Valentine’s Day is not only a time when we can enjoy the love and affection of friends and family, but we can also contemplate the wonderful love of our Lord. The greatest Valentine’s messages are found within the pages of Scripture. The God who created the universe, the most powerful being ever, loves each of us personally as individuals. Try to wrap your mind around that! He cares about us and loves us all. He wants to be part of our lives. God is love!
❤️Dates you will love to remember this month.❤️
February 1st, Thursday, Black History Month Begins
February 2nd, Friday, Groundhog Day
February 11th, Sunday, NFL Superbowl
February 13th, Tuesday, Mardi Gras
February 14th, Wednesday, Valentine's Day
February 19th, Monday, President's Day
Our office will be closed on Monday, February 19th in observance of President's Day.
Why paper checks are not going away
Did you know that paper checks endure in an age of digital transactions and they remain vital for donations and larger payments? Listen to some and you'd believe nobody uses paper checks anymore. Like landline phones and floppy disks, some say paper checks are going away.
But not so fast, reports of their decline are much overblown. Sure, younger generations have gone mostly digital, embracing paperless technologies and instant transactions. Predictions from the late 1990s were that almost all business payments, donations, and tithes would be digital. These predictions have not completely come to pass. A 2016 survey by Sun Trust Banks found that small and medium-sized businesses still make 57% of all payments through paper-driven processes.
So, what are some reasons why checks are still around? Glad you asked. Older people still use checks. Yes, the stereotypes are true. Older people are much more likely to use checks. Just because new technology comes along, doesn’t mean every generation will adopt it. A sizable US population is still reliant on checks as their payment method. Research shows that while debit and credit cards are common among older people, the paper check remains the trusted payment method for larger donations.
But wait! Younger generations also use checks. For transactions of $500 or higher, checks remain the most popular payment method. Almost a quarter of US millennials still rely on paper checks, compared to less than 5% in Germany or the UK.
One of the biggest benefits of paper checks is the absence of percentage-based transaction fees which are common with credit card payments. When a church or charity receives a large donation via credit card, a significant percentage of that gift is often lost to transaction fees. That's especially troublesome for churches operating on tight budgets. In contrast, checks see the full amount go to the intended purpose, allowing organizations to maximize their resources and funding.
Another reason paper checks are still used is that they are trusted for larger payments. Paper checks steadily rise in use the larger the payment made. For donations of over $249, they're used in 10% of transactions.
According to the 2022 Survey and Diary of Consumer Payment Choice, charitable donations, including those from religious organizations, are among the top transactions reliant on paper checks. Some 35% of all donations are made via checks. This is higher than all other payment methods. Paper checks are the preferred method for 50% of households with a higher income and those with advanced education. Paper checks are also preferred by rural populations where religious attendance is highest.
Paperless Transactions is excited to share that we will be an exhibitor at this year's National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention and exposition. The convention will be held in Nashville, TN, February 20-23 at the Gaylord Opryland.
This is a top conference for Christian communicators to gain new skills and insights. Attendees get practical advice on growing their ministry or organization, reaching more people, and engaging their audience. It is also a chance to build personal and professional relationships with fellow Christians.
Visit Paperless Transactions if you are in the area! We will be in booth 833 and would love to see you.
Say hello to New Beginnings Church, located in Evadale, Texas. Paperless Transactions has been blessed to serve this church since 2012! They began in the spring of 2004 with God's blessings, sixteen adults, ten children and a vision to introduce the Lord Jesus Christ to their community, state, nation, and world! Their church was completely debt free two weeks after their first service!
New Beginnings Church says that one of the reasons God has blessed their church is through their support of both foreign and home missions. Currently, they support over sixty missionaries or mission projects. They have also been privileged to send their missions teams and missionaries from their church. Their partnership with Assemblies of God missions is touching the world through Evadale, Texas.
They desire to see everyone grow in their relationship with God. Their mission is to love God, love others, and to serve all. They are committed to fulfilling this task through worship, fellowship, discipleship, evangelism, and prayer.
