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Holiday magic fades; the bill does not. On this episode of Bank Chats, we dig into credit cards—where they shine for fraud protection, travel, and big-ticket purchases—and where they can bite you, with interest, fees, and credit score dings.

Don't forget to follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. What should we unpack next?

Credits:
An AmeriServ Financial, Inc. Production
Music by SchneckMind
Hosted by Drew Thomas and Jeffrey Matevish

Thanks for listening! You can find out more about AmeriServ by visiting ameriserv.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

DISCLAIMER
This podcast focuses on having valuable conversations on various topics related to banking and financial health. The podcast is grounded in having open conversations with professionals and experts, with the goal of helping to take some of the mystery out of financial and related topics; as learning about financial products and services can help you make more informed financial decisions. Please keep in mind that the information contained within this podcast, and any resources available for download from our website or other resources relating to Bank Chats is not intended, and should not be understood or interpreted to be, financial advice. The hosts, guests, and production staff of Bank Chats expressly recommend that you seek advice from a trusted financial professional before making financial decisions. The hosts of Bank Chats are not attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors, and the program is simply intended as one source of information. The podcast is not a substitute for a financial professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. AmeriServ Presents: Bank Chats is produced and distributed by AmeriServ Financial, Incorporated.

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The calendar flipped to 2026, but those holiday charges didn’t disappear. We unpack how financial stress shows up in your body—lost sleep, headaches, tight chest—and why naming the exact trigger is the fastest way to shrink fear and regain control. From rent and utilities to weddings, new babies, and college bills, we map the common pressure points and show how a simple plan can help steady your mind.

You’re not alone—many people feel this squeeze after the holidays. Share this with a friend who needs a plan today, and tap follow so you don’t miss our upcoming deep dive on how credit cards really work. If this helped, subscribe, leave a quick review, and tell us the one step you’re taking this week.

Resources:
211.org
Online Financial Library

Credits:
An AmeriServ Financial, Inc. Production
Music by SchneckMind
Hosted by Drew Thomas and Jeffrey Matevish

Thanks for listening! You can find out more about AmeriServ by visiting ameriserv.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

DISCLAIMER
This podcast focuses on having valuable conversations on various topics related to banking and financial health. The podcast is grounded in having open conversations with professionals and experts, with the goal of helping to take some of the mystery out of financial and related topics; as learning about financial products and services can help you make more informed financial decisions. Please keep in mind that the information contained within this podcast, and any resources available for download from our website or other resources relating to Bank Chats is not intended, and should not be understood or interpreted to be, financial advice. The hosts, guests, and production staff of Bank Chats expressly recommend that you seek advice from a trusted financial professional before making financial decisions. The hosts of Bank Chats are not attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors, and the program is simply intended as one source of information. The podcast is not a substitute for a financial professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. AmeriServ Presents: Bank Chats is produced and distributed by AmeriServ Financial, Incorporated.

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Counterfeit cash feels like a throwback crime until it hits your register or wallet. Though you may never encounter a counterfeit bill, the amount in circulation would probably shock you. We unpack which bill is the prime target, how counterfeit networks operate, and what actually happens when a fake sneaks into everyday transactions.

Don't forget to share the episode with a friend who handles cash, subscribe for more clear-eyed money talk, and leave a review with your best counterfeit-detection tip. Your support helps more listeners stay safe this season.

Resources:
Practice Safe Checks
ameriserv.com/fraud

Credits:
An AmeriServ Financial, Inc. Production
Music by SchneckMind
Hosted by Drew Thomas and Jeffrey Matevish

Thanks for listening! You can find out more about AmeriServ by visiting ameriserv.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

DISCLAIMER
This podcast focuses on having valuable conversations on various topics related to banking and financial health. The podcast is grounded in having open conversations with professionals and experts, with the goal of helping to take some of the mystery out of financial and related topics; as learning about financial products and services can help you make more informed financial decisions. Please keep in mind that the information contained within this podcast, and any resources available for download from our website or other resources relating to Bank Chats is not intended, and should not be understood or interpreted to be, financial advice. The hosts, guests, and production staff of Bank Chats expressly recommend that you seek advice from a trusted financial professional before making financial decisions. The hosts of Bank Chats are not attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors, and the program is simply intended as one source of information. The podcast is not a substitute for a financial professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. AmeriServ Presents: Bank Chats is produced and distributed by AmeriServ Financial, Incorporated.

