With so many banks competing for your money, which bank is the best? Are credit unions better than traditional banks? Is a national banking company like US Bank better than a smaller regional bank like The Bank of Kentucky?

One of the biggest questions you will want to consider when choosing a bank in Northern Kentucky is the banks policy on ATM usage. While this might not seem important, unless you don’t travel around the Cincinnati area much or your bank is on every street corner, ATM charges can be expensive if you rely upon using an ATM.

Another consideration is minimum balances. Most banks in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati for that matter are really good with minimum fees for personal accounts. Most banks offer some type of checking or savings account with no monthly minimums that must be maintained, or low fees for a no balance account.

With so many banks competing for your money in Northern Kentucky you can easily find the right bank that will fit your lifestyle and needs. Many banks are also competing for your business as well. If you find a good bank that you like a feature, try competing with another bank and see if they will match it or do better. Almost like bargain shopping for a bank!

If you are wanting a good roofing repair company in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area, you need to make sure that the company is a good and reputable local company.  Many roofing scammers will come to your home that are from out of state and may not be licensed to provide contract services in your city.

You will also want to ensure that the roofing repair company is insured and/or bonded against damage or claims.  This will cover damage that they might cause due to an accident or injury of one of their employees.

Some roofing companies will give you a word of mouth contract.  You need a written contract that explains everything in detail.  Who is responsible for taking the shingles away?  What are all of the charges?  How long will it take?  What about a warranty or guarantee of their work?

These are just a few of the questions you should ask before hiring a roofing repair company in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area.  With the vast amount of storm damage, it won’t be long before the scam artist are stealing money from people by promising to provide a service that they don’t.

Don’t be a roofing repair scam victim.  Stick with a reputable local roofing contractor for your roof repairs.

The remnants of Ike began blowing into the Tri-State area around noon on Sunday with the full force of the winds hitting by 2 p.m. Numerous reports of trees into homes, electric wires and cable lines down and traffic lights not working had been reported. The phone lines at Duke Energy and Insight Cable just had a steady busy signal well into the night.

Numerous large trees are also down throughout most of Northern Kentucky. Duke Energy and local Fire departments are urging people to use caution around the downed trees due to electric lines also being down. It is impossible to visually tell if a power line that is down still has power to it.

Representatives are also warning people to be on the lookout for scam artist that promise to clean up storm damage or repair your roof at cheap prices. The scammers are usually wanting to be paid up front in order to buy materials to do the job. They work they usually do is also not quality work that will last. The best advice if you have trees down or home damage is to check with you insurance agent about what might be covered.

Duke Energy is expecting full power restoration within the next 3 days. Police are also urging motorists to use caution and reminding drivers that if they come to a traffic light that is not functioning, it is to be treated as a four way stop.

I’m sure you have heard or seen the ads, and you have surely you’ve seen the storefronts. Walk or drive down any street in Kentucky, from the small rural towns to Louisville and Lexington and there they are: payday lenders.

Kentucky has over 650 payday loan lenders, also known as check advance or fast cash shops. Due to a combination of bad legislative policies and legal loopholes, both the payday loan companies and the dollars they lend are increasing each day.

A payday loan company works like this. Payday lenders make small cash “advances” in exchange for holding personal checks for future deposit, usually the borrower’s next payday. But since a two week “loan” with $17 finance charges per $100 lent would violate Kentuckys law, the practice is considered instead as a “deferred deposit transaction.”

The payday loan industry is full of such term twisting. It offers “convenient check cashing,” “emergency cash flow” and a “smart alternative to bouncing checks and credit card late fees” for people “who are denied access to credit by traditional lenders.”

You would recognize these loans by their names you have heard. Payday loans, cash advance loans, no credit check cash loans, check cashing services and more. With so many names and an ever changing list of them, no wonder so many people can’t figure out they are dealing with predatory lenders.

But consider these facts provided by the Center for Responsible Lending in Durham, NC:

• Payday loans cost triple-digit interest rates, typically 390 to 780 percent annually.
• Payday loan interest rates are on average 400 percent higher than credit card interest rates.
• The average borrower takes eight to 13 loans out from a single lender and a total of 14 to 22 loans out each year.
• Payday lenders make $40 billion in loans and collect $6 billion in finance charges from borrowers each year in the U.S.
• Payday loans cost American families $3.4 billion every year.

