NEWS
News on what’s happening at ClearPoint, in the deathcare industry, and in the banking & finance industries.
President’s Message Third Quarter
Banks Never Ask That – National Cyber Security Month 2020
Can You Spot a Phishing Scam?
Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts and calls from scammers pretending to be their
bank. And in this time of expanded use of online banking, the problem is only growing worse. In fact, the Federal Trade
Commission’s report on fraud estimates that American consumers lost a staggering $1.9 billion to these phishing
schemes and other fraud in 2019 — and the ongoing pandemic has only increased the threat. Imagine where we are in
2020.
It’s time to put scammers in their place.
Online scams aren’t so scary when you know what to look for. And at ClearPoint Federal Bank & Trust, we’re committed to helping you
spot them as an extra layer of protection for your account. We’ve joined with the American Bankers Association and
banks across the country in a nationwide effort to fight phishing—one scam at a time.
We want every bank customer to become a pro at spotting a phishing scam—and stop bank impostors in their tracks. It
starts with these four words: Banks Never Ask That. Because when you know what sounds suspicious, you’ll be less likely
to be fooled.
These top 3 phishing scams are full of red flags:
• Text Message: If you receive a text message from someone claiming to be your bank asking you to sign in, or
offer up your personal information, it’s a scam. Banks never ask that.
• Email: Watch out for emails that ask you to click a suspicious link or provide personal information. The sender
may claim to be someone from you bank, but it’s a scam. Banks never ask that.
• Phone Call: Would your bank ever call you to verify your account number. No! Banks never ask that. If you’re
ever in doubt that the caller is legitimate, just hang up and call the bank directly at a number you trust.
You’ve probably seen some of these scams before. But that doesn’t stop a scammer from trying. For more tips on how
to keep phishing criminals at bay, including videos, an interactive quiz and more, visit www.BanksNeverAskThat.com.
And be sure to share the webpage with your friends and family.
What’s Your Scam Score? Take five minutes to become a scamspotter pro by taking the #BanksNeverAskThat quiz at
BanksNeverAskThat.com. Share your score on Twitter to encourage your friends and family to test their scam savviness,
too. The more scamspotters out there, the harder it is for phishing criminals to catch their next victim!
President’s Message – Second Quarter 2020
Our passion remains focused on the advancement of the deathcare industry. The second half of the year we are dedicating time and resources to education and training.
In September, ClearPoint launched the Be Intentional Webinar series designed to educate, inspire and entertain death care industry professionals. Watch video to learn more.
President’s Message – First Quarter 2020
“As we participate in the making of history, may we embrace the moments that connect us and find inspiration in stories of the modern day hereos.” Ashlee Theising, ClearPoint President and COO, reflects on the first quarter of 2020 and looks ahead to the balance of the year with optimism and confidence.
Coronavirus – Preparedness
Message from the President & COO… I am reaching out to share what we are doing at ClearPoint Federal Bank & Trust to minimize any business disruption for your trust accounts as it relates to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We understand you may have questions regarding how we as a company will continue to serve you.
CLEARPOINT ACTION PLAN
ClearPoint has a thorough Business Continuity Plan with Pandemic testing that outlines actions regarding employee safety and continuity of our operations. We regularly review this plan and annually conduct tests to ensure our systems will perform without major interruption in the event of a crisis. We are prepared to implement any and all facets of the plan in the event the need arises.
CURRENT STATE
Our team is currently reporting to the office; however, we are prepared for our staff to work from home in the event a change of action is required.
We are restricting non-essential business travel through the end of the month and will continue to conduct meetings and reviews via phone or video conference.
The health and safety of our colleagues and clients remains a top priority. We will continue to monitor this evolving situation and make changes as needed to protect you and our employees.
At ClearPoint we are most appreciative of modern technology, our dedicated team, and our understanding customers. I thank you for your continued trust, and encourage you to contact us if you have any specific questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Ashlee Theising
President & COO
ClearPoint Team Advancements
We are proud to announce two significant strategic team advancements: the addition of Michael Johnson to the senior leadership team as Senior Vice President, Investment Management, the appointment of Beth Kmiec to the ClearPoint Board of Directors and her promotion to Executive Vice President, Trust Administration .
