MyBOC Supports Education

One of the most pressing needs in higher education today is funding for scholarships. Scholarships allow deserving students to attain their educational goals, meet their professional objectives and succeed to their fullest ability. From our beginning in 1982, we have given back and participated in the communities that we serve. From education, to volunteer time and donations we actively work hard to make our communities a better place to live.

Bank of Commerce recognizes that our continued success is contingent upon the health and vitality of the communities we serve. Taking action to improve the well-being of others is a community responsibility and commitment we’ve upheld since our inception in 1982. We value the opportunity to provide financial support to the youth in our communities.

Who is Eligible?

• Graduating High School Senior
• Student has maintained a 3.0 GPA in senior year
• Student intends to enroll as a full-time college student within 12 months of graduation (proof of enrollment will be required before funds are distributed)

When to Apply?

• January through April
• Deadline April 30th

Are there any restrictions?

• Student is not an employee of Redding Bank of Commerce.
• Student is not a family member of an employee of Redding Bank of Commerce.

Other Requirements?

• Fully complete and submit the application
• Include one letter of recommendation from an acquaintance, employer or teacher
• Include a one-page essay on “Why I should be considered for this scholarship award….”
• Attach most recent report of GPA

Where to send the application:

Redding Bank of Commerce
1951 Churn Creek Road
Redding, California 96002
ATTN: Scholarship Committee

Download Application Here »

MyBOC: A Smart Start to Smarter Banking.

FAFSA – Free Application For Federal Student Aid

Every Student should apply for financial aid every year – even if you don’t think you will qualify or haven’t qualified for financial assistance in the past. Not all financial aid is based on financial need.

Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded financial assistance for education beyond high school. We consistently champion the promise of postsecondary education to all Americans —and its value to our society.

You should apply every year because family and student circumstances change – and those changes can affect eligibility from one year to another.

Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial aid. This application will also help you determine how much student aid you may be eligible for in the form of grants, scholarships and student loans.

Eligibility

Nearly every student is eligible for some form of financial aid, including low-interest Federal Stafford and/or parent PLUS loans, regardless of income or circumstances, provided that you:

• are a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or an eligible non-citizen;
• have a valid Social Security Number;
• have a high school diploma or GED;
• are registered with the U.S. Selective Service (if you are a male ages 18 to 25);
• complete a FAFSA promising to use any federal aid for educational purposes;
• do not owe refunds on any federal student grants;
• are not in default on any student loans; and
• Have not been found guilty of the sale or possession of illegal drugs during a period when you received federal student aid.

Step #1 – Applying for Aid – FAFSA

To be considered for federal financial aid, you must submit a completed FAFSA on time.

• When to apply? On or after January 1st for the following academic year. Financial aid is first come, first served, so the sooner the better.
• What do you need? The FAFSA will require information based on the most recent tax year. Your parents will need to provide income information from the previous calendar year.
• How does FAFSA calculate the Expected Family Contribution (“EFC”)? It takes into account: Parent(s) income, parent(s) assets, student income, student assets, family size, number of parents, age of older parent, and number of children in college.

Remember: This is a FREE application that you can complete on your own. If you need help, contact FAFSA Customer Service at: 1-800-433-3243. Forms can be completed online at:

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

Step #2 – FAFSA PIN

Your personal identification number (PIN) will let you access information on Federal Student Aid websites. Your PIN is 4 digits used in combination with your social security number, name and date of birth. It makes the process faster because you can sign the forms electronically and make corrections or changes and tract your application through the process.

Step #3 – SAR – Student Aid Report

Once your FAFSA has been fully processed, your individual expected family contribution (EFC) and other relevant financial information will appear on a Student Aid Report (SAR) that the Department of Education will issue to you and to the financial aid administrators of the colleges listed on your FAFSA.

The financial aid office(s) will then use the information from your SAR to prepare a custom financial aid package for you based on the types and amount of aid for which you are eligible, and will communicate that information to you in the form of a Financial Aid Award Notice.

When you can expect to receive the SAR:

How soon the SAR is received depends on how you file your FAFSA. For example, if you file a paper FAFSA, it may take approximately 2-3 weeks. If you file electronically, either through the Department of Education website or by using the Student Financial Aid Services FAFSA preparation and electronic filing service, your SAR can be available in 3 to 10 days.

