Aug 18, 2008 - AGCAROLINA FINANCIAL ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS

AgCarolina Financial has announced that they are accepting grant applications through their corporate-giving program, The Fund for Rural North Carolina.  Grants are available up to $5,000 per organization for programs that specifically benefit farmers and rural residents.  Applicants may request funding in one of the four focus areas:  Education, Environment, Technology, or the Quality of Rural Life.

The grants will be group or organization based and will be considered for programs that are located within the thirty four county geographic areas in which the Association conducts business.  Generally, grants are not awarded to individuals. 

“Through our corporate-giving fund, we can impact a broad spectrum of organizations in our service area that support rural North Carolina,” states Gene Charville, Association CEO.  “At the same time, the grant program reinforces the commitment that AgCarolina Financial has for enhancing the quality of life and future opportunities for Eastern North Carolina rural residents and their communities.” 

To learn more about the Fund for Rural North Carolina and to obtain guideline criteria, go to www.agcarolina.com.  Grant applications are available on-line and will be accepted through October 15.  Proposals will be reviewed and grants awarded as early as possible after October 15. 

AgCarolina Financial is a farmer owned financial cooperative with headquarters in Raleigh.  They are the leading provider of credit to farmers in central and eastern North Carolina.  AgCarolina Financial has over $1.2 billion in loans and commitments outstanding to nearly 3000 North Carolina farmers.  Loans are made to finance land, homes, farm buildings, operating expenses, livestock and equipment, as well as other purposes.  Credit life insurance, crop insurance, appraisal services, and leasing are also available through AgCarolina Financial.

Jun 25, 2008 - AGCAROLINA FINANICAL AWARDS $23,500 in Scholarships

AgCarolina Financial will be awarding 21 scholarships totaling $23,500 during 2008.  The funds are awarded through several scholarship programs as part of the cooperative farm lender’s Corporate Giving Program.

Those receiving a $1,000 At-Large Scholarship are:  Parker Brown, Jackson; Sydney Edwards, Wendell; Brittany James, Robersonville; Morgan Rodwell, Seven Springs; Morgan Ellington, Henderson; Joshua Trey Cash, Snow Hill; Clifton Holloman, Princeton; Amanda Parker, New Bern; and Caitlin Wainright, Greenville.  These recipients are either children or grandchildren of customers or employees who will be attending or are currently enrolled in a four year North Carolina college or university. 

Five FFA scholarships were awarded to:  Amanda Kiefer, La Grange; Nicholas Bell, Louisburg; Andrew Ballance, New Bern; Roderica Worrell, Goldsboro; and Jillian Casey, Goldsboro.  These five young people will be continuing their studies at a North Carolina college or university. 

In addition to the above scholarships, five $2,000 scholarships to North Carolina State University for students who are currently enrolled in or will be pursuing a degree in the ag curriculum will be awarded.  Recipients of the NCSU scholarships must be children or grandchildren of an AgCarolina Financial customer or employee.  Selection for the NCSU scholarships will be made by the NCSU Scholarship Committee. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students who are currently enrolled in or will be pursuing a degree in the ag curriculum at North Carolina A&T State University.  Student selection for the scholarships at A&T will be made by the university. 

Learn more at www.agcarolina.com

Mar 24, 2008 - Agcarolina Financial to Issue Patronage Checks

In the next few weeks, customers of AgCarolina Financial will receive patronage refund checks for 2007, it was announced today by Gene Charville, President.

The patronage refund for 2007 totaled $7.2 million resulting in an average interest rate discount to the cooperative's customers of .92%. 

"As a cooperative, we can return the profits of AgCarolina Financial's successful operations to its customers.  This distribution reflects the association's continued commitment to share its financial success with our loyal customers," said Dick Tunnell, Chairman of the AgCarolina Financial Board.  He continued, "The association's financial strength and stability have enabled the association to issue patronage refunds for the past twenty years." Since 1988, AgCarolina Financial has returned more than $141 million to its member-borrowers through patronage refunds and retirements of allocated surplus. 

"When we distribute our profits to our borrowers, it reduces their effective cost of borrowing," Gene Charville stated, "and it proves that there are distinct financial benefits in doing business on a cooperative basis." 

AgCarolina Financial is a farmer owned financial cooperative with headquarters in Raleigh.  They are the leading provider of credit to farmers in central and eastern North Carolina.  AgCarolina Financial has over $1 billion in loans and commitments outstanding to nearly 3000 North Carolina farmers.  Loans are made to finance land, homes, farm buildings, operating expenses, livestock and equipment, as well as other purposes.  Credit life insurance, crop insurance, appraisal services, and leasing are also available through AgCarolina Financial.

For more information, log onto www.AgCarolinaFinancial.com .