To qualify for a payday loan, all a borrower needs is a bank account and a source of income or benefits. This is why the industry is so visible around places where the military and people on (or transitioning off of) government assistance live. The ability to repay the loan is not assessed through a credit check, as with bank loans.

Instead, payday lenders require consumers to write checks without funds on deposit. Two weeks later, the borrower is still short on cash, and visits another payday lender to float the first loan (aka “loan flipping”).

Conveniently, payday lenders can acquire multiple licenses for “different” companies within the same state. In effect, a borrower can wrack up hundreds of dollars of fees to extend the term of the loan without ever paying off the principle. This is the debt trap.

Payday lending is not growing because of increased consumer demand, but because payday lenders get their steady customers to take out more loans.

Ninety-one percent of payday loan borrowers take out more than five payday loans a year, and one Kentucky payday lender reports that 70 percent of his company’s loans are paid back via another payday loan.

A single loan for the first-time borrower to cover surgery, bridge the gap between jobs, or buy Christmas presents quickly turns into a merry-go-round of additional loans and hundreds of dollars in fees each month.

Meanwhile, the lender has it made, and here’s how: with little risk or investment (a pledge of a $50,000 CD, according to the Kentucky statute) a computer and a couple of desks, the business is born.

In a three-month period, the shop develops a user group of 200 customers. This modest customer base generates $18,000 per month on an average check size of $250. And the payday lender nets from $12,000 to $14,000 per month in operating profit.

A Georgia law passed in 2004 prescribes harsh felony penalties for lenders who make loans of $3,000 or less in violation of existing lending and consumer protection laws.

The law caps interest rates of small consumer loans at 60 percent per year, the state’s small-loan usury rate. Other states have capped overdraft and bounced check fees to prevent outrageous effective interest rates.

There are alternatives to payday lending, including credit counseling, debt consolidation loans, employer based payroll advance programs, and assisting the un-banked in starting direct deposit accounts at community development credit unions.

Within a few months after a new member joins, most credit unions will write small loans to members who direct deposit their checks.

Kentucky has laws that are supposed to protect consumers. We need to make these laws stronger. The state cannot afford to allow cash strapped people to get sucked into a whirlpool of deeper and deeper debt. Tougher legislation is the guardrail needed to keep the unwary from going over the edge.

Kentucky is among a growing trend by state governments nationwide to offer foreclosure prevention assistance to qualified homeowners.

The Kentucky Housing Corporation has started the “Keep My Kentucky Home” program that is available to qualified homeowners.

The Kentucky Homeownership Protection Center provides a centralized location for information on public services to assist Kentuckians in keeping their homes. Homeowners can find information on the foreclosure process, utility assistance and home repair assistance to make smart choices and avoid losing their homes.

If you are currently delinquent on your home loan, in danger of becoming delinquent or are just starting to have financial problems that may affect your ability to pay your mortgage, do not risk losing your home.

This program offers tips and assistance with topics suck as credit rating issues, tax questions, repairs and utilities.

Protecting homeowners and assisting those at risk of foreclosure in Kentucky is vital to the economic well being of both the State and local governments. If a home is foreclosed upon that means no tax income for the local and state government. In addition, vacant homes breed increased crime and devalue neighboring properties.

You can learn more about the Protect My Kentucky Home program and what the service offers to prevent foreclosure in Kentucky.

A good pet sitter also spends quality time with the animal, gives him exercise and knows how to tell if he needs veterinary attention. What’s more, pet sitters typically offer additional services, such as taking in mail and newspapers and watering plants.

But just because someone calls herself a pet sitter doesn’t mean she’s qualified to do the job.

How do you find a good pet sitter in Northern Kentucky? Here are a few questions to consider and qualifications to ask about.

• Does the pet sitter have proof of commercial liability insurance (to cover accidents and negligence) and is bonded (to protect against theft by a pet sitter or her employees)?
• Does the pet sitter have a preferred veterinarian or will they use yours?
• What associations does the pet sitter belong to? Are they members of or associated with the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters or Pet Sitters International?
• Is there a contract that spells out everything, such as fees, what is expected, etc.
• Does the pet sitter have a backup in case of emergencies, such as car break downs, sickness, etc.
• Will they provide documentation about what they did with your pet

One of the most important aspects about choosing the right pet sitter for your pet is to make sure that you and your pet meet that person. You want to be sure that you are comfortable with the person that will take care of your pet. You also want to make sure that your pet is comfortable with the pet sitter also.

