FINAL SCHOOL BONDS ISSUED  

Columbia, SC – State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr., issued $122.2 million in education bonds, and $27.7 million in refinancing bonds this morning. Go to Article

FUTURE SCHOLAR 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN:  Helping South Carolinians save and take advantage of tax benefits
Monday, 4 March 2002
Columbia, SC - South Carolina residents have an exciting new way to prepare for the rising costs of a college.  Go to Article
  
 

DON'T PAY FOR A SERVICE WE PROVIDE FOR FREE:  Bypass Confusing and Costly Solicitations
Thursday, 28 June 2001
Check with our office before you pay a company to find out if the state is holding money for you," Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. said this morning.  Go to Article
   
 

UNIQUE INTERNET AUCTION SENDS $75 MILLION TO SC BANKS:  BidSC Doubles Base Rate
Tuesday, 24 April 2001
(Columbia, SC) $75 million in state deposits were offered during BidSC’s thirty-minute auction this morning. Eligible South Carolina institutions placed 117 bids of $137.5 million. Bids opened at 3.800% and the Treasurer’s Office accepted bids from 4.190% to 4.700%.
      "Even during the strange past few weeks in the financial world, South Carolina banks bought into BidSC," declared State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr.  Go to Article

 
 
$450 MILLION  -  ANOTHER HUGE BOND DAY FOR ROADS
Wednesday, 4 April 2001
(Columbia, SC) South Carolina went to market with one of its largest bond packages ever Wednesday morning. Two bonds totaling $450 million were issued today by State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr.’s office – $350 million for road projects in every corner of the state. Both bonds were sold using competitive bids by investors.  Go to Article

 
  
TOBACCO MONEY IS IN THE BANK:  Almost $800 Million Flows Into State Trust Accounts
Thursday, 22 March 2001
(Columbia, SC) Today, almost $800 million was placed into trust accounts as the tobacco bonds were finalized – $573.6 million will go to health care needs. "This is the biggest single bond issue in South Carolina history – and the largest tobacco bond issue ever," State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. declared.  Go to Article

 
 
BOND BUYER PROFILE, 2001
Friday, 16 March 2001
On March 5, 2001, the leading national publication dealing with public finance, THE BOND BUYER, honored State Treasurer Patterson with the following profile …  Go to Article

LARGEST CONTRACT EVER SOLD:  Last Day to get Tomorrow’s College Paid For at Today’s Prices
Tuesday, 27 February 2001
(Columbia, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. accepted a $165,000.00 check from a Chester County man, yesterday. The payment secured eleven Tuition Prepayment contracts for all of the man’s grandchildren. "People are increasingly aware of the value of this program and how it helps dramatically reduce future college costs," Patterson said.  Go to Article

$75 MILLION … GOING, GOING … SOLD!  BidSC 3^rd Internet Auction to Financial Institutions a Huge Success
Thursday, 25 January 2001
(Columbia, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. held South Carolina’s third-ever Internet Auction of state deposits, today. "We’re only the second state in the nation to auction funds on-line – this has been such a huge success that pretty soon most other states will follow suit," Mr. Patterson said. "BidSC is completely surpassing all expectations, and everyone will benefit. More South Carolina financial institutions participated than ever before."  Go to Article

$327 MILLION IN SC BONDS ISSUED  -  Schools are the Beneficiary
Tuesday, 9 January 2001
(COLUMBIA, SC) Three General Obligation Bonds totaling $327 million dollars were issued by the State of South Carolina, today. State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr.’s office received bids for bonds, including $250 million for schools, between 11:00-11:15 a.m.  Go to Article

OPEN LETTER TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Thursday, 7 December 2000
As State Treasurer, it is my job to report to you on the health of our credit rating and its direct correlation to our spending practices.  Go to Article

$110 MILLION ABANDONED  -  NEED CHRISTMAS MONEY ?
Treasurer’s Office Holding Record Amount of Unclaimed Property
Wednesday, 22 November 2000
(COLUMBIA, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. announced that his office received approximately $15 million in Unclaimed Property during the 2000 reporting period. "We are holding almost $110 million in abandoned, or forgotten money. There is no better time than the holidays to check our website database to see if the state is holding money for you or your family," he said.  Go to Article

