Finistar is building on its expertise with a culture centered on innovation, reliability and agility to deliver class-leading solutions nationwide. We are continually developing our core competencies and enhancing our offerings with strategic partnerships designed to provide integrated financial solutions that target your cash management needs. As we gain momentum, we're adding key personnel and receiving a positive reception from the press. Please visit frequently.

  • March 5, 2008 -- Economic Notes for March 2008
    2007 limped to the finish line with a lot of economic baggage. We had the continuing decline in housing prices, slowing GDP growth (.6% in the 4th quarter), the subprime credit crisis, as well as the home foreclosure crisis. All of these events have reopened investors’ eyes to reviewing credit risk and making determinations as to their dependency on the security rating system such as S&P and Moodys. Read the full story here

  • November 30, 2007 -- Finistar Market Update
    It continues. It, is what we have come to refer to as the credit crunch of 2007. It, is also known by other names such as the sub prime mess, the structured investment vehicle debacle, and the era of easy mortgage lending. All of these descriptions mean that the financial markets are still deep in the throes of a true and possibly extended credit and liquidity crisis. View Full Article (pdf)

  • August 15, 2007 -- Finistar Market Update
    In Today’s Markets Quality and Safety Matter
    Watching the financial markets recently, you have seen high volatility and investor concern. You have probably also heard the terms “credit crunch” and “flight to safety.” Recent articles in the Wall Street Journal and on the Motley Fool investor website have discussed the risk to money market funds that may be heavily invested in commercial paper and repurchase agreement obligations. These articles remind us that while financial instruments such as commercial paper and repurchase agreements may be conservative, they still bear market and credit risk. Another crucial point that has been reinforced is that diversification among different investments is always a prudent choice.

    We wanted to take the opportunity to remind you of the safety of a Finistar account. A Finistar account is 100% FDIC insured and represents a very safe short term cash management tool in any portfolio. The FDIC insurance assures clients that there is no principal or credit risk. Finistar accounts have no commercial paper or repurchase agreements that may pose some principal and/or credit risk. Deposit balances through Finistar are available daily and carry a competitive annual percentage rate of 5.16% with an annual percentage yield of 5.28% while our Gold Source program has a annual percentage rate of 5.26% which has an annual percentage yield of 5.39% for the month of August.

    These turbulent times in the market place usually present the opportunity to review your portfolio for safety and earnings. If you are a Finistar client, we thank you for your business. If you would like more information on how to become a Finistar client please contact us at 1-877-346-4782.

  • January 3, 2007 -- ANOVA announced today that as a result of feedback from its network of community banks ANOVA has now indexed its AnovaCore wholesale funding rates for community banks. The new indexed AnovaCore rate will be priced on the previous month's Libor one and three month averages plus 3 basis points (bps).

    We believe this indexed pricing will enable our network of community bankers to better manage ANOVACore deposits in their asset/liability management models, says David Butler, CFP®, Senior Vice President of Banking Network. Our goal since inception has been to provide depositors and community banks more flexible deposit and funding alternatives and we believe this will help facilitate our national growth in 2007.

  • December 5, 2006 -- ANOVA announced the expansion of its AnovaFunds insured deposit program to include qualified pension program participants. The initial focus of this expansion will be to include employee benefit plans as defined under 12 C.F.R. section 330.14(g). That definition includes welfare benefit and pension benefit plans sponsored by "employers", which includes both private and governmental employers. These plans are employee benefit plans for purposes of ERISA § 3(3), and, therefore, qualify for deposit insurance pass-through insurance.

    Qualified employee benefit plans would each be insured on a pass-through basis, in the amount of $100,000 for each non-contingent interest of each plan participant, provided that the records of ownership and fiduciary relationships satisfy 12 C.F.R. § 330.5. A plan member 's interest in the account would be aggregated with any other interest of that member in another account at the same depository institution in connection with another employee benefit plan established by the same employer.

    Our AnovaFunds program affords pension plan administrators greater latitude in making investment decisions on behalf of their pension plan participants says Kim B. Winslow, ANOVA 's President/CEO. Through the ANOVA program pass-through insurance would be applicable for each non-contingent interest of each qualifying pension plan participant thus insuring deposits while enhancing the yield on these investments through a daily liquid investment alternative.

  • November 1, 2006 -- ANOVA announced today the hiring of Paul G. Glenn as Vice President of Depositor Sales. Paul has extensive experience with local government sales and banking having been VP of Governmental Finance at Branch Banking & Trust Company (BB&T) from 1995-2003 - originating and underwriting local government financings throughout NC, VA & MD. His annual production averaged $80-100 million during his tenure. From 1991-95 he was with the NC State Treasurer, Local Government Commission, as a Financial Analyst to over 600 units of local government throughout NC. He oversaw the authorization of debt financing through installment purchase agreements, GO bonds, and COPs - $2.3 billion in debt authorization to NC local governments. Also he was a Branch Manager/Assistant Treasurer at Central Carolina Bank and Trust from 1986-90. He has an MBA from FSU and holds Series 7 and Series 64 securities licenses.

  • October 20, 2006 -- Kim Winslow, CEO/President announced today that Finistar has changed its name to Anova Financial Corporation ( ANOVA ), to reflect the expanded services and focus of the company to provide nationwide secure financial products to non-profits, associations, foundations, local and state government, corporate and high net worth individuals, pension funds, fiduciaries, escrow agents, and other institutional depositors who are seeking a high yield alternative investment option that provides a unique combination of security and liquidity. The recent capital commitment by Lionheart Capital, LLC will be utilized primarily for the national roll-out of ANOVA's primary products:

    • AnovaFunds - Insured Deposits - Independent and institutional depositors of large amounts of cash have ready access to FDIC-insured, daily liquid, high-yield accounts as an alternative to short-term investments.
    • AnovaCore - Wholesale Deposits - A funding solution for community banks that provides a new source of wholesale deposits without typical collateral requirements or burdensome credit limits.

    ANOVA will retain the Finistar name on an interim basis for ANOVA's product offering to local government depositors in North Carolina.

    As part of this re-organization Kim Winslow, co-founder of the company, will now assume the dual role, and titles of, President and CEO of the Company. David D. Butler, CFP®, will take over responsibilities as Senior Vice President of Banking Network. David has 20+ years experience in Trust Investment including relationship and portfolio management, risk assessment and compliance management, financial analysis, and auditing. David was a Principal and served on the board of a private trust company from June 2000 to June of 2004. From 1991 until 2000 David was Senior VP and Head of the Trust and Investment Management Division of a community bank in central North Carolina. Previous experience includes; Director of Trust Operations and Compliance Management at the former Southern National Bank of Lumberton, NC and a Senior Project Auditor at First Union National Bank in Charlotte, NC. David 's was a National Trust Examiner with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and has held Series 7 and 63 Securities Licenses. He attended Campbell University where he earned a BBA in Trust and Investment Management and a Masters in Trust and Investment Management.