August 2025

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that the federal government will stop issuing paper checks for most federal payments on September 30, 2025. If you are one of the few people who still receives a federal benefit check, it’s time to switch to an electronic payment method. 

Reducing paper checks has been a longstanding bipartisan goal that our United States administration is putting into action. This will help reduce fraud and theft. It will also remove mailing delays. 

No action is required for the vast majority of Americans who already receive federal benefit payments electronically. 

If you are still receiving a paper check for Social Security, Veterans benefits or any other Federal benefit, enroll in direct deposit using one of the following options:

• Call the Federal agency that pays your benefits and follow their instructions for enrolling in direct deposit. A list of the paying agencies’ contact information can be found here.
• Enrolling online at GoDirect.gov
• Call the Electronic Payment Solution Center at 800-967-6857, Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. ET 

Summer is a popular time to move to a new place, especially for adult children who might be going to college or moving out of their parents' home. Looking for apartments or houses online is convenient, but that’s where many rental scams start. If you think you’ve found the perfect price in a great location, know how to spot a rental scam — before you commit to a rental.

• Know that some listings are fake. Scammers make up listings for places that aren’t for rent or don’t exist. They want to get your money before you figure out the listing is fake. Check out the listing in person if possible. Also, look up the name of the property owner or rental company with words like “complaint,” “review” or “scam.” See what other people say about their experiences.
• Be careful how you pay. Do NOT send money if a landlord says you can only pay with cash, a gift card, cryptocurrency or a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram. Anyone who demands that you pay these ways is a scammer. Wiring money, sending gift cards or paying with cryptocurrency is like sending cash. After you send the money, it’s hard to get it back.
• Look for hidden fees. Does the advertised price include all mandatory monthly fees or services? What about optional fees? Some listings might bury these in footnotes, hyperlinks or fine print. Ask the sales agent to confirm — in writing — any fees you’ll have to pay in addition to your rent.

Spot a rental scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. 

Driver's licenses provide a reliable means of confirming your identity, enhancing security and reducing the risk of fraud. By verifying your identity with a driver's license, Bath State Bank can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized transactions. Secure verification helps prevent fraudulent activity on your account.

Although many of our front-line workers know you by name, oftentimes, you might come in contact with a staff member helping on the front line who is not familiar with faces. Having a copy of your I.D. helps us with the transaction and helps keep your account safeguarded. We also might check with you to see if there are any changes in your address, so bank statements or CD renewal notices will be mailed to the correct location.

All banks, us included, must adhere to strict anti-money laundering regulations, so requesting driver's licenses helps us meet these compliance standards. While the request for a driver's license may sometimes feel like an inconvenience, it ultimately serves to protect your account.