$268 MILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BANK BOND SALE A SUCCESS:
Meeting Our Road Building Needs for the Future, Today
Tuesday, 31 October 2000
(Columbia, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. accepted bids for the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank’s $268 million bond sale at 11:00 a.m. this morning. The proceeds will be used to fund specific road projects around South Carolina. Merrill Lynch won with 5.439% -- the lowest bid.  Go to Article

BIGGER, BETTER, STRONGER, FASTER:  BidSC Internet Auction Blitzes the 1^st
Thursday, 26 October 2000
(Columbia, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. held South Carolina’s second ever Internet Auction of state deposits, today. "Like South Carolina football, BidSC completely surpassed all expectations, and everyone will benefit," Mr. Patterson said. "More South Carolina banks participated, more bids were placed, and more interest will be earned than ever before."  Go to Article

STEALING FROM THE ELDERLY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED
Wednesday, 18 October 2000
(COLUMBIA, SC) This morning, State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. announced his office has been working with the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to halt a Saluda County man from defrauding the elderly of over $100,000.  Go to Article

ONE-OF-A-KIND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY, PATTERSON ANNOUNCES TAX-FREE MINI-BOND SALE: Safe, Profitable Investment for South Carolina Families
Friday, 15 September 2000
(Columbia, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. today announced the 2000 issue of Tax-Free Mini-Bonds available to small and large South Carolina investors. The program, which Treasurer Patterson pioneered in 1994, made South Carolina the first state to offer bonds to investors for as little as $200 and $500. "We are still the only state that I know of that lets citizen-investors participate," Patterson said. "Most state bond issues are only for large companies."  Go to Article

STATE TREASURER NAMES MERRILL LYNCH’S KENNEMUR:
First Woman Tapped for State Investment Panel
Wednesday, 6 September 2000
(Columbia, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr., today announced he has appointed Mary M. Kennemur, First Vice President and District Director with Merrill Lynch & Co., to be his representative on the South Carolina Budget and Control Board Investment Panel. The Investment Panel makes recommendations to the Budget and Control Board regarding South Carolina’s $19 billion pension fund. Mrs. Kennemur will be the first woman to participate on the panel.  Go to Article

TOBACCO SECURITIZATION TAKES ONE MORE STEP FORWARD:
Treasurer Solicits Proposals On-Line
Thursday, 17 August 2000
(Columbia, SC) In an effort to speed the structuring of tobacco securitization, State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. today placed the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Financial Advisers (FAs) on-line.* "The information will help advisors quickly see what the State of South Carolina needs and demands in structuring a tobacco bond offering," Mr. Patterson stated. "Then, they can provide my office with a proposal that meets our needs."  Go to Article

TREASURER’S USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL SAVE COUNTLESS HOURS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA
Saturday, 12 August 2000
(COLUMBIA, SC) As a part of his ongoing mission to make the State Treasurer’s Office more efficient by utilizing new technologies, State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. announced Friday that his office has identified a savings of thousands of labor hours.  Go to Article

PATTERSON NAMED GRAND MARSHAL OF EHRHARDT’S SCHUETZENFEST
Thursday, 10 August 2000
(Ehrhardt, SC) The Schuetzenfest, Ehrhardt’s Hunter Festival, is proudly announcing that South Carolina State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr., will serve as the Grand Marshal for its millennium activities. Mr. Patterson will initiate the activities at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 26^th, during a coffee reception at Sease’s Automotive. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. he will lead the Schuetzenfest parade, the traditional kick-off for Saturday’s festivities. Go to Article

SC TREASURER INAUGURATES A "NEW DAY IN PUBLIC FINANCE":  BidSC a Huge Success as SC Reaps an Extra $106,578.85 in Thirty Minutes
Wednesday, 26 July 2000
(Columbia, SC) Hailing his new program, BidSC, as the "trailblazer for states around the nation," State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. conducted the second-ever on-line auction of public funds. He said, "you’ve just watched South Carolina leap over forty-eight other states in public finance.  Go to Article

STATE EARNS $73.6 MILLION ON TREASURER PATTERSON’S INVESTMENTS
Monday, 10 July 2000
(Columbia, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr., today announced that General Fund Investments yielded a higher than projected $73.6 million for fiscal year 1999-2000. The investments yielded almost 5% higher than the most recent estimates. "We are excited and pleased that we have met and exceeded these projections," Mr. Patterson stated. The State Treasurer’s office is responsible for the state’s investments. Go to Article

