Why do we say it? (12.8.10)

Financial word origins, in a puzzle

Puzzle: Why do we say it?

Solution: Why do we say it?

The drawing winner was Christene Robinson, associate BSA officer, West Suburban Bank, Lombard, Ill.

Scary Chapters (12.1.10)
A hair-raising crossword 

Puzzle: Scary Chapters

Solution: Scary Chapters

The drawing winner was Luis Maysonet, loan review internal auditor, The Savings Institute, Willimantic, Conn. 

Proud to be a Banker (11.18.10)

Find ideas for community service in this word search

Puzzle: Proud to be a Banker

Solution: Proud to be a Banker

The drawing winner was Suzy Hall, co-vice-president and internal audit manager, The Park Avenue Bank, Valdosta, Ga.

Color Me Money (11.4.10)

Beyond banking in black-and-white

Puzzle: Color Me Money

Solution: Color Me Money

The drawing winner was Valerie Lewis, policy & procedures manager, First Bank

Cash Cow (10.26.10)

You’ll find yourself on the horns of a dilemma—what changed from one picture to the next? Find at least 13 differences or find fresh pastures.

Puzzle: Cash Cow

Solution: Cash Cow

The drawing winner was Penny Vise, director of compliance, Community South Bank, Parson, Tenn.

Eleemosynary, My Dear Watson (10.20.10)

Banking and finance use many odd words. How many can you detect?

Puzzle: Eleemosynary, My Dear Watson 

Solution: Eleemosynary, My Dear Watson

The drawing winner was Ben Brundage, tech analyst, Citizens Bank, N.A., Fort Scott, Kan.

Eclectic Enforcement (10.13.10)
Keeping to the high road in puzzling times

Puzzle: Eclectic Enforcement

Solution: Eclectic Enforcement

The drawing winner was Dee Dee Matsuda, Bank of Hawaii.

Kili Challenge (10.8.10)
Can’t go to Kili?
Try the puzzle instead 

Puzzle: Kili Challenge

Solution: Kili Challenge

The drawing winner was Hilary Budde, Central Bank, Sioux City, Iowa.

Banking Bills (9.30.10)
Get a good case of the Willies

Puzzle: Banking Bills  

Solution: Banking Bills

The drawing winner was Dionne Orange, policy procedures analyst, First Bank, Creve Coeur, Mo.

"Pairallel" Worlds (9.24.10)
Where “economist” meets “Scotch mist”

Puzzle: Pairallel Worlds

Solution: Pairallel Worlds

The drawing winner was Christine Robinson, associate BSA officer, West Suburban Bank, Lombard, Ill.

Change (9.16.10)
Pocket change ... and a change-up

Puzzle: Change  

Solution: Change

The drawing winner was Lynn Strange, vice-president and credit card mgr., Sterling Savings, Spokane, Wash.

Cross Words for Dodd-Frank (9.10.10)
What to make of the law? At least 35 words  

Puzzle: Cross Words for Dodd-Frank

Solution: Cross Words for Dodd-Frank

The drawing winner was Valerie Lewis, assistant vice-president, policy and procedures manager, FirstBank, Creve Coeur, Mo.

OINK! (9.3.10)
You can bank on this crossword. 

Puzzle: OINK

Solution: OINK

The drawing winner was Janette Raab, assistant vice-president, accounting, Central Bank, Ocean City Home Bank, Marmora, N.J.

Lighthouse (8.26.10)

This one is titled simply, "Lighthouse."

Puzzle: Lighthouse  

Solution: Lighthouse

The drawing winner was Amy Chace, vice-president and branch manager, Central Bank, Sioux City, Iowa

Acronymania! (8.19.10)
This puzzle comes up short. But then that's the idea... 

Puzzle: Acronymania

Solution: Acronymania

The drawing winner was Suzy Hall, The Park Avenue Bank, Valdosta, Ga.

Daily Grind (8.12.10)
This word search is a special brew ... 

Puzzle: Daily Grind

Solution: Daily Grind

The drawing winner was Jennifer Hummel, Alpine Bank, Grand Junction, CO

Honestly, Abe (8.5.10)
You'll need a $5 bill and a good memory for high school for this one. 

Puzzle: Honestly, Abe

Solution: Honestly, Abe

The drawing winner was Luis Maysonet, internal auditor, The Savings Institute, Willimantic, Conn.