There are many qualified Northern Kentucky pet sitters in the area. The best way to find them is to talk to your veterinarian for recommendations, your friends who own pets and have used pet sitters before, or to call around and interview different pet sitters.

There will be limited hours during the first week of operation due to some modifications and personnel issues that are being addressed.  This is to “work out the kinks” due to all new equipment in their state of the art kitchen.

The Olive Garden will open on Monday, August 4th with limited hours of 4 pm until 10 pm.  On Monday, August 11th, the Olive Garden in Florence will resume full operations, opening at 11 am.

The Olive Garden is still interviewing for positions prior to opening.

A grand opening ribbon cutting and reception will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 25 at the Center, located at the R.C. Durr YMCA, 5874 Veterans Way in Burlington.

The Center has been operating at the R.C. Durr YMCA since October, 2005 and serving an average of 40 people daily, free of charge. However, with a growing older population, YMCA and County officials knew more people could benefit from having a positive environment to spend leisure time. The new facility includes a kitchen, outside deck, activity rooms and library area. It continues to offer social activities, fellowship, exercise, information and assistance, ballroom dancing, yoga, line dance, special events and meals for Boone County residents age 60 and over. Additionally, seniors can choose to join the ‘Y’ through a variety of enrollment options including senior rates, scholarship and Silver Sneakers. Meals and transportation are also available from Senior Services of Northern Ky.

“We are very proud of our partnership with the County, the older adults, the staff and volunteers of the YMCA, and excited to see the many benefits of this expanded center on our community,” said Marty Herbert, senior center coordinator.

The Boone County Senior Center is managed by the R.C. Durr YMCA and  is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is a public service to any older adult living in Boone County. Funding for the new facility is a partnership of the Fiscal Court of Boone County through a Community Development Block Grant from the State and the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati.

“Our YMCA’s partnership with Boone County has been remarkable from the beginning.  Not only have we successfully engaged senior adults in health and recreation services weekly, we have created multi-generational connections that benefit all ages.  The success of our first step in senior service collaboration
with Boone County leads us naturally to this exciting growth plan for expanded facilities to serve more seniors in the years to come. We know how important fellowship, fun, and wellness programs are everyday and are delighted to join with Boone County to expand these services for seniors,” said Trisha Raynor,
executive director of the R.C. Durr YMCA.

ON FRIDAY - Speakers at the grand opening will be Boone County Judge/Executive, Gary Moore; Director of Human Services, Kirk Kavanaugh; and YMCA of Greater Cincinnati President Sandy Walker. Prior to the ribbon cutting there will be a musical dedication by pre-school children.

The YMCA is the largest non-governmental, non-profit community services organization in this area that is committed to helping everyone reach their God-given potential in spirit, mind, and body - regardless of their ability to pay. Each year tens of thousands of people from children to seniors are able to participate in YMCA programs and services because of financial assistance, including health and wellness, active older adult programs, youth and teen camp, swimming and water safety lessons, teen achievers, college readiness, and job preparedness.  With 60 locations, the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati is also the largest provider of childcare programs that in 2007, served nearly 10,000 kids on YMCA scholarships. The annual Strong Kids Campaign helps make that possible.

This golf outing was to raise money for Jerry and his unit while stationed in Afghanistan, and for Jerry’s family while they are home without him during his deployment. There were about 20 teams that competed in today’s golf outing at the Boone Links Golf Course in Burlington.

Many people were grateful for Jerry’s service and his wife Jetta and father Gary also attended today’s golf outing.

If you are interested in learning more about what the fundraiser was for, or making a donation to Jerry, his family or unit, please visit the link to the Florence Professional Firefighters.

While a smoking ban is a good idea for those that don’t smoke, what about the businesses that would be affected by a blanket policy smoking ban?  How many bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, etc. would be forced to close because of the loss of patrons that choose to smoke?

While non-smokers are overwhelmingly in favor of a smoking ban, what about the rights of smokers and business owners that would be affected by the smoking ban?  Is a “blanket policy” smoking ban that would affect all restaurants, bars, etc. the best policy?

While the official vote has not been cast yet, there seems to be a large amount of support in the Northern Kentucky area for a smoking ban.  If Boone County were to pass a smoking ban, Florence would still be obligated to follow that ban due to the county law taking precedence over the City of Florence.