NEW WAY TO INVEST SC’s MONEY:
New Technology + Competition = Better Investment Returns
Wednesday, 5 July 2000
(Columbia, SC) South Carolina State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr., in a letter to financial institutions statewide, announced his office is changing the way it invests state money. The letter explains BidSC, the Treasurer’s new program that utilizes new technology to distribute state CD deposits. BidSC is only the second program of its kind in the nation.  Go to Article

MAN FINDS $71,000.00
Friday, 23 June 2000
(Columbia, SC) A Richland County man picked up a check for $71,000.00 at the State Treasurer’s Office, today. The check was presented by State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. and his Unclaimed Property staff.  Go to Article

BETTER HOUSING FOR USC STUDENTS:  $21.2 Million in Competitive Bonds Sold to Pay for USC’s "Phase Two"
Tuesday, 13 June 2000
(COLUMBIA, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson’s Office sold $21,170,000 in Revenue Bonds on behalf of the University of South Carolina-Columbia, today. The bonds will provide funds for "Phase Two" of the University’s "Master Plan" which will replace up to 2,200 dormitory rooms that have outlived their usefulness.  Go to Article

SIMPLY THE BEST: Treasurer’s Service Rewarded, Again
Thursday, 1 June 2000
(Charleston, SC) South Carolina State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. picked up another award for outstanding performance last week. The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Lowcountry Chapter recognized the State Treasurer’s Office as "Outstanding Public Agency of the Year."  Go to Article

ALL SC SCHOOL DISTRICTS UPGRADED:  New Bond Rating Means Districts & Families Pay Less To Improve Schools
Monday, 15 May 2000
(Columbia, SC) Today, Standard & Poor’s notified State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. that they have upgraded all SC school districts from a double-‘A’ bond rating to a double-‘A’-plus. It will now cost less to borrow money to meet local schools’ needs – meaning local taxpayers will pay less on school district bond issues.  Go to Article

TRIBUTE TO SC BANKER’S ASSOCIATION: 100^th Anniversary
Friday, 14 April 2000
For over a third of the SCBA’s existence, I have worked with the association to provide more services to the state of South Carolina and its citizens. It certainly seems like a long time, but in that thirty-four years the SCBA has worked with us to modernize and protect a primarily agricultural state. We have come together to lay the foundation for, and foster South Carolina’s enormous economic growth.  Go to Article

BETTER MEDICAL EDUCATION FOR A MORE HEALTHY SC:  $28 Million in MUSC Bonds Sold, Today
Tuesday, 11 April 2000
(COLUMBIA, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson’s Office sold $28 million in General Obligation Bonds on behalf of the Medical University of South Carolina, today. The bonds will provide funds for two major projects.  Go to Article

STRONG FISCAL OUTLOOK WITHOUT BURDENING SC FAMILIES
Friday, 7 April 2000
(Columbia, SC) Specifically pointing to South Carolina’s "financial position [that] will remain strong due to effective financial controls and monitoring," Standard & Poor’s has renewed South Carolina’s AAA credit rating. The AAA rating means South Carolina gets the lowest possible rates on borrowing money for large projects.  Go to Article

TIP OF ICEBERG, STILL SHATTERS RECORDS:  $5.7 Million Returned to South Carolinians - $90 Million Still Being Held
Friday, 21 January 2000
(Columbia, SC) "Since the State Treasurer’s Office began returning Unclaimed Property to its rightful owners, there has never been a year like this," State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr., said. "We’ve eclipsed all previous records, and as a result, more South Carolinians have more of their own money to spend."  Go to Article

ALL SOUTH CAROLINIANS CAN SLEEP SOUNDLY THROUGH Y2K
Tuesday, 21 December 1999
(Columbia, SC) As the nation and the world holds its breath, and scrambles to ready itself for the turn of the century, State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson reassured South Carolinians, today. "We have Y2K-proofed the Treasurer’s Office. The 280,000 members of the $19 billion SC Retirement System – our teachers, law enforcement officers and civil servants – can rest assured that their money is safe," Treasurer Patterson stated. "I also want to emphasize that paychecks to all state employees will be distributed on schedule."  Go to Article

THE MONEY IS HERE AND WE PUT IT TO WORK:  Tobacco Money Received by the State Treasurer, Today
Wednesday, 15 December 1999
(Columbia, SC) "The money is here, and we have put it to work for the people of South Carolina," began State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr.
       The State of South Carolina received its first payment of $29,045,570 from the Tobacco Settlement, today.  Go to Article