Twenty Bucks (7.9.10)

You’ll need a $20 bill for this one. 

Puzzle: Twenty Bucks

Solution: Twenty Bucks

The drawing winner was Barbara DiPretore, AVP, TD Bank North, Pennsylvania

Scavenger 3 (7.22.10)

Explore the July ABABJ for the answers to this crossword. 

Puzzle: Scavenger 3

Solution: Scavenger 3

The drawing winner was Fred Feltes, VP, Compliance, Bank of Hawaii

Drawn and Quartered (7.15.10)

Our two-bits on the Mint's newest quarters

Puzzle: Drawn and Quartered

Solution: Drawn and Quartered

The drawing winner was Suzy Hall, VP, Compliance, The Park Avenue Bank, Valdosta, Ga.

Bemis’ Library (7.8.10)

Submitted for your inspection, a puzzle out of the Twilight Zone

Puzzle: Bemis’ Library  

Solution: Bemis’ Library

The drawing winner was Lori Hedden, trust officer, Farmers & Mechanics Bank, Galesburg, Ill.

Crosticgram (6.30.10)

A crossword puzzle where all of the clues are anagrams.

Puzzle: Crosticgram

Solution: Crosticgram

The drawing winner was Christine Robinson, Assoc. BSA officer, West Suburban Bank. Lombard, Ill.

Swift Punishment (6.25.10)

“Our loan portfolio is delinquent,” Tom said belatedly.
Tom Swifties meet banking! 

Swift Punishment

Now read some of the other amusing entries!

Par For The Course (6.17.10)

The U.S. is only one of dozens of nations with a central bank. Find them!

Puzzle: Par For The Course

Solution: Par For The Course

The drawing winner was Richard Montano, compliance officer, Kaw Valley Bank, Topeka, Kan.

Central Bank Scramble (6.11.10)
The U.S. is only one of dozens of nations with a central bank. Find them! 

Puzzle: Central Bank Scramble

Solution: Central Bank Scramble

The drawing winner was Ward Cullum, vice-president, Deutsche Bank, Nashville, Tenn.

When A Banq Is Not A Bank (6.4.10)
Many words and names contain “bank” or its cousins, with no financial connection at all.

Puzzle: When A Banq Is Not A Bank

Solution: When A Banq Is Not A Bank

The drawing winner was Jenny Kluver, personal bank teller, Central Bank, Sioux City, Iowa

Scavenger Hunt Two (5.27.10)
You’ll find every answer to our puzzle in the May ABA BJ and our blogs. Not that we’ve made it easy ...

Puzzle: Scavenger Hunt Two

Solution: Scavenger Hunt Two

The drawing winner was Larry Rudawsky, vice-president, Chemung Canal Trust Co., N.Y.

Mark Twain on Bankers (5.14.10)

Sam Clemens examines bankers

Puzzle: Mark Twain on Banks  

Solution: Mark Twain on Bankers

The drawing winner was Patti Ziegler, V.P.-Compliance and Security Officer, Northwest Commercial Bank, Lakewood, Wash.

Ben Pays The Bills (5.7.10)

Puzzle: Ben Pays The Bills

Solution: Ben Pays The Bills

The drawing winner was Mary Ann Gay, VP and IT Manager, Eastern Virginia Bankshares, Tappahannock, Va.

Money Menagerie (4.29.10)

Hunt for the species of specie, and more, In this word search puzzle

Puzzle: Money Menagerie

Solution: Money Menagerie

(There was no winner for puzzle.)   

Rhyme Time Goes D.C. Two (4.22.10)
A puzzling deformation of reformation.

Puzzle: Rhyme Time Goes D.C. Two  

Solution: Rhyme Time Goes D.C. Two  

(There was no winner for puzzle.)   

Scavenger Hunt Through New ABABJ (4.16.10)
You’ll flip—pages, that is—over this new crossword.

Puzzle: Scavenger Hunt

Solution: Scavenger Hunt

The drawing winner was Hilary Budde, Central Bank, Sioux City, Iowa

Bricks & Mortar (4.9.10)
Count on a wall of confusion

Puzzle: Bricks & Mortar

Solution: Bricks & Mortar  

The drawing winner was Jake Silker, marketing officer, Foster Bank, Chicago, Ill.