“Building a dynamic team positioned to drive results both at ClearPoint and in the industry is part of our overall strategic plan. Beth has been a member of the ClearPoint team for over 6 years and continues to be a key contributor to our success. Adding Michael to the ClearPoint senior leadership team will help strengthen our investment process and product offering, increase our customer support and provide us with the opportunity to expand our capacity,” stated Ashlee Theising, President & COO.
Michael has over 25 years of experience in the finance industry, where he held key roles with several nationally recognized companies, including; Huntington National Bank, Fifth Third Bancorp & Edward Jones Investments.
Most recently, Michael was Senior Vice President for Huntington National Bank with a focus on endowment and preneed trust services. He brings a combination of sales experience, product development and investment management to the ClearPoint organization.
Michael is a US Army Veteran, has a BA in Economics from Western Michigan University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. He is a holder of the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
Beth Kmiec joined ClearPoint in 2013, coming from the personal trust division at JPMorgan in Chicago, IL. Ms. Kmiec is an accomplished business and legal professional. She has a BA in Political Science and Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and a JD from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Leading with knowledge and experience, our senior management team has over 150 years of death care industry experience. ClearPoint truly understands the needs of the industry and is committed to delivering value and personalized service in the years to come.
Annual Grantor Letter Mailing – 2019 Tax Year
The Annual Grantor Letters have been mailed. These annual tax forms are mailed to the grantors of the preneed trusts that have not elected QFT (Qualified Funeral Trust) status.
If you have questions regarding the Grantor Letters, please contact Customer Service at 800-763-0234 or customer.service@clearpointfederal.com.
Looking Ahead to 2020
A Message From – Ashlee Theising, President & COO
As we close the books on 2019, we want to begin by saying thank you to you our valued customers. We appreciate all of your support and thank you for being part of our history. You all are at the center of everything we do and inspire us to put our best foot forward, every day.
2019 was a big year, and there was a significant amount of positive change in the death care industry and at ClearPoint.
We count ourselves fortunate when we reflect on the successes of this past year, which has positioned us for new opportunities, future growth, and continued stability.
A few highlights from 2019 include:
Exceeding $1 Billion in Assets Under Management.
Moving our home office to a newly renovated, first-class facility.
Recognizing our team’s hard work, knowledge, and leadership through several strategic promotions, including the promotion of Beth Kmiec to Executive Vice President of Trust Administration and my promotion to President and COO.
As we look ahead to a new decade, we embrace the opportunities before us and are geared up to deliver extraordinary service and value.
With all the growth from this year, we don’t plan on stopping now. We will continue to grow as an active and vital member of the industry. Keep your eye out for members of our team at a number of industry events. Whether we are there to present our knowledge and expertise, or to listen for another’s, we plan to engage the community like we never have before in this new year.
We will start off the year attending the Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Services of the West Conference, the Cemetery and Mortuary Association of California Conference, and speaking at the following events:
- NFDA Cremation Conference
- NFDA Professional Women’s Conference
- And the ICCFA Annual Conference and Expo
One of our key initiatives for 2020 is dedicating time and resources to the expansion and enhancement of the Client Portal. Our goal is to ensure you have a tool you cannot live without. Offering tools and resources to save you time and money remains our priority.
ClearPoint Holiday Schedule
Our office will observe the following holidays in 2020. Please feel free to contact our Customer Service team if you have any questions at 800-763-0234 or email us at customer.service@clearpointfederal.com.
ClearPoint is Moving to Progress Drive
After 21 years at One Forethought Center, ClearPoint Federal Bank & Trust’s home office is moving to a new location. Our new home office will be located at 100 Progress Drive in Batesville, Indiana. Our first official day of operation at Progress Drive will be November 18, 2019.
The newly renovated office provides the ClearPoint team with a first-class facility designed to meet the organizations growing needs. The dynamic design gives our team members collaborative work areas, state-of-the-art technology, and ergonomically designed work stations to maximize productivity and comfort.
It is important for us to equip our team with the tools and space needed to provide quality service for all our customers. This updated office will support our growth strategies and expansion initiatives for many years to come.