Pastor Aaron Parks and his family invite you to visit them and attend a service any time you are in their area. For more information about them, please visit their website, https://www.nbcag.com/.
Q:I have questions about reconciliations. Where can I find information about this?
A:Paperless Transactions has a two part process for reconciling. One part will require you to use your Paperless Virtual Terminal and the other part takes place in our bank's "ClientLine" Reporting System. Use the button below to view our Reconciliation Guide for all of the information!
Black History Month is an annual observance that originated in the US in 1915. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently has been observed in Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK. It is celebrated in February in the United States and Canada, while in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, it is observed in October.
Looking for ways to celebrate? Celebrate Black History Month with Smithsonian events, resources, exhibitions, and podcasts. The 2024 theme is "African Americans and the Arts" spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more. Can't make it to Washington DC in person? Join the Smithsonian celebration online! This year's theme is "African Americans and the Arts," spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's website using the button below.
Valentine's Day was named after its patron saint, St. Valentine, but there is some confusion about which St. Valentine the holiday actually honors.
According to The History Channel, there are at least two men named Valentine who could have inspired the holiday. One of them was a priest in third-century Rome.
The story goes that this Valentine defied an imperial ban on marriage, which was imposed because it was thought to distract young soldiers. He used to secretly marry couples in the spirit of love until he was discovered and sentenced to death.
Another legend suggests that Valentine was killed because he attempted to help Christians escape from a Roman prison. While imprisoned, he wrote the first "Valentine" message himself and signed it as "From your Valentine". You can use the button below to discover more facts about Valentine's Day.
Super Bowl LVIII is coming up on Sunday, February 11th!
The upcoming Super Bowl will be aired in two different formats for the first time in NFL history. CBS will broadcast the traditional version of the game, while Nickelodeon will exclusively air a kid and family-friendly telecast. The CBS broadcast will be available for streaming via Paramount+.
You can stream Paramount+ on a variety of supported devices, including iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Fire TVs, PlayStation 4s and 5s, Roku TVs, Xboxes, and Google TVs.
The Nickelodeon broadcast will feature family-friendly NFL action infused with kid-themed elements such as virtual-reality graphics and Nick characters. This follows a "Nickelodeon NFL Nickmas Game" between the Chiefs and Raiders scheduled for Christmas Day. CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus stated that the CBS production team, along with Nickelodeon, is the ideal choice to deliver an innovative and slime-filled telecast for kids and families, creating a unique viewing experience and expanding the Super Bowl's reach to a new set of fans.
"What does 'LVIII' mean?" you asked. If you were thinking it's a typo for "LIVE," you're mistaken. This is actually the Roman numeral representation of the number 58, which is composed of the symbols L (50), V (5), and III (3). When you combine these symbols, you get LVIII, which represents 50 + 5 + 3 = 58. Converting Roman numerals can be quite challenging, especially for larger numbers."
How to watch the 2024 Super Bowl
Date: Sunday, Feb. 11 | Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
TV: CBS, Nickelodeon
Stream: Available via Paramount+ on all platforms, or sign in with your TV provider on CBS.com or CBS Sports apps
Halftime show: Usher
You can find more information about the event here:
We are dedicated to providing you with a remarkable experience at Paperless Transactions. Please reach out to us by phone or email for assistance.
Contact our support team by sending an email to support@paperlesstrans.com. They will be happy to help you with any questions you may have.
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:00
Our offices are closed on all Federal Bank Holidays
Phone Number (877) 869-7115
We look forward to connecting with you!
Daily Dose of Inspiration
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Parting Words
Do you know you are loved?
Serving you is a delight to us. We especially thank you for trusting us to deliver the best services to you. We want to say that we are committed to doing our best in this new month and satisfying you to your heart’s content. Happy February!
May God bless you,
George Reich
Founder & CEO
Paperless Transaction Corporation
Cast your vote now!
This month, we have a hypothetical question for you...IF you were going to send your donors candy for Valentine's Day,