Solvency Is A Puzzle (4.1.10)
A wordsearch about Dickens and spending

Puzzle: Solvency Is A Puzzle

Solution: Solvency Is A Puzzle

The drawing winner was Ann Markonis, V.P. & Compliance Officer, Risk Management Unit, Community West Bank, Goleta, Calif. 

Annual Checkup (3.25.10)

A wordsearch about checking accounts

Puzzle: Annual Checkup

Solution: Annual Checkup

The drawing winner was Rhonda Sickles, Accountant I, First Commonwealth Bank, Indiana, Penn. 

The Color of Money: Green! (3.18.10)

Were leprechauns the original bankers?

Puzzle: The Color of Money: Green!

Solution: The Color of Money: Green!

The drawing winner was Paul Jarosz, senior vice-president, director of government compliance, Oxford Bank & Trust, Ill.

Gods of the Marketplace (3.11.10)

New crossword links money and banking with ancient mythological roots

Puzzle: Gods of the Marketplace

Solution: Gods of the Marketplace

The drawing winner was Erica Cooper, teller, First State Bank of Louise, Texas

$15,140 turns 75 years old (3.4.10)

America’s favorite CRE game turns 75 ... and into a crossword!

Puzzle: $15,140 turns 75 years old

Solution: $15,140 turns 75 years old

The drawing winner was Lee Ann Hintz, client relationship officer, First Business Bank, Madison, Wis.

Bank & Trios Three: More From You (2.25.10)

Six banker-written trios to ponder...

Puzzle: Bank & Trios Three: More From You

Solution: Bank & Trios Three: More From You

The drawing winner was Jamie Lipe, loan risk officer, First State Community Bank, Farmington, Mo.

Bank & Trios Two: Bankers’ Turn (2.19.10)

Puzzle: Bank & Trios Two: Bankers’ Turn

Solution: Bank & Trios Two: Bankers’ Turn

The drawing winner was Lori Hedden, trust officer, F&M Bank, Galesburg, Ill.

Bank & Trios (2.12.10)

Three little words... 

Puzzle: Bank & Trios

Solution: Bank & Trios 

The drawing winner was Veronica Tamayo, teller, Putnam State Bank, Palatka, Fla.

Fall Into the GAAP (02.4.10)

Accounting really is a puzzle, and that’s generally accepted...

Puzzle: Fall Into the GAAP

Solution: Fall Into the GAAP

(There was no winner for puzzle.)  

Rebus Trust Two (01.28.10)

Picture this ... and this time, bankers devised this torture  

Puzzle: Rebus Trust Two

Solution: Rebus Trust Two

The drawing winner was Jenny Kluver, personal bank teller, Central Bank, Sioux city, Iowa

Unauthorized Withdrawals (01.15.10)

Steal this puzzle...

Puzzle: Unauthorized Withdrawals

Solution: Unauthorized Withdrawals

The drawing winner was Jeanne Beals, assistant vice-president, deposit services, Community Bank & Trust, Waco, Texas

Rebus Trust (01.07.10)

Picture this ... actually, you’ll have to. Try our bank-specific rebus puzzles.

Puzzle: Rebus Trust

Solution: Rebus Trust

The drawing winner was Laurie Lewandowski, Retail Banking Manager, American Community Bank & Trust, Woodstock, Ill.

An Examination by Dickens (12.22.09)

A puzzle in rhyme, with a very easy unscramble.
It’s a gift, folks. 

Puzzle: An Examination by Dickens

Solution: An Examination by Dickens

The drawing winner was Tedene Staiger, BSA Officer, American Heritage Bank, Sapulpa, Okla.

Bank of Humbug and Bailey (12.17.09)

“It’s a wonderful puzzle, Mr. Scrooge!” “Bah, humbug, Mr. Bailey!”

Puzzle: Bank of Humbug and Bailey  

Solution: Bank of Humbug and Bailey

Banking Circles (12.10.09)

Think “Boggle,” with a banking twist ... or turn ... or angle

Puzzle: Banking Circles

Solution: Banking Circles

“Banking Circles” gave entrants an opportunity to come up with extra answers. Winner Erik Huff, followed closely by his colleague Rhonda Sickles, not only gave the required answers, but a slew of often-witty extras. Read them here (pdf)

D.C. Search-a-Gram (11.25.09)

This week we serve up a double helping of banking puzzlement.

First, a word search, in which you must find ten anagrams.

Second, you have to unscramble the anagrams to find the person, issue, or agency from Washington hidden in the scrambled words.

