Bidding for the assets of the former Venture Bank that was recently closed by state regulators in Lacey, Thurston County is now in progress in an online auction sale that is open to the public through July 13.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) conducts online sales of the assets of closed banks throughout the U.S. The number of “lots” of merchandise in these auctions varies from dozens of items to hundreds of items depending on the number of branches or locations formerly owned by a closed bank. read more »

Certified Distressed Property Expert Penny McLaughlin of Penny’s Team Real Estate, is now offering free educational information for homeowners who are delinquent on their mortgages.

Accessible through www.pennysteam.com/cdpe, these educational materials clearly explain what a homeowner’s options are when faced with an unaffordable mortgage, as well as the benefits of each option. read more »

Under changes to Federal Reserve Regulation E, which covers electronic funds transfers, banks and other financial institutions can no longer charge fees for ATM withdrawals unless consumers opt in and agree to them advance. The changes took effect July 1 for new accounts and Aug. 15 for existing ones.

New regulations will soon require banks to get a customer’s permission before charging fees to cover overdrafts caused by debit-card purchases or ATM withdrawals. read more »

Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (Enterprise) and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) have partnered to create the Washington Green Communities Retrofit Loan Fund, a $2 million financing pool available to owners of multifamily affordable housing properties in the state of Washington.

“We are pleased to offer this opportunity at a time when finding options to finance retrofitting activities is a top priority for the affordable housing community,” said M.A. Leonard, vice president and Pacific Northwest impact market leader, Enterprise Community Partners. “Reducing carbon emissions, while increasing the health benefits and utility savings of a building is a win-win to the building owner, the resident and the surrounding neighborhood. read more »

If you’re in one of the early waves of baby boomers, you may know some retirees who are now enjoying a wide variety of activities — possibly even including a new career. And you, too, may now have some choices about how to spend your time. Should you stay at your current job? Should you retire altogether and travel or pursue hobbies? Or should you “retire” and then start a new job, do some consulting or even open your own business? While you may have choices on how to draw an income, you’ll also have some key issues to consider. read more »

There is “no silver bullet” to help improve retail performance, said Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, an industry trade group.

According to Shay, retailers remain constrained by both lower levels of consumer spending as well as a continuation in tight credit conditions.

With consumer spending accounting for about 70 percent of all economic activity, the retail industry accounts for about one in five U.S. Jobs, Shay said. That’s why banks should loosen up lending to qualified retailers that would like to expand their business. read more »

As part of closing the state budget deficit, our legislature has decided to tax a food item that has long been exempt: candy. Additional taxes have also been applied to gum, soda pop, and bottled water, and taxes are being raised again on beer and cigarettes. The recent tax hike on candy may not be as simple as it may seem at first glance. If your business sells candy, you need to be aware of which items are classified as taxable “candy.” read more »

How will you pay for long-term care? The sad fact is that most people don’t know the answer to that question. But a solution is available.

As baby boomers leave their careers behind, long-term care (LTC) insurance will become very important in their financial strategies. The reasons to get an LTC policy after age 50 are very compelling.

Your premium payments buy you access to a large pool of money, which can be used to pay for long-term care costs. By paying for LTC out of that pool of money, you can preserve your retirement savings and income. read more »

Parker Financial LLC recently became an accredited Better Business Bureau (BBB) member.

“I’ve long respected the BBB and what it represents in our community, and I’m excited to now be a part of it,” said Jason Parker, president of Parker Financial LLC. “Parker Financial LLC has always upheld the highest standards so being accredited by the BBB was a good fit for us.” read more »