Bank Bandit Hits M & T Bank Branch

- - Amherst Police need your help catching a bank bandit who claimed to have a bomb.

Investigators say a surveillance photo shows the woman who presented a threatening demand note to a teller at the M & T Bank branch at Main and Chateau Terrace Friday.

The suspect fled the scene with cash, but a dye pack exploded as she took off.

Anyone with information is asked to call Amherst Police at 689-1340.

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.