Prestige Club Policy
MEMBERSHIP
The Prestige Club is designed for bank customers who maintain a special banking relationship with 1st Alliance with the following minimum balances for new members beginning January 2, 2020: $5,000 in checking, or $5,000 in savings, or $10,000 in a Money Market, or $25,000 in CDs (Certificates of Deposit), or $25,000 in IRAs, or $25,000 in Investments with 1st Alliance Investment Services. After Feb 1996, an age requirement of 55 years or older was added.
FEATURES
Membership in the Prestige Club entitles its members to one free Prestige Club checking account per household, free club checks, no-fee money orders, a Club newsletter, group travel, parties, brunch and seminars. No membership dues or fees.
ELIGIBILITY
Account eligibility will be reviewed periodically. You will be contacted if your account balances fall below the minimum to give you an opportunity to bring your balances back to the minimum. Members will be dropped who no longer have any qualifying balances.
PRIVACY POLICY
Information about our members is shared within the confines of the Club newsletter and Bank website, such as photos and member names. Please let me know if you do not want information about yourself printed in the newsletter or in any other communication.
PHILOSOPHY
Offering group travel with friends and neighbors is a benefit to our members. All details and reservations have been taken care of so that you can enjoy a well-planned, worry-free trip. We work to secure the best seats and rooms possible. We aim to provide you with a memorable trip for the best price.
RESPONSIBILITIES
While 1st Alliance sponsors trips, travel services may be provided by other companies. The Prestige Club and 1st Alliance act only as agents for the passenger and therefore can assume no responsibility for and cannot be held liable for any personal injury, property damage or other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity which may be occasioned by actions or omission of suppliers or other parties. We are not responsible to any person for expense, loss of time or money, or other circumstances resulting from a change in itinerary or change in tour arrangements.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Approximately 5-7 days before a trip, all travelers will receive a letter from the Coordinator with details about the trip. In most cases, pickup points will be available in one or more of the towns where our bank is located. We regret that personal requests for other pickup arrangements will not be possible.
ASSISTED TRAVEL
Any person who cannot travel independently and who would need special assistance must be accompanied by a companion who will be able to assist and assume responsibility for this person. Accommodations for special needs may be arranged ahead of time (diet, wheelchairs, handicap rooms, etc.) Please check with the Coordinator to determine if all the needs of the traveler can be accommodated on a specific trip. Special need requests should be given to the Coordinator at signup.
TRAVEL SIGN-UP
All trips are announced in the Club newsletter and on the Bank website. You can sign up at any bank location by contacting the Coordinator or a Personal Banker. First preference is given to our members. Guests of a Prestige Club member are always welcome at no extra charge. Occasionally a trip may be opened up to the public.
WAITING LIST
If all reservations are filled, we will begin a waiting list. No deposit will be required at this time.
Cancellations can happen, even up to the day of the trip, and we want to fill any available seats. (See Cancellations below) In the event of a cancellation, you will be contacted in the order that you are listed on the Waiting List.
PRICING
The pricing of the trips is based on projected number of travelers on a break-even basis. If that number is not reached, our club may join another group so that the trip will not have to be cancelled. The price listed for each trip is per person. Although every effort is made to adhere to the prices as they are printed, it may happen that prices may have to be adjusted due to unforeseen circumstances.
PAYMENT
Payment or deposits are expected when you make your reservation. Most trips include an attraction or accommodation that requires a down payment well in advance of the trip. Booking this far ahead ensures that the best seats and rooms will be reserved for our group. Generally, the longer the trip, the further in advance the payments are required. Full payment or down payment holds your seat. You will be contacted if you have not made a payment by the deadline.
REFUNDS
If you cancel, we must abide by the refund policies of all the vendors involved and full or partial refunds may be possible but cannot be guaranteed. See Cancellations and Travel Insurance below.
CANCELLATIONS
Please notify the Club Coordinator as soon as possible if you must cancel. This helps ensure the maximum refund possible for you as well as offering people on a waiting list an opportunity to go. If the entire trip is cancelled, we must abide by the refund policies of all the vendors involved
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance is available for most trips and highly recommended for extended trips. Insurance coverage and premium is optional and separate from the trip’s pricing. All questions should be addressed to the travel insurance company.
TIPS/GRATUITIES
Whenever possible, all tips and gratuities for bus drivers, luggage handling, servers and guides are included in the cost of a trip. You will be notified when this is not the case.
EMERGENCY FORMS
All travelers will be asked to fill out a confidential emergency form with information such as contact friend or relative, insurance, medications and doctor's name. This form should be kept with you at all times.
