Education & Information Center
Ledyard is dedicated to making its clients smarter, more informed consumers of financial products and services. Our goal is to offer quick and easy access to the most relevant sites that address finance, economics, banking and general money matters. Here you will find links to those instructional materials and tools.
Investment & Wealth Management
Tax Info
Economic & Financial Education
Bank Products
Cybersecurity, Fraud & Identity Theft
Travel & Foreign Currency
Consumer Credit Counseling
Small Business Counseling
Automobile Pricing
Local
Bloomberg – Provides business and financial professionals with the tools and data they need on a single, all-inclusive platform.
Investopedia – A financial website containing articles, dictionary entries and tutorials on nearly all aspects of finance and investing.
Big Charts - An investment research Web site, providing access to professional-level research tools such as interactive charts, quotes, industry analysis and intraday stock screeners, as well as market news and commentary.
IRS - Provide America's taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and by applying the tax law with integrity and fairness to all.
2024 New Federal Reporting Requirement for Beneficial Ownership Information White Paper > Read
Investment Thoughts Newsletter Archive
The Potential for Inflation and What We Are Doing About It - Written by Douglas Phillips, Chief Investment Officer
ESG: Three Letters that are Changing the World - Written by Fred Wainwright, Senior Investment Strategist and Head of U.S. Equities
Investment Considerations for a Post-Pandemic World - Written by Douglas Phillips, Chief Investment Officer
A Matter of Style - Written by Douglas Phillips, Chief Investment Officer
Preparing for the Future with International Investments - Written by Douglas Phillips, Chief Investment Officer
Mind the Plumbing - Written by Douglas Phillips, Chief Investment Officer
Through the Storm United - Written by Douglas Phillips, Chief Investment Officer
Talking Crude - Written by JT Underwood, Senior Portfolio Manager
Our Thoughts on the Coronavirus and Recent Market Volatility - Written by Douglas Phillips, Chief Investment Officer
Stepping Into the New Decade With Our Sleeves Rolled Up - Written by Douglas Phillips, Chief Investment Officer
How we Build Better Portfolios with Exchange Traded Funds - Written by Douglas Phillips, Chief Investment Officer
Guidelines for a Healthy Diet - Written by Douglas Phillips, Chief Investment Officer
The Resurgent IPO Market - Look Before You Leap - Written by Douglas Phillips, Chief Investment Officer
Congratulations for Staying on Track! - Written by Douglas Phillips, Chief Investment Officer
A Precious Resource - Written by Fred Wainwright, Senior Investment Strategist and Karen Crump, Senior Portfolio Manager
Advisor Thoughts Newsletter Archive
The New Hampshire Trust Advantage - Written by Valerie Nevel, Senior Financial Advisor & Fiduciary Consultant
A Biden Tax Hike? - Written by Douglas Gross, Director of Tax and Financial Planning Services
Retirement Accounts: Recent Changes & the Best Ways to Adjust Your Strategies - Written by Valerie Nevel, Senior Financial Advisor & Fiduciary Consultant
Tax Reform and Charitable Giving - Written by Douglas Gross, Director of Tax and Financial Planning Services
Is Your Estate Plan up to Date? - Written by Holly Dustin, Senior Financial Advisor
Retirement Planning - What it is and Why it is so Important! - Written by Monique Brown, Senior Financial Advisor
What the New Tax Law Means for Estate Planning - Written by Valerie J. Nevel, Senior Financial Advisor
Year End Planning - Gifting Your Required Minimum Distribution to Charity - Written by Diane DeStefano, Senior Financial Advisor
Navigate Retirement with Confidence Workshop - Workbook
IRS Home Page
Federal Reserve Education - Links to instructional materials and tools that can increase your understanding of the Federal Reserve, economics and financial education. All of the Fed web sites, curriculum, newsletters, booklets and other resources are free.
Comptroller of the Currency Administrator of National Banks - Helps you find answers to your National Banking questions.
Informational video about FDIC Insurance
FDIC Insurance Information and Customized Information Estimator (EDIE) – Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator
The ABCs of 123s: Raising Financially Intelligent Children - A webcast presented by State Street Global Advisors. The webcast covers the importance of financial education for you and your family, financial education for different developmental stages as well as tips and techniques for training your children.
Insured Investments
Treasury Direct – Information on Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds and TIPS.
.bank Security
The change to ledyard.bank provides you an even more secure banking experience, learn more about it here.
Internet/Cyber Fraud
Internet (or Cyber) Fraud is a growing concern in the financial services industry. Cyber fraud occurs when perpetrators of a scam entice internet users to give them critical information such as usernames, passwords, credit card information, bank account information, or other types of account information.
With more and more people filing their taxes online, there are greater security risks for your personal financial data. Read the latest information on Tax Identity Theft Awareness from the Federal Trade Commission to heighten awareness of this growing concern.
To learn more about how to protect yourself from Cyber Fraud, please read the list below that offers safety tips to minimize exposure to such crimes. Please be aware that this list offers suggestions that may or may not be right for each circumstance. Further, it is not intended to be a complete and all-inclusive solutions manual.
