Jeremy Key Rejoins Liberty Bank

We are pleased to announce that Jeremy Key has rejoined Liberty Bank as an Accountant after a brief leave from his previous position as Professional Banker. Jeremy first joined Liberty Bank in 2009, and he brings more than 13 years of banking experience and a record of outstanding customer service to our team. “We’re thrilled to have Jeremy back with Liberty Bank. I am especially delighted to be able to promote staff from within the organization,” says CFO Tony Icasiano. In his new role, Jeremy will be working on accounting and financial reporting for Liberty Bank.

Jeremy has been a Kitsap County resident for the past 28 years. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, teaching Sunday School at his church, and going camping and kayaking.

Liberty Bank Earned 5-Star Rating

Poulsbo, WA – Liberty Bank, announced today that they have been recognized by BauerFinancial, Inc. as a 5-Star, “superior” bank, based on December 31, 2016 financial data. This is the highest rating that Bauer Financial assigns and it ranks Liberty Bank as one of the nation’s strongest financial institutions.  According to BauerFinancial, 5-Star rated financial institutions are financially sound and operate well above their regulatory capital requirements.  BauerFinancial has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983.

“We are very pleased that BauerFinancial has recognized Liberty Bank. This rating further solidifies the hard work by our executive team, board of directors and employees,” stated Rick Darrow, President and Chief Executive Officer.

About Liberty Bank: Headquartered in Poulsbo and serving clients throughout the West Sound and Puget Sound regions, Liberty Bank is a full-service community bank committed to highly personalized service and to reinvesting in the communities it serves. The bank provides loans and professional banking solutions to businesses, non-profits, and consumers.

For more information on BauerFinancial visit their website at www.bauerfinancial.com or by calling 800-388-6686.

IRS Alerts

IRS, States and Tax Industry Renew Alert about Form W-2 Scam Targeting Payroll, Human Resource Departments

Jan. 25, 2017

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the tax industry today renewed their warning about an email scam that uses a corporate officer’s name to request employee Forms W-2 from company payroll or human resources departments.

This week, the IRS already has received new notifications that the email scam is making its way across the nation for a second time. The IRS urges company payroll officials to double check any executive-level or unusual requests for lists of Forms W-2 or Social Security number.

The W-2 scam first appeared last year. Cybercriminals tricked payroll and human resource officials into disclosing employee names, SSNs and income information. The thieves then attempted to file fraudulent tax returns for tax refunds.

This phishing variation is known as a “spoofing” e-mail. It will contain, for example, the actual name of the company chief executive officer. In this variation, the “CEO” sends an email to a company payroll office or human resource employee and requests a list of employees and information including SSNs.

The following are some of the details that may be contained in the emails:

Working together in the Security Summit, the IRS, states and tax industry have made progress in their fight against tax-related identity theft, cybercriminals are using more sophisticated tactics to try to steal even more data that will allow them to impersonate taxpayers.

For more information please visit their website at irs.gov

Taxes. Security. Together. We all have a role to play in protecting your data.

We need your help.

In an unprecedented partnership, the IRS, the states and the tax industry are working together to protect your federal and state tax accounts from identity thieves.

Many of these steps are invisible to you but will help us verify the identity of the taxpayer and the validity of the tax return. The Summit partners’ priorities for 2017 remain focused on enhanced authentication procedures, improved information sharing, heightened cybersecurity and greater education and outreach to the public. (See Fact Sheet 2016-21 for details on our efforts.)

We are asking you – taxpayers, tax preparers and businesses – to join with us to create an even stronger partnership in the face of this constantly evolving enemy. Our “Taxes. Security. Together” awareness campaign is an effort to better inform you about the need to protect your personal, tax and financial data online and at home. People continue to fall prey to clever cybercriminals who trick them into giving up Social Security numbers, account numbers or password information. In turn, criminals use this information a variety of ways, including filing fraudulent tax returns.

For more information please visit their website at irs.gov

IRS Security Awareness Tax Tips

Safeguarding Taxpayer Data: Create Strong Passwords
Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself Tax Tip Number 8, January 25, 2017

What to Do If You Suffer a Data Breach or Other Security Incident
Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself Tax Tip Number 7, January 18, 2016

How the IRS Taxpayer Bill of Rights Works
Special Edition Tax Tip 2017-01, January 17, 2017

Safeguarding Taxpayer Data: Monitor Your EFIN for Suspicious Activity
Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself Tax Tip Number 6, January 11, 2017

Security Awareness for Taxpayers: The Tax Community Needs Your Help
Taxes. Security. Together. Tax Tip Number 12, January 9, 2017

Safeguarding Taxpayer Data – Secure Your Office
Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself Tax Tip Number 5, January 4, 2017

IRS, States, Industry Urge Taxpayers to Learn Signs of Identity Theft
Taxes. Security. Together. Tax Tip Number 11, January 3, 2017

Safeguarding Taxpayer Data – Make a Security Plan
Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself Tax Tip Number 4, December 28, 2016

IRS, Partners Move to Strengthen Anti-Fraud Effort with Form W-2 Verification Code
Taxes. Security. Together. Tax Tip Number 10, December 27, 2016

