Every year First County Bank sponsors the Stamford Museum & Nature Center’s Maple Sugar Festival. In our 12th year, it is a highly anticipated fun family festival that highlights the New England tradition of maple sugaring. It’s become a popular community event, a staple in Lower Fairfield County that attracts all ages, which is why this year it’s been extended to a full weekend! There are so many amazing and unique activities to talk about like learning how to turn sap into syrup (a favorite among kids) or cheering on local chefs at the Chef’s Challenge where local caterers and restaurant chefs are tasked with creating the ‘tastiest’ recipe made with a secret ingredient — maple syrup, of course. And there’s so much more! I’ll be sharing a link with all the exciting details below. Right now, however, I want to take a moment to talk about community, our community and how on so many levels it is an extension of family. (more…)

First County Bank takes its mobile banking to the next level with new mobile banking applications for the iPad, iPhone/iPod, Droid Phones and the Blackberry for both your personal and small business online banking. The downloadable apps are available at the respective mobile devices’ app stores for free and provide users with a number of convenient options 24/7 to manage all of their finance needs in a secure and fast environment. In addition to standard features like checking available balances, the new apps offer enhanced features including interactive functionality, balance and transaction history inquiries, funds transfers between First County Bank accounts, bill pay and messaging. (more…)

Bayview Towers Community Center and Jewish Family Service, both located in Stamford, are hosting a series of financial literacy seminars for their constituents during the next six weeks. These seminars are being taught by First County Bank employee volunteers.

“This is a terrific program that First County’s Willard Miley and Michael Victor have put together with these nonprofit agencies and our volunteer instructors,” Rey Giallongo, chairman and CEO of First County Bank, recently said. “I’m really proud of these First County Bank employees who will be taking time away from their work day to help individuals confidently read, analyze and manage their personal finances in order to lead more secure and satisfying lives.”

The areas to be covered include banking (managing checking and savings accounts), budgeting, and setting and implementing financial goals (short term to retirement). To set and achieve these goals, one must have a working knowledge of financial instruments, borrowing and insurance. Maintaining good credit will save an individual a significant sum of money in interest costs, insurance premiums and may even affect one’s ability to secure employment. (more…)

Bill Jensen, owner of Darien Toy Box. Photography by Megan Dey Photography

When you walk into Darien Toy Box on the Post Road in Darien, Connecticut, you might feel as if you’ve been magically transported into the fantastical world of Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium filled to the brim with unique toys from around the world, collectables and an animated jungle with Winston, a life size Orangutan that moves and tells jokes to children. Ever since he was a child, Darien Toy Box owner Bill Jensen otherwise affectionately known as Mr. Bill, Bill or Chief Toy Man, wanted to make toys and dreamed of having his own toy store. Loving all kinds of toys as a kid, he had a special affinity for LEGO’s® and the WBritain® brand name of toy and collectable soldiers. (more…)

(l. to r.) Rey Giallongo, chairman and CEO First County Bank, Karen Kelly, senior vice president and chief marketing officer First County Bank, Melissa H. Mulrooney, executive director Stamford Museum & Nature Center, and David A. Swerdloff, president of the Stamford Museum & Nature Center's board of directors.

The Stamford Museum & Nature Center has extended its Maple Sugar Festival to a weekend event starting March 3. This year marks the 12th anniversary First County Bank has sponsored this family festival highlighting the New England tradition of maple sugaring.

At this festival, visitors will learn about the different methods used to turn sap into syrup through a variety of demonstrations. They will see firsthand how to tap a tree to harvest its sap; how colonists made maple syrup; the Native American hot rock method; and how the SM&NC uses the modern evaporation method to produce the maple syrup sold in its gift shop.

In addition, First County Bank will host its Chef’s Challenge event at the museum on Saturday, March 3, starting at 11:30 a.m. with a winner declared at 2 p.m. During the challenge, local caterers and restaurant chefs will compete to create the best tasting recipe, as judged by the public, using maple syrup as an ingredient. (more…)

“The time to save is now. When a dog gets a bone, he doesn’t go out and make a down payment on a bigger bone. He buries the one he’s got“. ~ Will Rogers

I like to call it ‘dog wisdom’ or things we can learn from a dog. If you know anything about me, you know that I’m a dog lover, not only because of their everlasting loyalty and unconditional love, but also because they live their day to day with a wisdom I often envy. I sometimes view population as such; dogs and the rest of us.

While the ‘rest of us’ approach every New Year with a newfound sense of rebirth or unparalleled energy to make a change, achieve or attain a goal or two, dogs approach every New Year like the last and the one before that. It’s simple. Master it than live it, every year. While I’m certainly not comparing the complexities the rest of us share with that of dogs, I do think there’s quite a bit of dog wisdom we can incorporate into our daily life for a better more fulfilling New Year and life.

