Battle of the Banks: 4 banks join to raise 37 pints for Red Cross

The fourth annual Gaylord Battle of the Banks resulted in the donation of 37 units of blood. Citizens Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Independent Bank and Northwestern Bank each participated in the American Red Cross blood program.

Independent Bank had 22 people who made it to the donation table to finish first. In second place, Northwestern Bank brought in 14 donors. Fifth Third Bank and Citizens Bank took third and fourth place, respectively.

Since each unit could help as many as three people, this blood drive could help more than 110 patients.

”We couldn't have had the blood drive without the support of RSVP and the host site, First United Methodist Church of Gaylord,“ said Biz Bauer, Donor Recruitment representative for the American Red Cross Great Lakes Region Blood Services Northern Area. ”RSVP volunteers assisted us by making reminder phone calls to the donors, providing volunteer help throughout the day and providing the yummy cookies for the donors. The First United Methodist Church site and staff provided the wonderful site used for the blood drive.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.