Arvest Bank is offering free patriotic and military themed CheckCards to customers between Armed Forces Day, May 18, and Memorial Day, May 27, in recognition of the brave men and women who gave their lives for our country. Be sure to order your card by May 25 as we will be closed May 26 and 27 in honor of Memorial Day. Customers can view the cards at arvest.com/style and order cards by calling customer service at (866) 952-9523.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In recognition of Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day, Arvest Bank is giving their customers the opportunity to honor those who serve with one of the bank's military and patriotic themed CheckCards. Between Armed Forces Day, May 18, and Memorial Day, May 27, the military and patriotic themed affinity debit cards will be free to new and existing Arvest customers.

Military and patriotic CheckCards are always free with any new checking account; existing customers are typically charged a one-time replacement fee of $5. Arvest is waiving the replacement fee between Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day.

As of March 2013, more than 31,000 Arvest customers were carrying a military or patriotic themed CheckCard. There are seven of these card options, representing the Air Force, the Army, the Coast Guard, the Marines, the Navy, and also a ‘USA Pride’ debit card. The ‘USA Pride’ card is the most popular affinity card for Arvest, with over 15,500 customers using this card.

This offer for free military and patriotic CheckCards is for any Arvest checking account, whether a customer is new or already banking with Arvest. For an existing Arvest customer, the CheckCard number will not change with the request for new military or patriotic card art.  Customers should confirm with an Arvest associate they want to keep their existing card number. 

Arvest is dedicated to supporting our communities and those that serve our country, and we know our customers want to show their pride and support for their country as well. Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day are a time to appreciate those who serve in our military, and offering these free military and patriotic affinity cards is just a small way that Arvest is saying thank you.

Personalized debit cards, a growing trend in recent years, allow customers to choose a specialty design for their debit card – from a picture of a customer’s pet to their local high school sports teams or just a particular area of interest. Often referred to as affinity cards, this is just one way the banking industry is quickly adapting to growing consumer demand for personalization.

Arvest issued their first affinity card in 2008 in Northwest Arkansas, a card featuring the logo of the regional professional baseball team, the Naturals. The bank launched a full affinity card program in 2011 that took the trend even more local, as they developed cards for local high school sports teams. Over the past year, Arvest has doubled the number of options for affinity cards for their customers and now offers more than100 cards. The designs range from the military cards to local high school mascots to a quirky mustache design.

To view the seven patriotic and military cards, along with our other specialty cards, visit arvest.com/style. Order specialty cards by calling customer service at (866) 952-9523.

Did you know people ages 55 to 64 are more likely to launch their own business than any other age group (according to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation)? In fact, nearly half (roughly 7.4 million Americans) of all self-employed workers in the U.S. are members of the baby boomer generation.**

While the risks of setting off on a new business venture are substantial at any age, they can be even greater for these older individuals. Financing the company with savings and retirement funds may be tempting, but you'll have less time to work and restore that money if the enterprise falls short. A reality made more dire by the fact nearly one-third of start-ups fail within two years, and fewer than half remain after four years, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

However, older entrepreneurs do have at least one advantage over their younger counterparts -- wisdom born from experience. If your experience, personality and passion have you pining for self-employment, then the following steps may help you get your big idea off the ground.

Research and Development
It may not be possible to prepare for every obstacle and opportunity along the way to establishing your business, but it is important to try. Helpful resources abound. The SBA,* SCORE* and Small Business Development Centers* can assist you in finding free or low-cost business start-up courses and business advisors. The SBA provides an online checklist for starting a business which can help you assess your business idea, your motivation for launching a business and how well-suited your personality, skills and experience are to running a business. It may also help you highlight areas where you need more research.

Put It in Writing
Writing a business plan can help you outline your ideas and obtain needed funding. A business plan describes your business idea, shows how and why it will work, discusses business operations and forecasts the financial help you'll need and what you hope to earn. Your business plan should contain the following:

1. Business description. Outline what product or service you will offer, who will buy it and why, as well as the competition.
2. Marketing. Describe how you plan to reach your potential buyers and persuade them to buy from you. This is also the place to discuss pricing.
3. Financing. Calculate how much money you will need to launch your business, operate it for a year and address where you expect to obtain the money you need.
4. Management. This section covers the fundamental details, such as day-to-day operations, schedules, equipment and space issues, insurance needs, etc.

Seek the Help You Need
Arvest Bank takes time to understand the needs of your business and how we can help it succeed. Our business bankers are knowledgeable and can offer you valuable financial insight. Call or visit your business banker for help finding a loan that's right for your business.

