Harrisburg, PA – Education and outreach staff from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) will be hosting and participating in numerous presentations for groups of senior citizens, service providers and the public throughout the month of January to promote financial capability and provide investor education.
January 2025 outreach events, in partnership with the listed organizations, will be held in person and are open to the public unless otherwise noted.
EVENTS FOR OLDER ADULTS
Avoiding Identity Theft: This presentation takes a look at ways people’s identities are stolen or compromised, what you can do if you find you have had your identity stolen, and how to stop theft from occurring.
- Southern Blair Senior Center, 15229 Dunnings Highway, East Freedom (Blair County) on Jan. 3 from 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM. Open to members only. For additional information contact Karen Kelley at 814-317-5181 or KKelley@blairsenior.org.
- Phoebe Apartments, 1901 Linden St., Allentown (Lehigh County) on Jan. 22 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Open to residents only. For additional information contact Cristal Polanco at 610-794-6265 or cpolanco@phoebe.org.
- Wind Gap Manor, 665 Alpha Road, Wind Gap (Northampton County) on Jan. 22 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM. Open to residents only. For additional information contact Mary Molloy at 610-794-6267 or mmolloy@phoebe.org.
Banking in the 21st Century: This presentation is an overview of how banks and credit unions work. We also discuss the differences between types of accounts; the importance of balancing accounts; what to do if you have had banking issues in the past; what types of questions you should ask before opening an account; and what deposit insurance does and does not cover.
- Philadelphia Senior Center-Allegheny, 1900 West Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia (Philadelphia County) on Jan. 14 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Open to residents only. For additional information contact Barbara Jackson at 267-286-1455 or bwhitmore@philaseniorcenter.org.
Popular Scams and How to Avoid Them: Every day people are getting scammed out of THOUSANDS of dollars by so called “professionals” looking to separate them from their hard-earned money. This presentation introduces us to commonly used tactics, what to look for and how to avoid them.
- Charles T. Adams Active Adult Center, 5 East Market St., Wilkes-Barre (Luzerne County) on Jan. 15 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Open to members only. For additional information contact Maria Linso at 570-825-3484 or Maria.Linso@luzernecounty.org.
$camJam: A fun and interactive event that brings experts in law enforcement and state agencies together to educate target audiences on how to protect their money from financial fraud and abuse. Between key sessions attendees get to play Fraud BINGO – they may even win a prize!
- Hosted by the Housing Authority of Chester County at the Charles Melton Center, 501 E. Miner St., West Chester (Chester County) on Jan. 16 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For additional information contact Ann Marie Barr at 610-806-2926 or abarr@haccnet.org.
Cybersecurity – Staying Safe Online: Whatever your age, understanding how to keep your information safe and secure online is vitally important for everyone. This presentation covers key topics like using secure websites, creating strong passwords, being aware of what you put on social media, as well as tips for shopping online safely.
- Berks Encore – Strausstown, 44 East Ave., Strausstown (Berks County) on Jan. 23 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. Open to members only. For additional information contact Andrea Gebely at 610-488-5770 or agebely@berksencore.org.
LEGISLATIVE EVENTS
- Sen. Judy Schwank’s $camJam: Jewish Family Service, 1100 Berkshire Blvd., Suite 125, Wyomissing (Berks County) on Jan. 10 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For additional information contact Crystal Gilmore Harris at 610-929-2151 or Crystal.harris@pasenate.com.
- Sen. Tracy Pennycuick’s $camJam: Frederick Living Community, 2849 Big Road, Zieglerville (Montgomery County) on Jan. 23 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For additional information contact Beth Ann Mazza at 215-541-2388 or bmazza@pasen.gov.
EVENTS FOR LIMITED AUDIENCES
Budgeting for Your New Year Goals: This presentation focuses on the need for a spending plan so that people can achieve their financial goals. We discuss the differences between wants and needs; setting SMART goals; creating a spending plan; putting the plan into action; as well as periodically reviewing goals and spending plans in order to ensure that you can stay on track.
- PA Office of Administration, Bureau of Employee Benefits, Harrisburg (Dauphin County) on Jan. 9 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. This is a VIRTUAL program for commonwealth employees only. For additional information contact Tim Pucino at 717-787-9872 or tpucino@pa.gov.
DoBS Investor Education and Consumer Outreach staff works with state and local government agencies, service providers, community and trade organizations, the General Assembly, the military community, schools, and other partners to help Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth become well-informed about the financial marketplace.
Learn more about the free, non-commercial programs and presentation available, or contact us to request a program tailored to your specific needs.
Visit the department's calendar of events to find an event near you. Consumers and community groups can call 1-800-PA-BANKS or email informed@pa.gov for more information.
MEDIA CONTACT: Joan Z. Nissley, jnissley@pa.gov
# # #