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Holiday spending doesn’t have to wreck your January. We take a clear, no-jargon look at the 50/30/20 budgeting framework and show how to make it work when life gets messy, prices rise, and traditions add extra costs. From right-sizing housing to rethinking commutes, we map out practical ways to protect the essentials while still enjoying the season.

Be sure to follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a budget reset, and leave a quick review to help others find us.

Credits:
An AmeriServ Financial, Inc. Production
Music by SchneckMind
Hosted by Drew Thomas and Jeffrey Matevish

Thanks for listening! You can find out more about AmeriServ by visiting ameriserv.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

DISCLAIMER
This podcast focuses on having valuable conversations on various topics related to banking and financial health. The podcast is grounded in having open conversations with professionals and experts, with the goal of helping to take some of the mystery out of financial and related topics; as learning about financial products and services can help you make more informed financial decisions. Please keep in mind that the information contained within this podcast, and any resources available for download from our website or other resources relating to Bank Chats is not intended, and should not be understood or interpreted to be, financial advice. The hosts, guests, and production staff of Bank Chats expressly recommend that you seek advice from a trusted financial professional before making financial decisions. The hosts of Bank Chats are not attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors, and the program is simply intended as one source of information. The podcast is not a substitute for a financial professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. AmeriServ Presents: Bank Chats is produced and distributed by AmeriServ Financial, Incorporated.

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In this episode of Bank Chats, Drew and Jeff unpack why the Mint stopped producing pennies, what the proposed Common Cents Act would change, and how rounding cash transactions actually works. We weigh business losses, consumer fairness, and lessons from Canada while sharing practical steps for shoppers and banks.

Be sure to drop us a comment, we’d love to know what you think about the penny going away.

Credits:
An AmeriServ Financial, Inc. Production
Music by SchneckMind
Hosted by Drew Thomas and Jeffrey Matevish

Thanks for listening! You can find out more about AmeriServ by visiting ameriserv.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

DISCLAIMER
This podcast focuses on having valuable conversations on various topics related to banking and financial health. The podcast is grounded in having open conversations with professionals and experts, with the goal of helping to take some of the mystery out of financial and related topics; as learning about financial products and services can help you make more informed financial decisions. Please keep in mind that the information contained within this podcast, and any resources available for download from our website or other resources relating to Bank Chats is not intended, and should not be understood or interpreted to be, financial advice. The hosts, guests, and production staff of Bank Chats expressly recommend that you seek advice from a trusted financial professional before making financial decisions. The hosts of Bank Chats are not attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors, and the program is simply intended as one source of information. The podcast is not a substitute for a financial professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. AmeriServ Presents: Bank Chats is produced and distributed by AmeriServ Financial, Incorporated.

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Side hustles promise freedom and extra cash, but the real story lives in the details: taxes, time, wear and tear, and the quiet risk of burnout. From delivery apps and service work to rentals, flips, and reselling, we unpack what “profit” looks like after you count everything that doesn’t show up in the app’s payout screen.

Throughout, we come back to one test: calculate your true hourly earnings after taxes, expenses, and energy. Pick gigs that build skills, fit your schedule, and carry fewer hidden costs. If you’ve been weighing a side hustle—or wondering why your current one feels like a treadmill—this conversation gives you the tools to weight your own pros and cons. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s hustling, and leave a review with your best side‑gig tip.

Credits:
An AmeriServ Financial, Inc. Production
Music by SchneckMind
Hosted by Drew Thomas and Jeffrey Matevish

Thanks for listening! You can find out more about AmeriServ by visiting ameriserv.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

DISCLAIMER
This podcast focuses on having valuable conversations on various topics related to banking and financial health. The podcast is grounded in having open conversations with professionals and experts, with the goal of helping to take some of the mystery out of financial and related topics; as learning about financial products and services can help you make more informed financial decisions. Please keep in mind that the information contained within this podcast, and any resources available for download from our website or other resources relating to Bank Chats is not intended, and should not be understood or interpreted to be, financial advice. The hosts, guests, and production staff of Bank Chats expressly recommend that you seek advice from a trusted financial professional before making financial decisions. The hosts of Bank Chats are not attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors, and the program is simply intended as one source of information. The podcast is not a substitute for a financial professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. AmeriServ Presents: Bank Chats is produced and distributed by AmeriServ Financial, Incorporated.