The views of this article are for general information use only. Please contact and speak with a subject expert or your banker when specific advice is needed. Find articles like this and much more in the online Arvest Biz Center. Links marked with * go to a third-party site not operated or endorsed by Arvest Bank, an FDIC-insured institution. ** Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.*

Figuring out what home price you can afford will largely depend on the monthly payment. The monthly payment not only includes principle and interest but also a monthly amount for property taxes and homeowner’s insurance.

The minimum down payment when buying a home will typically be determined by the loan program you choose and can range from 0-20 percent of the purchase price. If you are able to put down more than the minimum, then you will be able to have a lower monthly payment. However, you should also remember it may be nice to have some extra money available after you move into your new home. New carpeting, new furniture or improving the landscaping all take money and you don’t want to stretch yourself too thin.

Accumulating a down payment
As simple as it sounds, most people end up saving for a couple of years to accumulate the amount needed for a down payment on a home. This may mean dining out less or finding more cost-effective dining and entertainment options.

An easy way to save is to enroll for an automatic savings plan at your financial institution. Have a certain amount transferred from your checking account to a dedicated savings account each month. This provides some discipline and you may be able to use a money market type of account to earn more interest.

Consider taking a staycation in order to save money. A staycation is like a vacation, but without the expense and time of actually traveling. The most expensive part of vacations is usually the combination of travel, accommodations and meals. While staying local will certainly save you money, you should still set a budget for your staycation. Your budget will probably be less than if you were going away, but more than you would spend at home. A staycation will still provide a way to have a break but will also give you the opportunity to save money.

Ponder opportunities to earn additional income. One option is a part-time job. This can be working for another company or working for yourself. Examine your skill set. Have you practiced a hobby for so long you’ve become an expert? Enjoy cake decorating or playing piano. Contemplate teaching classes or lessons. If you’re not willing to commit to a second job year round, then consider a seasonal job, perhaps during the summer or Christmas, to earn some extra money to add to your savings. 

Borrowing money from a family member is unacceptable funds for loan approval. However, a gift of money is acceptable. You may want to explore the option of gifted money.

Conclusion
Buying a home, especially a first home, is a big financial and emotional step, so do your financial homework. Take the time to meet with an Arvest Bank mortgage lender and develop a plan to become a home owner. It will take time to prepare, but it will be well worth it when you move in.

The views of this article are for general information use only. Please contact and speak with an Arvest Bank mortgage lender when specific advice is needed.

Looking for a fun outdoor party to attend this Sunday, May 19? Block Street Block Party in Fayetteville, Ark., is the place to be! From 11 a.m. until dark Block Street* up and around the Fayetteville Square will be packed with family-friendly activities, live music and food. If last year’s 75 artists, businesses, vendors and community groups are any indication, then you can expect fun and funky activities of interest for everyone from families with little tikes to single adults. Mobile bug unit, beer gardens or feather hair extensions anyone?

The event is organized by the Block Street Business Association and many sponsors like Arvest Bank. Some of this year’s participants include Little Bread Company, Arsaga’s, Houndstooth, Dark Star Visuals, Riffraff, Mustache, Hugo’s and more!

Come join the community members who plan to attend this year’s event. Last year over 12,000 people joined in on the fun!

Links marked with * go to a third-party site not operated or endorsed by Arvest Bank, an FDIC-insured institution.

You’re invited to the sixth annual Kids Safety Fair on May 17, from 3–6 p.m This free event is an educational and entertaining activity that provides valuable information and “DNA LifePrint” kits to help families. The event will be held at the Ross Pendergraft Park* located at 200 Garrison Ave., Fort Smith, Ark.,

Activities will include free hot dogs and chips, a fire truck that kids can climb in, the sheriff department's mobile command center, music, a karaoke machine and more!

Get a free DNA LifePrint Kit which includes:

• FBI Certified Biometric Palm and Fingerprint profile
• Child Safety Journal
• Home DNA ID Kit that is easy to use and lasts for years
• High resolution full color digital photograph of your child

Participating Agencies Include:

• Target
• DNA Lifeprint
• Morgan Nick Foundation*
• Arkansas State Police*
• Sebastian County Sheriff's Office*
• Reynold's Cancer Support House
• Fort Smith Fire Department*
• ...and many more!

For more information please visit the U.S. Marshals Museum Programs* website.

Presented by Cox. Sponsored by Arvest Bank, Bedford Camera & Video and Channel 5. Hosted by the U.S. Marshall Museum and Arvest Bank.

Links marked with * go to a third-party site not operated or endorsed by Arvest Bank, an FDIC-insured institution.www.usmarshalsmuseum.com/museum_program