Inspired by my own furry friend, here’s a rather distinctive, unconventional list of New Year’s resolutions to consider for your enjoyment and inspiration.

• Never pass up the opportunity for a joy ride.
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
• When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.
• Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.
• Take naps and stretch before rising.
• Run, romp and play daily.
• Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
• Be loyal.
• Never pretend to be something you are not.
• If you want what lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
• When you are happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
• No matter how often you are scolded, do not get into the guilt thing and pout… run back and make friends.
• Bond with your pack.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

In the much anticipated announcement from the Federal Open Market Committee’s year end meeting, the Federal Reserve Bank said it will continue to hold interest rates at near zero until late 2014 – nearly a year and a half longer than originally planned! The decision to extend the 0%, they state, is due to economic conditions that necessitate the extension. Stock prices jumped immediately following the announcement. Visit First County Bank’s First Perspectives for more on the effects of the Fed’s extended rate pledge: http://firstcountybankperspectives.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/feds-extended-rate-pledge-boosts-stock-and-bond-prices/

“First County Bank delivered what big banks could not,” said Ammar Murad, when referring to a recent search for a mortgage on a Greenwich condo. “The U.S. economy and the real estate market would be in much better shape today if large banks reacted quicker to borrowers’ needs. These big banks are holding back our economy.”

Ammar and Nehla Murad had to move out of their home in Rye Brook, N.Y. on June 27 and couldn’t secure a commitment letter from Wells Fargo. “We had a deadline to meet and the bank’s red tape was too time intensive. The bank kept extending the deadline until finally we decided to look at other banks for the loan,” said Nehla Murad. Their realtor recommended First County Bank. (more…)

The First County Bank Foundation announced the availability of its 2012 grant applications for nonprofit agencies in lower Fairfield County. The deadline for submitting standard grant applications is March 31, 2012.

Last year the First County Bank Foundation awarded more than $591,000 to 108 nonprofit organizations throughout lower Fairfield County. Since its inception in 2001, the foundation has awarded a total of 544 individual grants, worth more than $4.6 million.

To be eligible, all applicants must have nonprofit tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and serve the communities of Stamford, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk or Westport. Grant application forms are available on the Web site: http://www.firstcountybank.com/application-process-0.

“We always look forward to announcing the availability of foundation grant applications,” First County Bank Foundation Vice President Katherine Harris said. “One of the most rewarding parts of my position here at First County Bank is evaluating applicants and awarding appropriate grants that we know will be put to good use by our nonprofit partners.”

“In response to economic times and significant need for financial help, the First County Bank Foundation is on a mission to find new nonprofits to benefit from our grant program,” Rey Giallongo, president of First County Bank Foundation, said. “Through the dedication and charitable nature of First County Bank’s directors, corporators, officers and employees, the bank strives to make a difference in the communities it serves. This is accomplished by helping to ensure that local charitable needs continue to be met.”

Established in 2001 in honor of the bank’s 150th anniversary, the First County Bank Foundation was created to distribute funds annually to nonprofit organizations that support community and economic development for children and families. As a mutual bank with no shareholders, First County Bank considers contributions made by the foundation a means of paying dividends back to the local communities it serves.

Welcome to 2012! As we all settle into the New Year, I’d like to share with you First County Bank’s vision for this year and beyond. Without sounding too altruistic, it’s about establishing an even deeper understanding of our customer’s needs, which is especially critical in this ever changing and often unpredictable financial landscape. It’s fresh, but not new to our customers or our community since this has been the Bank’s approach since we opened our doors over 160 years ago. It’s a vision that embraces at its core a longstanding philosophy of “doing what’s right, always.” A vision that makes our approach to banking… fresh. Later this month, I will be sharing details of First County Bank’s Fresh Banking Strategic and Business Plan for 2012. For the moment, here’s a broader view.

Fresh Banking is a concept that takes community banking to another level of customer and community excellence. The foundation of Fresh Banking is a set of guiding principles that have been essential to our philosophy and success. As we hit the ground running this New Year, we will continue to enhance the breadth and depth of all our services. So what does that mean? It means more robust online banking tools like mobile banking, innovative products and technology, advancements in our social media networks that provide opportunities for continued dialogue, conversations and online community engagement. It means one on one attention to our customer’s specific and personal needs, state-of-the-art programs and services that help simplify life, and continuing to deliver on opportunities to start and/or enhance local business. And, the continued work of the First County Bank Foundation as it supports the needs of local non-profit organizations.

These are just some of what Fresh Banking means to us and what we believe will keep us financially strong and committed to helping our customers and the local communities strive and thrive.

In 2012 we promise to continue to provide legendary service so that every day we not only meet but also exceed expectations. Here’s to a Fresh new year!