Standard Bank Blog

Have you participated in our Travel Club adventures yet? Exclusively for Standard Bank customers, they offer carefree travel, with all the details arranged by the professionals at Mayflower Tours. Not only do you avoid the hassle of making all the arrangements yourself; you also benefit from the insider knowledge and access that these industry pros provide. If you haven’t participated before, our 2013 schedule includes trips that would be a great way to get started. Check out our 2013 trips.

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season. Family traditions come out, and new ones are made. Family and friends come together to celebrate this in many ways. Some start their day gathered around their television to watch the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade; others begin to prepare their favorite dishes; while others play or watch a football game. One thing everyone has in common is their appetite for Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings -- turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie to top it off!  Family traditions will, hopefully, never be broken. However there can always be room for adding something new.  Here are some ideas…

Barbecues, family, friends, fireworks, red, white, and pizza. That’s right, the 4th of July holiday is quickly approaching. On the 4th of July we celebrate the birth of America, while on this very day, the Founding Fathers signed the fateful document that created this country we call home.  In the past, I have spent my 4th of July in Washington D.C. For anyone looking for a nice vacation, and a once in a lifetime experience, I would definitely suggest taking a trip out there. The fireworks were amazing, and D.C is a beautiful town in general. We were able to attend the concert at the Capitol Building, and see some amazing performers.

The day was June 19th, 1910. A new holiday was born in the United States. For the past one hundred and two years, we have dedicated the third Sunday in June to celebrate Father’s Day. Some may call it a “hallmark holiday,” and others may show great gratitude and thanks toward their father on this day. No matter if you celebrate it or not, you cannot walk through a store without gifts for fathers being advertised. There always seems to be an extra shipment of wallets, neck ties, and sporting gear in the stores. Moms are taking their children to the craft store so they can make their daddy something extra special. Whether it is barbeques with the entire family, or a fancy dinner in the city, father’s day is widely celebrated in the US. In my family, we have a party with my entire dad’s side. This gives everyone an opportunity to celebrate, and acknowledge our grandpa and uncles. Father’s day is not very literal. You can show gratitude towards anyone who has been a father figure in your life.  

Memorial Day is more than the start of summer, more than a three-day weekend or a backyard barbeque.  It's a day of remembrance - a day to remember and pay homage to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coastguardsmen who lost their lives defending our nation.

Today is a very solemn and sobering day for many of us.  It is a day where we look back and remember the friends and family members prematurely taken.  Take for instance the final letter sent to Army Command Sergeant Major James Blankenbecler, from his 14-year-old daughter, Jessica just days after he was killed in Iraq.

‘Hi Daddy, sorry I haven’t written to you in a while. I miss you so much. How have you been? Is heaven everything it says it is? I know it’s probably that and more. I can’t wait till I can come join you again.

I have your military ring on now. It’s kind of big for my little finger, but it makes me feel you’re holding my hand when I have it on…It’s been on since we found out the news.

With Mother’s Day being on Sunday we thought we would talk a bit about the history of Mother’s Day.  The majority of countries that celebrate Mother's Day do so on the second Sunday of May. On this day, it is common for Mothers to receive presents and special attention from their families, friends and loved ones. 

Leap Day -- February 29th -- is right around the corner.  This day comes but once every four years and was first added to the calendar by ancient Egyptians in order to keep the calendar in sync with the solar year. Later, the Romans adopted this solution for their calendar, and they became the first to designate February 29th as the leap day.

It’s the perfect getaway: wake up at home, make the short trip to one of two Standard Bank branch pick-up spots, board a comfortable, air-conditioned motor coach for a day of fun and adventure, and return home to sleep in your own bed. Specially planned for Standard Bank customers only, this year’s Travel Club day trips are more exciting than ever!

Legally Blonde at Marriott Lincolnshire
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Who knew Harvard Law School could be so much fun? In this delightful musical, blonde sorority queen Elle Woods takes her quest for justice—and her former boyfriend—to new heights, and knocks some of the stuffing out of some very stuffy lawyers in the process. At a cost of $90, this trip to the scenic Marriott Lincolnshire resort includes your ticket, coach transportation and luncheon. Click here for more information

The Boardwalk in Atlantic City: for generations, it’s been the playground of America, a place where glamorous stars and regular folks can enjoy some fun and excitement. You don’t have to be a gambler—or a fan of salt water taffy—to appreciate the larger-than-life atmosphere and fascinating history of this storied city on the eastern edge of the country.

If you’ve ever wanted to stroll the Boardwalk or try your luck in the glittering casinos, here’s a chance to do it with none of the stress or worry  that traveling sometimes brings. Exclusively for Standard Bank customers, this 6-day motor coach tour is just one of our Travel Club adventures for 2012, all planned by the travel experts at Mayflower Tours.

Today Groundhog Day is celebrated. Many different cities celebrate but the most notable and recognized event is held every year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The popular groundhog Punxsutawney Phil determines whether or not there will be six more weeks of winter, or if spring will come early. Phil, the groundhog, determines this by coming out of his home this morning. If Phil sees his shadow, it means there will be six more weeks of winter. If Phil does not see his shadow, it means spring will come early.

It is important to remember that Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions are not always accurate. Only 39% of the time Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions have been correct. Regarding your financial future, it is better to listen to the human Phil (myself) and not Punxsutawney Phil.