Step #4 – Financial Aid Award Notice

Finally, the output from all the inputs:

Typically, you will receive a Financial Aid Award Notice from each college or university listed on your FAFSA to which you have been accepted for admission.

Any federal financial aid that you may be offered will generally is in the form of grants (such as Pell Grants), work-study programs and loans (such as Federal Stafford and Parent PLUS loans). Additionally, many states, colleges and universities use the FAFSA to award aid from their own resources as well, including grants, scholarships, and other college-sponsored financial aid.

Step #5 – Decide which Award Notice to accept

You may receive financial aid offers from more than one school, so be sure to compare the financial aid packages that are offered. Determine how much you will need to borrow and or work and secure from family resources. This will help you to determine the affordability. You can accept or decline any portion of the award. Be sure to respond by the deadline date, otherwise the award offer may be withdrawn.

Remember this short list of important items:

Customize your debit card with your favorite photo!

Custom Debit Cards – Available Now!

It’s the people you love and activities you care about that give life special meaning. And now you can turn your Bank of Commerce Debit Card into a reflection of the things that are most important to you – the choice is yours.

Design your own card

Feature a favorite photo or image right on your card:

• Special family snapshot or photo depicting a memorable event such as a graduation, wedding, or vacation
• Picture of your lovable puppy or kitten
• Image that represents a special hobby or interest you enjoy
• Even your child’s cherished artwork
• Or choose from the many images in our online Image Library

It’s fast and easy!

• Step 1 – Select your Images: Upload your photos or select from our gallery of images. You can even upload photos from your Facebook account.
• Step 2 – Customize your Card: Like that smile but don’t want your aunt on your card? No worries, crop, rotate and resize your card with ease. Try out all your images to see which one fits you.
• Step 3 – Create your Card: This is the easiest part of all. Before we can print your card, we’ll need you to verify your information. After your approval, your card will be uploaded for processing.

It’s easy to customize your card and it takes only a few minutes.

Explore Create My Card »

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An ongoing series on of timely articles security and fraud from Bank of Commerce.

Learn more about the essentials of money in MyBOC’s Money 101 »

Everyone needs to take steps to protect their information from identity theft.

For you, this means:

• Keep your Debit Card in a safe place, and make sure you always know where it is. Don’t share your Debit Card PIN with anyone, and don’t write it on your card. Don’t write your PIN on a piece of paper that you keep in your wallet. It’s only four numbers, so memorizing it should be easy.
• Keep your checks in a safe place – they have your personal and account information on them. If you lose your checks or Debit Card, report it to us immediately. We’ll probably want to close your account and give you a new account and Debit Card for your safety.
• Always log on to Online Banking from a trusted computer. If you walk away from the computer, be sure to log out of Online Banking. Shred any documents that have your personal and account information on them, rather than throwing them in the regular trash. Only use trusted bank ATMs and trusted online stores. When shopping online, make sure you’re on a secure site – the web URL will start with https or you should see a lock symbol on the lower right side of the screen.
• Keep your social security card and birth certificate in a safe place (definitely NOT in your wallet!).

Get Money Smart at MyBOC’s Money 101 »

Learn more about the essentials of money in MyBOC’s Money 101 »

The easiest way to save up for something you’re buying or doing is to open up a Savings account.

You can then transfer money from your Checking to your Savings account, so the money isn’t available for spending in your Checking account.

If you sign up for CENTS-ABILITY savings, every debit card purchase will be rounded up to the next whole dollar and the difference automatically transferred to your savings. Once you decide you need to use the money you’ve saved up, it’s easy to transfer the amount you want right back into your Checking account.

Get Money Smart at MyBOC’s Money 101 »

Learn more about the essentials of money in MyBOC’s Money 101 »

We don’t charge you to use one of our ATMs or to use another bank’s ATMs.

However, if you use another bank’s ATM, they may charge you a fee. We will reimburse these fees up to $10 per statement cycle. An easy way to avoid a fee, and save a trip to the ATM, is to get cash back during a Debit Card purchase.

Get Money Smart at MyBOC’s Money 101 »