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Think playing solitaire can pay the rent? We take a look at the booming world of “get-paid-to-play” mobile apps—reward platforms, “skill-based” tournaments, and lottery-style games—and ask the only question that matters: how much can you actually earn? Drew and Jeff share firsthand experiences; unpack how early milestones hook you with small wins; and explain why minimum cashouts, token expirations, and transfer fees quietly shrink your payout.

Be sure to follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so others can find it.

Credits:
An AmeriServ Financial, Inc. Production
Music by SchneckMind
Hosted by Drew Thomas and Jeffrey Matevish

Thanks for listening! You can find out more about AmeriServ by visiting ameriserv.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

DISCLAIMER
This podcast focuses on having valuable conversations on various topics related to banking and financial health. The podcast is grounded in having open conversations with professionals and experts, with the goal of helping to take some of the mystery out of financial and related topics; as learning about financial products and services can help you make more informed financial decisions. Please keep in mind that the information contained within this podcast, and any resources available for download from our website or other resources relating to Bank Chats is not intended, and should not be understood or interpreted to be, financial advice. The hosts, guests, and production staff of Bank Chats expressly recommend that you seek advice from a trusted financial professional before making financial decisions. The hosts of Bank Chats are not attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors, and the program is simply intended as one source of information. The podcast is not a substitute for a financial professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. AmeriServ Presents: Bank Chats is produced and distributed by AmeriServ Financial, Incorporated.

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Money surrounds us every day, but how often do we stop to consider what it actually is? From the salt-based currencies of Ancient Rome to the digital cryptocurrencies of today, the concept of value has undergone remarkable transformations throughout human history.

We dive deep into the foundations of modern monetary systems, exploring how virtually all global currencies now operate as "fiat money" - valuable only because governments declare them so. Before 1971, American dollars were backed by gold reserves, allowing anyone to theoretically exchange their paper money for precious metal. When President Nixon severed this connection, it fundamentally altered how we perceive and use money, pushing many to seek value in tangible assets like real estate.

The consequences of purely government-backed currency can be devastating when trust collapses. In post-WWI Germany, hyperinflation reached such extremes that people spent wheelbarrows of cash to buy simple groceries, with one US dollar worth an astounding 4.2 trillion German marks. This historical context helps explain why Bitcoin's finite supply of 21 million coins appeals to those seeking alternatives to potentially unlimited government-issued currency.

But does cryptocurrency represent a return to a gold standard-like system, or is it something entirely different? We examine both perspectives, weighing Bitcoin's scarcity against its intangibility during crises like power outages, when physical gold would retain value while digital assets become inaccessible.

Whether you're curious about financial history, contemplating cryptocurrency investment, or simply want to understand the money in your wallet better, this episode offers clear, practical insights into what truly gives currency its value. Subscribe for more thought-provoking discussions that help demystify the complex world of finance and empower you to make more informed decisions with your money.

Credits:
An AmeriServ Financial, Inc. Production
Music by SchneckMind
Hosted by Drew Thomas and Jeffrey Matevish

Thanks for listening! You can find out more about AmeriServ by visiting ameriserv.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

DISCLAIMER
This podcast focuses on having valuable conversations on various topics related to banking and financial health. The podcast is grounded in having open conversations with professionals and experts, with the goal of helping to take some of the mystery out of financial and related topics; as learning about financial products and services can help you make more informed financial decisions. Please keep in mind that the information contained within this podcast, and any resources available for download from our website or other resources relating to Bank Chats is not intended, and should not be understood or interpreted to be, financial advice. The hosts, guests, and production staff of Bank Chats expressly recommend that you seek advice from a trusted financial professional before making financial decisions. The hosts of Bank Chats are not attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors, and the program is simply intended as one source of information. The podcast is not a substitute for a financial professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. AmeriServ Presents: Bank Chats is produced and distributed by AmeriServ Financial, Incorporated.