Thanks again for your excellent questions.  It's great to see a customer thinking about their own personal back-up plan.  If you are unable to access our Web banking product for any reason, including issues with your personal computer or ISP, our call center representatives could fax you a copy of your statement or make a paper copy available to you at the Arvest Bank location of your choice.  If neither of these options were convenient for you, they could mail the statement to you.

If you would like to store your statements for future access, you can save them to your local hard drive.  Depending on the software you have, you could cut and paste to save them as simple text files, word processing documents, or Adobe PDF files. The statements are very  efficient and won't take up much space.  Regardless of the file format you choose, please consider backing up the files and keeping the back-ups in a safe, secure place.  The usual back-up options work fine which could include burning the files to a CD or DVD, or storing them on a portable hard drive or second computer. While printing a paper copy of the statements is "less green," this is of course a viable long-term storage and back-up option as well.

You can sign up for e.Statements online.  To receive e.Statements, you must be an Arvest Banking On the Net customer.

If you are preparing to buy a home this spring and are ready to apply for your mortgage, it is helpful to be prepared when contacting your lender so the process can be as quick as possible.  With that in mind, I've prepared a list of the required information or documentation you will need.

General information for all mortgage applications:

1. Original pay stubs covering the last 30 days, for each applicant.
2. Original W-2 forms for the last two years, for each applicant.
3. Original bank statement for the past three months for all checking and savings accounts.
4. Name, address, phone number of current and/or previous landlords covering the past 24 months.
5. Original 401k and/or IRA statements.
6. Original investment account statement (past three months or most recent quarterly statement).

For more information on applying for a mortgage, FAQs or calculators, visit our Mortgage Information Center or contact your nearest Arvest Mortgage lender.
 

It seems that everywhere we turn, from television channels to retailers’ aisles, we’re encouraged to “Go Green!”  And, why not?  It’s a proposition that saves both money and our planet. 

Have you ever thought about “Banking Green?”  It’s a proposition that saves our planet and another one of our precious resources – time. 

Banking online cuts down on the amount of time spent writing checks, purchasing stamps and mailing or even hand-delivering bills.  And, in the midst of this, banking online saves paper.  Too, when you use your debit card instead of writing a check, you save time and paper.  Same thing happens when you have your paychecks electronically and directly deposited into you bank account.

So, think about “Banking Green.”  To encourage you to do so, Arvest is giving away a Hybrid vehicle.  When you get e.statements and pay bills at arvest.com, you’re automatically entered to win a Toyota Prius.  Check out www.arvest.com/green for all of the details. 

Really, who couldn’t use a little more fresh air, free time and a great-looking, gas-saving, earth-loving car?
 

This question is likely on the mind of many Arvest customers who currently have their wireless service with Alltel.  Our encrypted mobile banking solution is currently only supported by AT&T and Verizon, making it unavailable for Alltel subscribers.  We look forward to seeing how this announcement between Verizon and Alltel plays out and if/when it will lead to Arvest mobile capability for customers of Alltel.  At this time we have not been notified of any impending changes to service availability for Alltel subscribers.  Watch for more information or updates on the blog and also on our Mobile Banking website in the event we are able to post any new updates.  For more information on the Verizon and Alltel announcement you can read the press release on Verizon's corporate website.

Establishing and maintaining good credit is an important part of good financial health, but how can you get  a credit report from trusted agencies at no charge?  Annualcreditreport.com provides one free credit report per consumer annually.  There is no subscription required, no fee and this service is supported by the largest nationwide consumer credit companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Once you get your free report, look over it closely for anything that is incorrect or surprising - these items may require immediate attention to protect your credit rating.  Be sure to report any fraudulent activity or incorrect you find on your credit history by contacting the consumer credit company that has reported it.

For future monitoring and protection of your credit, you may want to invest in an identity theft monitoring service.  There are many types available with different features, including Deluxe ID Theftblock Plus, available to Arvest Bank checking account customers.

This is a common question we get asked, particularly by first-time home buyers.  An escrow account is a fund established for the collection and payment of property taxes, hazard insurance, and mortgage insurance premiums. This is important, because it puts these funds aside to make sure the money is there for these items, preventing any unexpected expenses.  Escrow payments are collected as a part of your monthly mortgage payment and the balance builds over time.  If there is an excess in your escrow account after these expenses are paid for the year, you will receive a refund check.

For more information about escrow accounts or other home loan questions, please contact your nearest Arvest Mortgage Lender.