Safeguarding Taxpayer Data – How to Get Started
Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself Tax Tip Number 3, December 21, 2016

IRS Offers Tips on Validating Your Identity on Your Tax Return
Taxes. Security. Together. Tax Tip Number 9, December 19, 2016

Safeguarding Taxpayer Data – Avoid Scams
Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself Tax Tip Number 2, December 14, 2016

For more tips, please visit their website at irs.gov

Kelly Garcia Joins Liberty Bank

Poulsbo and Greater Puget Sound, WA – Kelly Garcia of Poulsbo has joined Liberty Bank as a Professional Banker, working in the bank’s Poulsbo headquarters location in  commercial and consumer services.  A resident of Poulsbo for over 33 years, Kelly brings more than 17 years of regional banking experience to her role. “I’m excited to be a part of Liberty Bank team and to work in the community I live in,” says Kelly.  Kelly Garcia is a North Kitsap graduate.  She and her husband enjoy spending time with their two young children and his 3 sons. “We are excited to welcome such a talented individual as Kelly to our Liberty Bank Team”, stated Rhonda Morris, SVP & Risk Management Officer.

Rick Darrow Elected to Community Bankers of Washington’s Board of Directors

October 31, 2016 – Rick Darrow, CEO of Liberty Bank, was elected as a Director of the Community Bankers of Washington (CBW) Board of Directors during the group’s annual meeting held September 16th in Vancouver, WA.

Rick Darrow is President and CEO of Liberty Bank in Poulsbo, WA, a position he has held since 2011.  Rick is an active member of the Poulsbo/North Kitsap Rotary Club, and he serves on the Board of Directors for the Kitsap Community Foundation. Through these organizations he has been involved with many regional service projects.  Rick is a native of the Northwest and has worked in community banking for over 30 years, living and working in the Greater Seattle area since 1985.

Liberty Bank was founded in 2009 and is proud to be a community bank that serves the needs of Kitsap County and West Sound region residents, small businesses, and non-profit organizations.  Liberty Bank helps provide funding and services to various community charitable groups including local food banks, education, youth and elder care, as well as many other vital community projects.

“I am honored to accept this leadership appointment with Community Bankers of Washington, as we work to enhance the economic vitality of the communities they serve,” stated Darrow.

The Arc Awareness 2016 Live & Silent Auction Fundraiser

October 29, 2016 – The Arc hosted their annual live and silent auction at the Kitsap Golf and Country Club.  The Arc of Kitsap and Jefferson County has been providing educational and recreational activities to individuals whose lives are impacted by intellectual and developmental disabilities in our area for over 60 years.  This organization is committed to educating parethe-arcnts and others regarding the potential of people with disabilities. Liberty Bank is proud to support their event and help them  continue to make life better for these individuals and their families.

Bremerton Chamber All That Jazz Annual Installation Gala

bremerton-chamberOctober 27, 2016- Liberty Bank was an event and table sponsor for the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 All That Jazz installation gala, held at the Kitsap Golf & Country Club in Bremerton.  Liberty Bank’s Dave Huck was on hand to help welcome in the Chamber’s new officers and directors, and to enjoy the dancing, dinner, silent auction and festivities.

Liberty Bank Sponsors Kathleen Sutton Inspirational Fund 14th Annual Gala

kathleen-suttonOctober 1, 2016 – Once again, Liberty Bank showed its support for women’s health in the region by sponsoring the Kathleen Sutton Inspirational Sutton Fund Gala, held at the Port Gamble Pavilion.  Women being treated for cancer and living in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap & Mason counties are eligible for transportation cost assistance from the Fund.  As a Gold event sponsor, Liberty Bank aligned with other local businesses and community members to raise money and awareness, and several bank staff members stepped up to volunteer.

Liberty Bank Hosts Back-to-School Supply Drive

Liberty Bank recently challenged their employees and customers to help local children in need.

North Kitsap Fishline’s School Supply program helps provide local children in need with basic school supplies for the upcoming school year.  Throughout the year, Liberty Bank works with NK Fishline to collect different items based on the current need at the food bank.  In August, the bank focused on school supplies, helping bring in donations for local kids before the beginning of the school year.

“We definitely surpassed last year’s volume and then some,” said Rhonda Morris, SVP of Operations & Risk Management Officer.  “Liberty Bank is proud to collect and deliver supplies to NK Fishline, in support of stronger and healthier families in our region.”

For more ways to help NK Fishline, please visit their website at nkfishline.com

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Celebrates 125 Years

September 16, 2016 – A long-standing economic and employment resource in the region and for the nation, the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard celebrated its 125th Anniversary in 2016.  Originally established in 1891 as a Naval Station, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard has proudly built and serviced our nation’s vital naval assets through two world wars and several conflicts, many technological changes, as well as fluctuations in our nation’s economy.  Adaptability, perseverance and devotion to duty remain the driving forces behind the Command’s ability to earn and keep its reputation as a provider of world-class service to the fleet.  Liberty Bank is proud to honor and recognize this 125 year legacy of service celebration.