Christmas Scrip down a tad, still popular in Phillips County

Phillips County residents kept $265,680 of their local dollars for the 2018 holiday season by participating in the annual Christmas Scrip program hosted by local banks and the Malta Chamber of Commerce, down a bit from the 2017 total of $281,770.

For more than 30 years, Christmas Scrip continues to be a valuable program for local residents to shop at home, and spread out the financial cost of the holidays or those big expenses, throughout the year.

This no-interest loan program was available at all three local banks; The First State, First Security and Independence Bank and co-sponsored by the Malta Area Chamber of Commerce. Scrip offers up $1,000 in loans, that is paid back in 10 monthly installments. It traditionally kicks off around the end of October and runs through December 24.