TREASURER HAS DONE IT AGAIN:  Better than Expected Sale Benefits Citizens and State
Saturday, 13 November 1999
(Columbia, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr., today announced the preliminary results of the 1999 State Mini-Bond sale that ended on Tuesday, November 9^th. The Treasurer’s Office made $25 million in bonds available to citizens in increments as small as $200.00. The program was offered for only the fourth time in history.  Go to Article

THE LAST CHANCE:  Citizens can Purchase Mini-Bonds through November 9^th Successful Sale Thus Far
Thursday, 5 November 1999
(Columbia, SC) Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. today said sales for South Carolina mini-bonds to private citizens has been a success so far. "With current market conditions, we have been very successful in providing South Carolinians this great investment opportunity," Patterson said. "Many of our citizens have already realized the benefit of buying a piece of South Carolina."  Go to Article

PATTERSON ANNOUNCES 1999 TAX-FREE MINI-BOND PROGRAM
Thursday, 7 October 1999
(Columbia, SC) Today, State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr., unveiled the issuance of $25 million in South Carolina Tax Free Mini-Bonds, calling them "a safe, smart and profitable way for families to invest for college, retirement, or just to diversify their holdings.  Go to Article

PATTERSON NAMED TREASURER OF THE YEAR:  National Association Presented Award to SC’S Top Banker This Week
Monday, 23 August 1999
(Cincinnati, OH) On August 15^th, the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurer’s (NASACT) conferred its President’s Award to South Carolina State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. NASACT President Steve Adams presented the award at the association’s annual meeting in Cincinnati.  Go to Article

INVESTING IN SOUTH CAROLINA:  Treasurer Grady Patterson Puts $200,000 In New, SC Owned Bank
Monday, 2 August 1999
(Columbia, SC) "Today the State of South Carolina is doing the right thing for our taxpayers, and for our community. I am standing with South Carolina Community Bank President Thomas Felder to present a check for a certificate of deposit in the amount of $200,000.
        "Throughout my many years of service to the state, I have sought to strengthen our state owned and operated banks. South Carolina Community Bank is a relatively new institution based here in Columbia."  Go to Article

SC PREPARING FOR Y2K: Treasurer’s Office is Ahead of the Curve
Tuesday, 27 July 1999
(Columbia, SC) As the nation prepares for possible computer problems associated with the turn of the millenium, State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr., released good news today. "We are well ahead of schedule in our preparations to protect the state’s finances," Mr. Patterson announced.  Go to Article

JUMP IN GENERAL FUND INVESTMENTS:  Investments Yield $73 Million
Wednesday, 14 July 1999
(Columbia, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr., today announced that General Fund Investments yielded a higher than projected $73,049,293.13 for fiscal year 1998-1999. The investments yielded almost 5% higher than the most recent estimates of $70 million. "We are excited and pleased that we have met and exceeded these projections," Treasurer Patterson stated. The State Treasurer’s office is responsible for the state’s investments.  Go to Article

$311 MILLION BOND SALE A SUCCESS:  Statement of Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr.
Wednesday, 7 July 1999
Our responsibility to the citizens of South Carolina is not only to address the state’s critical road needs, but also provide for those needs in a cost-effective manner. We were cautious, and conservative in issuing these bonds to ensure success. Today, we have received an outstanding deal for the people of South Carolina.  Go to Article

A HISTORIC DAY FOR S.C. INVESTMENTS:  SC Puts Money into Stocks for the First Time
Wednesday, 16 June 1999
(Columbia, SC) State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr., announced that today will be the first day in which South Carolina retirement funds are invested in Stock Market Index Funds. By the end of the fiscal year, June 30^th, South Carolina will invest $916,900,000 in the S & P 500 index.  Go to Article

EQUALITY IN EDUCATION ?
Wednesday, 11 May 1999
In over 33 years of public service, I’ve seen a lot of great programs built on speculation. I have witnessed programs travel the river of our legislative process, and I have seen many good intentions filter through the political prism only to become poor public policy. At the same time, I have witnessed significant objectives become realities and many progressive programs blossom through the efforts of our state government, the General Assembly, and the citizens of our state.  Go to Article

UNCLAIMED FUNDS NOW ONLINE!
Tuesday, 13 April 1999
Columbia, SC – Today, South Carolina State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. announced that South Carolinians can now search the state’s list of unclaimed property via the internet. " The citizens of our state can now see if SC is holding funds or property for them at the State Treasurer's website.  Go to Article