Patricia Wagoner Cruises To M&T Bank Grand Prize

Patricia Wagoner received what she thought was a spam letter from a marketing company she didn’t recognize, letting her know that she had just won a sweepstakes contest with M&T Bank. Since she didn’t knowingly enter a sweepstakes and the letter included paperwork she was asked to complete and return, including a request for her Social Security number, Wagoner was skeptical.

With the help of her daughter, Wagoner researched the sweepstakes and started to think the letter wasn’t spam at all. With paperwork in hand, she went to her Severna Park M&T Bank branch location to get to the bottom of the surprising letter.

It was then that the Pasadena grandmother learned that she indeed had been selected as the grand prize winner in M&T Bank’s Save & Win Sweepstakes.

To encourage savings habits among its customers, M&T held the Save & Win Sweepstakes from February 22 to March 31. All M&T savings account holders who made a qualifying deposit (up to five) automatically earned a chance to win $5,000 toward their savings goals.

Wagoner said her Social Security checks are automatically deposited, and she had no idea that her deposits entered her into the sweepstakes. The contest included every M&T branch on the East Coast, and she was told that nearly 1 million customers were eligible. Wagoner was randomly selected from a pool of eligible customers.

“Winning the $5,000 was a complete shock,” said Wagoner. “I had always stressed the importance of saving money with my kids and now my grandchildren.

“I think it is very important to have money saved in case something unexpected comes up,” added Wagoner, “or if you just want to use it to celebrate in some way.”

Wagoner’s grandson will graduate from Chesapeake High School in June 2017. When asked how he wanted to celebrate or what he wanted as his graduation gift, the teenager said he wanted to go on a cruise. Wagoner had been saving money for this trip before she learned of her contest winnings.

After she and her family were presented with a $5,000 check at a special presentation at M&T’s Severna Park branch on June 1, Wagoner immediately deposited the money into a savings account earmarked for the upcoming cruise. The check will help her afford the trip, which could involve up to 10 family members.

“We are impressed by Mrs. Wagoner’s commitment to her family and her dedication to saving money,” said Augie Chiasera, president of M&T Bank’s Greater Baltimore and Chesapeake markets. “As a community-focused bank, we wanted this contest to highlight the importance of savings to our customers.”

Wagoner said that she’s been banking with M&T since it was Provident Bank. She has several personal accounts, and many of her family members also have accounts with M&T.

“I just think it’s a great bank,” she said. “The people at the Severna Park branch are so helpful and just a joy to work with.”

While no exact cruise destination has been set yet, Wagoner said it will take place right after graduation next June and it will be an extended cruise to the Caribbean. She’s thrilled that she will be able to afford her trip of a lifetime.