COVID-19 & Your Money: 6 Questions Answered

At C&N, we recognize that these are uncertain times. COVID-19 has changed the way we live our lives right now and you may wonder how that might affect your money. The good news is that C&N is insured, prepared and capable of keeping your money and information safe during these difficult times. We’re also committed to doing everything possible to protect our staff and the communities we serve. Here are answers to some of the most common questions we’ve been asked:

1. Are banks an essential/life-sustaining function? 

Yes, banks are an essential service and C&N experts are available to serve customers.

2. Is my money safe? 

C&N deposits (i.e. Checking accounts, Savings, Certificates of Deposit) are insured by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). That’s why you see us using the “Member FDIC” stamp to symbolize the safety and security of our nation’s financial institutions. Since 1933, no depositor has ever lost a penny of FDIC-insured funds. FDIC deposit insurance enables consumers to confidently place their money in C&N accounts and is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. To learn more, visit www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits or connect with us.

3. What should I do if I’m concerned about the market and my investments? 

Possibly the most important thing you can do during times of market volatility is to remain calm. Take some time to revisit the goals for your investments and when you might need to access funds. If your needs are immediate, determine the amount you require for the short term and consider withdrawing it now. For needs that are truly longer term, stay the course. The market may be down today, but it’s shown a strong history of rebounding in the long term. It’s also important to keep in mind that times of uncertainty can also present us with opportunities. Now may be the time to consider making adjustments to your strategy for the future. Schedule an appointment with a financial consultant or trust officer who has your best interest in mind.

4. I have questions/concerns about my loan. What should I do?

Start by giving us a call. Our experts genuinely care about the people and businesses we serve and will do whatever we can to help. We will work with you to understand any disruption this situation has created for you and your finances and develop a personalized plan for getting through it together. We are actively developing more specific relief options and will share more details early next week. 

Small businesses can find guidance and loan resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration at sba.gov/disaster.

5. How can I prevent falling victim to COVID-19 scams?

Unfortunately, criminals often use times of hardship to prey on concerned citizens. Don't let this happen to you. To avoid being the victim of fraud, follow these tips:

Beware of emails claiming to be from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) or other government entities. Though they can look legitimate, this technique is called "phishing" and can result in you being conned out of personal information, money or both. Instead, keep up to date by visiting reputable government sites directly.

• Ignore offers of a "cure," "prevention" or "vaccine" for COVID-19. As of now, no such products exist.
• Should you decide to donate to a charitable cause related to the outbreak, ensure that it's through a vetted, reputable charity.
• Don't click on links or download software from sources you don't know.
• Since March 5, a notable increase in domain names using the word “corona” and "covid" has been seen, according to Bit Discovery. Twenty-two of those were confirmed as malicious by researchers. 
• Visit cnbankpa.com/COVID-19 for more information and resources.

6. How can I support my local businesses/economy/community?

This is affecting every community in America and many around the world. While staying home and practicing proper social distancing is critical, there are some ways we can support local businesses as well:

• Utilizing curbside pick-up, delivery or drive-through options many restaurants are creating right now. It’s a great way to take a hands-off approach and still enjoy delicious, local food.
• Purchasing gift cards from local merchants now for use later. This is a wonderful way to support everything from restaurants to cleaning services to boutique shops and to help ensure they’re still in business when we’re all back out and about again.

Tough times call for togetherness and at C&N we know that we’re all stronger when we work side-by-side…or at least as close as social distancing will allow.

We hope that you’ve found this information helpful and that we’ve eased your mind just a bit. Should you find yourself with additional questions not addressed here, we invite you to call your local C&N office or our Client Care Center at 1.877.838.2517 or email [email protected]. We’re standing by, ready to help any way we can with advice & assistance & answers & more. You & Us. That’s C&N.