Puzzle: D.C. Search-a-Gram

Solution: D.C. Search-a-Gram

(There was no winner for puzzle.)

Bankers of Page and Screen (11.20.09)

Bankers abound in fiction, as detectives, heroes, wits, twits, historical figures, and more. Our five-star crossword will test your book and movie knowledge.

Puzzle: Bankers of Page and Screen

Solution: Bankers of Page and Screen

The drawing winner was Kevin M. Lowrie, branch manager, Continental Bank, Limerick, Pa.

Banker in Amazement (11.13.09)

Help branch manager John Smith find his way to the conference room in time. A maze with a message

Puzzle: Banker in Amazement

Solution: Banker in Amazement

The drawing winner was Erik Huff, senior business analyst, First Commonwealth Bank, Indiana, Penn.

Play ball! (11.5.09)  

Series-loser Phillies’ Citizens Bank Park is one of 24 pro baseball fields named for financial companies. Find them!

Puzzle: Play ball!

Solution: Play ball!

The drawing winner was Erin Boxleiter, commercial lender, Premier Bank, Dubuque, Iowa 

Rhyme Time Goes D.C. (10.30.09)  

Our rhyming pairs puzzle returns—with a twist: rhyming trios, all about Washington affairs.

Puzzle: Rhyme Time Goes D.C.

Solution: Rhyme Time Goes D.C.

(There was no winner for puzzle.)

Conference Room Doom (10.18.09)

Meetings and banking go together like baseball and Cracker Jacks. But what goes on in those meetings? That’s the subject of our latest puzzle challenge.

Puzzle: Conference Room Doom

Solution: Conference Room Doom

The winner for this puzzle was Nancy M. Lettner, S.V.P., State Bank of Arcadia, Wis.

Hail to the ABA Chief (10.08.09)

Find the names of 31 of ABA’s top banker leaders in this week’s word-search puzzle. 

Puzzle: Hail to the ABA Chief

Solution: Hail to the ABA Chief

(There was no winner for puzzle.)

F.D. EYE See: A double puzzle (10.01.09) 

Word search with a double twist! First find the names of the ten most recent FDIC chairmen. Then match those names with their pictures. You’ll “see” that that’s harder than it sounds.

Puzzle: F.D. EYE See: A double puzzle

Solution: F.D. EYE See: A double puzzle

Winner of $25 gift card prize is Naomi Drake, teller, First Farmers & Merchants National Bank, Pipestone, Minn.

Too BIG to Find (9.24.09) 

Word search with a twist! Find the names of the top 50 bank holding companies. But beware the “sdrawkcab” factor.

Puzzle: Too BIG to Find

Solution: Too BIG to Find

Winner of $25 gift card prize is Jennifer Cayer, Risk Reporting Manager, Associated Banc-Corp

Uncle Harry's Desk Drawer (9.17.09)

Rhyming clues and a mysterious photograph set apart our new "SpotMe" puzzle.

Puzzle: Uncle Harry's Desk Drawer

Solution: Uncle Harry's Desk Drawer

Winner of $25 gift card prize is John Gregg, Morton (Ill.) Community Bank  

Rhyme Time II (8.20.09)

This diabolical rhyming pairs puzzle will stump you! Don’t blame us. This one comes from guest puzzler Paul Jarosz

Puzzle: Rhyme Time II

Solution: Rhyme Time II

United States of Two Bits (8.13.09)

Washington quarters have been around for years, but in 1999 they evolved into the State Quarters Series. This week’s four-star word search, “United States of Two Bits,” asks you to find the 50 states honored on those quarters. As usual, there are a couple of catches.

Puzzle: United States of Two Bits 

Solution: United States of Two Bits

Winner of $25 gift card prize is Jen Beck, teller, Carrollton Bank, Maryland 

Wealth Management (8.6.09)

Wealth—do we manage our wealth or does it manage us? A trip through Bartlett’s Quotations provides a wealth of wealth quotes, ready for unscrambling.

Puzzle: Wealth Management

Solution: Wealth Management

Winner of $25 gift card prize is Nicole Bartscher, Farmers State Bank, Marion, Iowa

Public Savants (7.30.09)

Bankers have been serving their country even before the Revolution was over. This three-star word search asks very little—find 15 names. Ah, but the hard part comes next. 