Guidelines for Safer Online Banking
- Always use current and supported computer operating system and application software, being sure to routinely and continuously install security patches and other critical updates from the vendor.
- Always maintain a current anti-malware Internet suite from a reputable vendor, being sure to routinely and continuously update associated pattern files. Some of the more well-known vendors and products are Kaspersky (Kaspersky Internet Security), McAfee (McAfee Internet Security, McAfee Total Protection for Secure Business), Symantec (Norton Internet Security), and Trend Micro (Trend Micro Titanium, Trend Micro Worry Free, Trend Micro Enterprise Security Suite).
- Use strong passwords, change them often (we suggest at least every 90 days), and don’t share them or write them down.
- Be suspicious of all e-mail, even if it appears to come from someone you know.
- Never click on a link within an e-mail unless you verify with the sender first.
- To reduce your exposure to Internet threats, choose Internet browser settings which restrict dangerous programs and features you don’t need. How to do this varies by browser but, in general, set default security settings to “High”. For more details, you may want to copy the following URL address into your browser and visit the site:
http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/securing_browser/
- Be selective about where you browse on the Internet, and be wary of downloads offered by a pop-up window.
Most internet scams are done via e-mail. However, other methods can utilize the internet itself. For example, banks and other financial institutions are seeing a rise in a different type of cyber fraud known as ACH fraud. While ACH fraud seems to hit Small- and medium-sized businesses more frequently, ACH fraud can target individuals’ personal accounts, as well. This major cyber-security threat involving ACH fraud is perpetrated by criminals who steal banking credentials and then make use of those credentials to initiate wire and ACH transfers from the victim’s account(s), out to mules and then back to where the cybercriminals are based - often in Eastern Europe. Small-medium sized businesses, as well as individuals, are typically targeted for this crime because they're viewed - relative to enterprise businesses - as lacking IT sophistication and staffing.
CLICK HERE TO READ TIPS ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF.
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FBI Fraud Advisory for Businesses: Corporate Account Takeover
Cyber criminals are targeting the financial accounts of owners and employees of small and medium sized businesses, resulting in significant business disruption and substantial monetary losses due to fraudulent transfers from these accounts. The FBI has released a fraud advisory with recommendations and resources. All banks with corporate and government accounts should read this advisory. To learn more about ACH fraud, please click on the link to read the full article: Corporate Account Takeover PDF
Public Wi-Fi and Security - Public Wi-Fi networks are a security risk for your private information. Learn how to protect your sensitive and confidential data, like banking details.
Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Site – a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.
Federal Trade Commission Video to Help Identity Theft Victims - If you’re a victim of identity theft or know someone who is, the Federal Trade Commission has a new video designed to help facilitators who assist consumers in repairing their identity.
United States Department of Justice Identity Theft Site – Frequently Asked Questions about Identity Theft and Identity Fraud.
Credit Report – annualcreditreport.com - a centralized service for consumers to request free annual credit reports.
Five Ways Identity Thieves are Targeting You - An article about five prevalent ways that fraudsters steal people's identities
Identity Theft Protection & Security Center*
Protect your identity and secure your credit with the Identity Theft Protection & Security Center† offered through GenGold®. A GenGold® membership is free with your Ledyard
Plan relationship or $2.00 per month with any other account.
* You must activate the Identity Theft Restoration Coverage to be covered.
Mail Fraud
The U.S. Postal Service has great information on preventing mail fraud. Click here to read the document and learn how to protect yourself.
Currency Exchange International, CXI, is a leading provider of comprehensive foreign exchange services in North America. They buy and sell over 80 foreign currencies, all of which can be delivered to your home the next day. By utilizing this convenient online service, you can securely exchange currency at Ledyard National Bank, avoiding potentially unreliable and unknown exchange houses in foreign countries and saving time in airport lines. Order currency here.
International Incoming Wire Instructions
The following information should be used for funds wired to Ledyard clients in U.S. Dollars or other foreign currency.
U.S. Bank Name: Ledyard National Bank
U.S. Bank Address: 38 South Main Street, Hanover, NH 03755
U.S. Bank Swift/BIC: LENIUS32
Beneficiary Bank Account: Client’s account number
Beneficiary: Client’s name, address and account number
Ledyard National Bank charges a $10.00 incoming wire fee. Intermediary banks may charge processing fees as well.
GreenPath Debt Solutions - A nationwide, non-profit financial organization that assists consumers with credit card debt, housing debt and bankruptcy concerns.
Small Business Administration – To aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns.
SCORE - Counselors to America’s small business- They provide free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs.
VEDA - The Vermont Economic Development Authority - manages a wide range of low-cost lending programs for businesses of all sizes, customized to each client's individual needs.
VTSBDC - to strengthen existing business entities and assist start-ups with high-quality, no-cost counseling and affordable training programs.
Kelley Blue Book – Offers pricing research tools for new and used cars.
Edmunds – Empowers, engages and educates automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders.
Upper Valley Business Alliance
Hartford, VT Chamber of Commerce
New London-Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce
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