Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. has earned national Bank On certification for its new checking product, Smart Steps.
The bank is one of just 166 in the country to earn this distinction from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE) to serve the unbanked and underbanked.
The CFE works directly with national and regional financial institutions to encourage the widespread availability of safe, low-cost, transactional products within their community. The Bank On certification provides account standards and a review process that ensures everyone has access to an affordable bank account.
Smart Steps is a checking account designed to help individuals who don’t have easy access to affordable banking services and have a goal of achieving economic independence and security. The account will be available throughout the bank’s service area in early 2022.
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The Tri County United Way is offering free tax classes to potential volunteers joining the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
With the stimulus payments and recent changes to the Earned Income Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Dependent Care credit more local residents may be looking for assistance completing their tax returns during the 2022 filing season.
Volunteers become IRS certified tax preparers upon successful completion of this training. They then work one or two days/evenings a week in the local communities assisting families and individuals free of charge with completing and e-filing their personal tax returns.
The local VITA team prepares tax returns throughout Washington, Warren and Northern Saratoga counties during the tax filing season of January through April. Other volunteers are needed to answer phones, make the tax appointments, and serve as greeters at the tax sites.
To learn more and/or register for these free tax classes contact Joan at 518-746-2560 or via email at tcuwvita@gmail.com or visit the website at www.tricountyunitedway.org.
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Arrow Financial Corp. was recently named to the prestigious Piper Sandler Sm-All Stars Class of 2021, a list of 35 top-performing small-cap banks and thrifts in the country.
Investment banking firm Piper Sandler Companies, evaluated 386 publicly traded banks and thrifts with a market cap below $2.5 billion based on eight metrics, including: growth, profitability, credit quality and capital strength. The field was then narrowed to the top 35.
Arrow Financial Corp. is one of just five New York financial institutions on the list and the only one headquartered locally.
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Tully Rinckey PLLC and Price Chopper/Market 32 distributed 250 free turkeys to Capital Region active duty and retired military personnel during the 12th annual Turkeys for Veterans initiative in November.
Over the last 12 years, Tully Rinckey PLLC has donated thousands of free turkeys to veterans across New York state in an effort to strengthen their bond with the veteran community.
Officials from Tully Rinckey PLLC hand delivered approximately 3,500 pounds of turkey to military personnel and veterans. To ensure safety during the COVID pandemic, turkeys were distributed via a drive through process, whereby veterans pulled up to the distribution area in their car and had their turkeys loaded by a Tully Rinckey volunteer.
Since 2009, the Turkeys for Veterans initiative has provided the Thanksgiving centerpiece for the families of more than 1,700 active duty and retired military personnel in the greater Capital Region. The firm has also provided turkeys to veterans in Binghamton, Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester.
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Grant Cottage State Historic Site in Gansevoort has won an Excellence in Environmental Stewardship award, one of nine projects and one individual recognized with a 2021 New York State Preservation Award for their efforts to preserve the state’s history.
The Grant Cottage won the award for installation of a 30-kilowatt hybrid photovoltaic system. The installation allows the site to operate completely off the grid and keeps the cottage and its physical inventory in a climate-controlled environment without interruption to help maintain the items for decades to come.
“The 2021 New York State Historic Preservation Awards are an opportunity to highlight projects and people who contribute to preserving the heritage of the state for the benefit of our current residents, visitors, and for future generations,” State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said. “The diversity of the projects being recognized demonstrates that preservation begins with passionate local individuals expanding their advocacy into productive partnerships. We are proud to be one of those partners and congratulate all of the individuals and groups for their extraordinary efforts to preserve these historic places.”