Bank Independent Fall 2022 Interns (left to right):  Javia Warner, Anna Stokes, and Tabitha Thomas

Tabitha Thomas:

Tabitha Thomas is a marketing student at the University of North Alabama. She is a senior and is set to graduate in May 2023. Tabitha recently completed an internship in the marketing department at Bank Independent. She is originally from Huntsville, Alabama. Throughout her college career, Tabitha has demonstrated a strong passion for marketing and has gained valuable experience through her internship. She is excited to graduate and begin her career in the field.

Sheffield, Ala. – Tuesday, November 1, 2022 – Bank Independent will kick off its twelfth annual Toy Share drive on November 10th for area children. Between November 10 and December 2, the Bank will accept donations of new, unwrapped toys at any Bank Independent location, and offer two “less hands on” ways to lend a helping hand. Toy Share can accept monetary donations through PayPal and through an Amazon shopping “Wishlist.” All items will be distributed to local children in need through partner organizations across North Alabama.

Like it or not, the banking industry is a big business. But as a customer, you have the power to make a real difference by banking with a local institution.

Here are just a few reasons why keeping your money close to home makes a big difference:

Every week, thousands of job openings are posted to online job boards and social media sites. With this influx of opportunities, it is best to understand not all listings are done in good faith. There are individuals and groups who understand the value of information acquired from job applications. Names, addresses, and emails are only a few pieces of personal identification that have become extremely valuable within the last several years. This article is not to discourage you from applying to your dream job, but to teach you the signs of job opportunity scams.

Bank Independent honored multiple First Responder groups in the month of April that included donations made to local charities from Bank Independent Team Members.

As important as it is for individuals to protect their private information from scammers, it is equally important for businesses. "Slamming" is a common term used for professional scammers who target businesses which can result in large losses, fraudulent agreements and unnecessary frustrations.

Does it feel like you blinked and it’s already the beginning of a new year? With each new year, comes new aspirations, goals, and plans. These ideas can vary from person to person, but for seniors in college, one of the main things we are thinking about is graduation and planning for life after college. It’s the time of the year where reality really begins to set in (if it hasn’t already)!

Being thrown into your first professional workplace is a huge shift from being just a normal college student to becoming a valued member of the team. It’s one of the major transitions in life that comes with some preparation, but not perfection. It’s going to take your education, some practical hands-on experience, and putting into practice a little workplace etiquette.

Interviews are an inevitable part of the job-hunting process if you’re fortunate enough to make it to this phase. Preparing for your first formal interview, whether it’s for your first job ever or a specialized job after you earn your degree, can be nerve-wracking. You want to make a good impression and display complete confidence, not only in yourself, but also in what you have to offer.

If you're doing online shopping this holiday season, be on the lookout for scammers trying to steal a deal, too!  With more people shopping online this year, shoppers may encounter more online shopping scams.  The FBI advises that scammers don't take holidays off from swindling unsuspecting shoppers.  Shoppers should stay vigilant and be aware of potential scams.