season is just around the corner, so make plans now to take advantage of all the great free resources offered in Virginia Beach. You can keep more of your refund in your pocket. If you are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit you could get up to $6,044 in refundable credits!

This year you have three ways to take advantage of free resources:

1. Do it yourself. Use the links at www.vbgov.com/eitc to e-file your own free federal AND state taxes. Using the links at this website, you will not only be able to prepare your return for free, but you will have telephone assistance standing by to answer any questions you have.

2. Get assistance. Volunteers are available to assist you in preparing your taxes on Fridays starting 1/31/14 at Human Services offices at 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd. Hours: 9:00 - 4:00 pm. To schedule a time with a volunteer, call 757-385-3611.

3. Full Service. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is also available at a number of locations throughout the City to prepare and file your taxes for free. Just bring your tax documents, social security cards, picture id and bank routing information.

You can do it - we can help.

52 Week Savings Challenge

What if you could save almost $1,400 by the end of the year to help you with the cost of those extras at year end or even to create a nest egg for car repairs or other unexpected expenses? Virginia Saves has a plan that you can implement by starting slow and growing savings each week. The 52- week savings plan increases savings week by week until you end with $52 in weekly savings.

Expecting a big refund for your taxes? Try the reverse 52 week challenge by banking a portion of your refund and then continuing the savings plan weekly after that.

We challenge you to grow your nest egg. Are you ready?

52 - WEEK CHALLENGE

Bank On Classes 2014

Are you tired of living each month wondering how you are going to make ends meet? Do you want to increase your savings for the unexpected and don't know how?

Bank On Virginia Beach provides the education, support and encouragement you need to make 2014 your year for a financial makeover. Hundreds have begun the journey to greater financial freedom and you can join them.

Bank On Virginia Beach is part of the Mayor's Action Challenge for 500 Families Financially Fit for the Future. As part of this challenge you may see improvements in:

Income Opportunity
Savings
Debt Reduction
Credit Score
Asset Building and Protection

Want to know more? Check out the Bank On list of classes and sign up today at: www.vbgov.com/bankon Also Post this Flyer at your workplace or place of worship

Wondering if Bank On Virginia Beach is really for you? Check out our video with stories from our participants.

PRESS RELEASE

Holiday Shopping On a Shoestring

Its that time of year again with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, your budget can really get squeezed. If you missed the Holiday Shopping on a Shoestring workshop we have uploaded the handouts from that workshop to help you enjoy the holidays well without busting your budget.

HANDOUTS

If you would like to see videos from a prior presentation of this workshop check them out here:

http://bankonvb.blogspot.com/2012/11/holiday-shopping-on-shoestring.html

Biggest Tax Mistakes to Avoid

Join us for a just in time workshop to help prepare you for avoiding big tax blunders. December is the time to make last minute adjustments to your finances to maximize your refund and minimize your audit risk.
Virginia Society of CPAs is providing this workshop in partnership with the Financial Empowerment Program.

FLYER

Location: Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library
Date: December 18
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm

RSVP: bankonvb@vbgov.com

Mayor's Action Challenge

These individuals demonstrated that they are financially fit by documenting progress in several key areas:

1. Income Opportunity
2. Savings
3. Debt Reduction
4. Credit Score
5. Financial Knowledge
6. Asset Building
7. Consumer Protections

This elite group have been added to the 500 Families Financially Fit for the Future team. To learn more about how you can be a part of this challenge visit www.vbgov.com/5f or check out this brochure