BRIEFLY Forsyth Joins First Citizens National

BRIEFLY Forsyth Joins First Citizens National

First Citizens National Bank recently announced the hiring of Kelsey Forsyth as real estate lending officer at the Charles City location.

Prior to joining First Citizens, Kelsey worked as an associate national bank examiner for the office of the Comptroller of the Currency. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Northern Iowa. She is a native of Charles City.

Kelsey has volunteered with the Floyd County Fair, Charles City Schools and Ducks Unlimited. She is a member of Immaculate Conception Church.

“I am very excited to be back in my hometown to give back to the community that has given me so much growing up,” Kelsey said. “Growing up, I was very active on my family’s farm. I am excited to bring all that I have learned about agriculture, hard work, and most importantly, family, to the bank and my customers.”

Fed to consider

December rate hike

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is keeping its key short-term interest rate at a record low in the face of a weak global economy, slower U.S. job growth and subpar inflation. But it suggested the possibility of a rate hike in December.

A statement the Fed issued Wednesday said it would monitor the pace of hiring and inflation to try to determine “whether it will be appropriate to raise the target range” for its benchmark rate at its next meeting.

It marked the first time in seven years of record-low rates that the central bank has raised the possibility that it could raise its key rate from near zero at its next meeting.

Congress delays train safety mandate

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress passed a bill Wednesday that delays for at least three years the mandate for railroads to put long-sought safety technology in place, and extends the government’s authority to spend money on transportation programs.

Federal accident investigators say the technology, known as positive train control or PTC, would have prevented an Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia last May that killed eight people and injured about 200 others had it been working. Amtrak had installed the technology on tracks were the crash occurred, but it hadn’t yet been tested and so wasn’t turned on.

The Senate passed the bill by a voice vote with little debate. The House passed the measure the previous day.

Forsyth