Puzzle: Public Savants

Solution: Public Savants

Winner of $25 gift card prize is Alison Brewton, credit analyst, First National Bank of Florida

Foreign Exchange: Come Fly With Me (07.23.09)

Not going anywhere exciting this year for vacation?
This three-star crossword will take you to foreign places and test your knowledge of foreign currency at the same time. 

Puzzle: Come Fly With Me

Solution: Come Fly With Me

Winner of $25 gift card prize is Kathe Deck, Controller, Century Bank and Trust, Coldwater, Mich. 

Personnel Finance (07.16.09)

That's no typo. Guest puzzler Paul Jarosz, SVP at Oxford Bank, Oak Brook, Ill., and a two-time winner, devised this word search puzzle for his fellow bank puzzlers.

What Paul has done is compile many names of famous and fictitious people and groups where the name contains a reference to banks, money, or something else financial. 

Puzzle: Personnel Finance

Solution: Personnel Finance

Winner of  $25 gift card prize is Naomi Drake, First Farmers & Merchants Bank, Pipestone, MN

Economizing on Words (07.09.09)

Five Quotes About Economics & Economists & Ten Possible Speakers

This humorous (really!) three-star sentence unscramble about  economics has been seasonally adjusted. 

Puzzle: Economizing on Words

Solution: Economizing on Words

Winner of $25 gift card prize is Dawn Scala, Astoria Federal Savings, Lake Success, N.Y.

Crosswords of Credit (06.25.09)
This three-star crossword will test your knowledge of lending terminology. And with an embedded scramble and a palindrome, we’ll test your verbal skills too. 

Puzzle: Crosswords of Credit

Winner of $25 gift card prize is Donnia Bucklen, TruPoint Bank, Grundy, Va.

Right on the Money (06.18.09)
This crossword takes you through the history, mystery, and symbolism of U.S. currency, with a detour through money slang. 

Puzzle: Right on the Money

Solution: Right on the Money

Winner of  $25 gift card prize is Paul Jarosz, Oxford Bank, Oak Brook, Ill.

Rhyme Time! (06.11.09)

A rhyming pairs puzzle about money and banks 

Inspired by “Tricky Ricky Kane’s” popular newspaper feature, “Wordy Gurdy,” one of our own favorites and distributed by United Features Syndicate Inc. But we’ve put a banking twist on Kane’s concept.

Puzzle: Rhyme Time!

Solution: Rhyme Time!

Sorry, no winners for puzzle.

Toastermania! (06.04.09)

A word search about bank gifts 

Toasters are the classic bank “premium.” But banks have given away, and otherwise used merchandise and other incentives to raise deposits for years. The practice continues today. 

Puzzle: Toastermania!

Solution: Toastermania!

Sorry, no winners for puzzle, though some came close.

Show Us The Money (05.29.09)

Five Quotes About Money & Ten Possible Speakers

Unscramble five quotes about money (easy!). And then tell which five out of ten people uttered them (not so easy).

Puzzle: Show Us The Money

Solution: Show Us The Money  

The drawing winner was Michaelle Costner, Bank of the Pacific, Washington

Banking and the Civil War (05.21.09)
Banking history is intertwined with Civil War history, and this puzzle-trivia quiz explores that.

Puzzle: Banking and the Civil War

Solution: Banking and the Civil War

The drawing winner was Peggy Rowden, The Maries County Bank

Banking Goes To The Movies (05.14.09)
Hundreds of movies have been made involving banks or bankers. This week's three-and-a-half-star word search puzzle, "Banking Goes To The Movies: A Double Feature," is exactly that.

Puzzle: Banking Goes To The Movies

Solution: Banking Goes To The Movies

Capital meets Capitol Hill (05.08.09)
"Bank lobby" can mean your bank's lobby or the lobbyists who represent you in Washington. This week's four-star crossword, "Capital meets Capitol Hill," has 24 diabolical clues drawing on both subjects. Example: #4 Down: "What lobbyists send regulators when chilled by regulatory drafts."

Puzzle: Capital meets Capitol Hill

Solution: Capital meets Capitol Hill

The drawing winner was Barbara Neenhold, N.J.'s Sturdy Savings Bank

Caught in the Act (04.30.09)
Word search contains the names of 19 Acts that affect banking, plus the names of six famous legislators that helped bring about some of these laws. 

Puzzle: Caught in the Act

Solution: Caught in the Act

The drawing winner was Sue Griffin, Community Bank & Trust, Waco, Texas

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