News

Stay up to date on all things Union Bank and elsewhere

Postage increase begins today
1.23.12
A first-class stamp increased to 45 cents today. One more great reason to use online banking and bill pay. Learn more and enroll on the Personal tab.

No monthly fee for debit cards
1.3.12
Many of the large national and regional banks are beginning to charge a monthly fee for debit cards - not us! At Union Bank not only are we NOT charging a monthly fee, we actually REWARD you for using your debit card. Learn more about our Dime a Time program here: http://www.ubmich.com/personal/debitcards.php

Together we can!
12.2.11
All Union Bank offices will be participating in canned food drives during the month of December. Local food pantries are in need of any non-parishable food item, or personal care items such as new tooth brushes, toothpaste etc. Help us help the communities we serve by dropping off your items at any Union Bank lobby. All donations collected will be distributed to local food banks and charities. Together we can help fight hunger this holiday season.

Refinance now.
11.28.11
If your mortgage rate is 4.50% or higher, you should consider refinancing. The money you'll save could shave years off your mortgage or allow you additional funds to complete a fall project or repairs around the house. Contact your local office today to see if you qualify. We're happy to help. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

Art Show coming November 26th
11.17.11
Union Bank will again partner with the Lakewood Educational Foundation to sponsor the 2nd Annual Art Show at Lakewood High School. The show will feature work from current students, alumni and area artists, and will include ArtPrize exhibits. The show runs from 1 to 4 p.m. and again from 6 to 8 p.m. New this year is the additional of vocal music performances during the 6 to 8 p.m. slot. This event is free to the public. Learn more at www.facebook.com/lakewoodarts

Union Bank to observe Veterans Day
11.7.11
In order to observe the federal holiday of Veterans Day, all offices of Union Bank will be closed on Friday, November 11, 2011. We invite you to use our electronic services, ATM's and night drop depositories. Union Bank salutes our troops and vets. Thank you for serving our country. Member FDIC.

UB employees wear jeans for a cause
10.5.11
October is breast cancer awareness month and UB employees are participating by donating $5 each Friday in exchange for the privilege to wear blue jeans. We're shooting for 100% participation. If you see one of our staffers in jeans be sure to say 'hello!'. If you'd like to make a donation to the Amercian Cancer Society you may do so at any of our branches or by visiting http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/news/Features/what-you-can-do-about-breast-cancer to learn more.

Local scholarships awarded
8.24.11
Union Bank will help send several students off to college this fall with extra funding through its scholarship program. This is the 12th consecutive year the bank has awarded scholarships. Recipients were selected based on several criteria including academics, extra-curricular activities, leadership and community service. The program is offered at high schools in Union Bank’s market area including Hastings, Holt, Lakewood and Pewamo-Westphalia.

The following students were awarded scholarships of $250 to $500 to attend a college of their choice under any major:

Hastings, Cody Redmond
Holt, Kayla Cumberworth
Lakewood, Brooke Armbruster, Kalli Barrone and Anna Lynch
Pewamo-Westphalia, Austin Fedewa

Scholarship applications are made available in the high school guidance offices each spring.

Union Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Union Financial Corporation and operates full service banking offices in Lake Odessa, Dimondale, Freeport, Hastings, Mulliken, Pewamo and Westphalia. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

Relay for Life event huge success!
8.22.11
The Relay for Life event of Barry County was a huge success last weekend. Final results are still being tallied, but initial results indicate over $115,000 was raised for the fight against cancer. The Union Bank team raised just over $3,500, far surpassing the team goal of $2,000. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported the Union Bank team and the event. For more information visit relayforlife.org and search on Barry County.

UB Launches New Logo and Slogan
7.20.11
As you may have noticed on our website and mailings, our logo and slogan were recently updated. The new logo still incorporates the UB mark, but we've changed the font, design and color scheme to make the overall look more contemporary. We've also changed our slogan from Understanding Your Needs to Your Life. Your Bank. Union Bank understands life's daily issues and we want to be the answer by providing the financial products and services you need. Watch for our new billboards and print ads coming soon. Outdoor signs will be updated over the next 12 to 18 months. Thank you for being our customer!

Get ready for summer with great loan deals
7.1.11
Are you prepared for vacation season? If you need to upgrade your RV, buy a boat or just need some extra cash to take a trip, we've got home equity and consumer loans to fit your needs. Check out our home page promo.

Mortgage rates remain low
6.1.11
If your home mortgage rate is over 5% now is a great time to refinance. Give us a call at
1-800-974-3273. Union Bank is an Equal Housing Lender.

Beware of Mail Scams
4.29.11
Please be aware that if you ever receive some type of check in the mail and you are asked to cash or deposit it and then return a portion of the proceeds, it's probably a scam. Several of these have been brought to the bank's attention recently. Some claim to be out of state lottery winnings or refund money that is owed to you. The check typically looks like an official cashier’s check, but from an out-of-town or out-of-state bank. You might receive a check like this when selling something online too. The bank has methods to insure the check is legitimate and we're happy to help you. To learn more, visit the American Bankers Association Education Foundation at http://www.aba.com/ABAEF/cashierscheckfraud.htm

April is Financial Literacy Month
4.13.11
The month of April is designated nationally by the American Bankers Association as a time to get smart about savings and credit. Share this online newsletter with young people you know. You might just learn something yourself!
http://www.aba.com/aba/documents/press/abaef/MTSpecEdTCTS09.pdf

UB Employees Recognized for Years of Service
3.23.11
Union Bank recently recognized a number of outstanding employees for their years of service and dedication to the organization. During an in-service training day and luncheon celebration held on Presidents’ Day, February 21, Cortney Collison, President of the bank, and Gary Slusser, Director of Human Resources, presented staff members with service award plaques.

The following employees received awards:

3 years
Lydia Endsley, Bookkeeping and Investments, Lake Odessa
Audrey Hogan, Customer Service, Freeport
Stephanie Joseph, Bookkeeping, Lake Odessa
Becky Olmstead, Customer Service, Hastings
Richard Russo, Sr. Loan Officer, Lake Odessa
Darcy Welton, Office Manager, Hastings
Zachary Woodman, Mortgage Company, Lake Odessa

5 years
Priest Brighton, Courier, Lake Odessa
Stephanie Brummette, Customer Service - Mulliken
Lindsay Farrell, Customer Service, Dimondale
Stacey Nurenberg, Branch Operations, Lake Odessa

15 years
Rose Barratt, Bookkeeping, Lake Odessa
Terri Dow, Mortgage Company, Lake Odessa
Christine Fortier, Chief Financial Officer, Lake Odessa
Judy Jackson, Branch Manager, Freeport

30 years
Sandra Boyer, Mortgage Company, Lake Odessa

35 years
Suzanne Dahms, Chief Operations Officer, Lake Odessa

Employees receiving awards had a combined total of 166 years of service with Union Bank. Not only does this translate into capable and experienced employees to serve customers, but also is reflective of a work environment that employees enjoy.

Union Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Union Financial Corporation and operates full service banking offices in Lake Odessa, Dimondale, Freeport, Hastings, Mulliken, Pewamo and Westphalia. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

We're lending!
2.27.11
We have loan products to fit many needs - car, home improvement, small business or farm. Give us a call or stop by your local office. Equal Housing Lender. Member FDIC.

Meet and Greet Event for Kris Reigler
2.21.11
Stop by and meet Kris Reigler, the new Investment Representative for Union Investment Solutions. Kris will be in Pewamo on Thursday, February 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be prizes and giveaways to be sure to drop in. Kris offers a number of products for various investment needs as well as a insurance products. Visits with Kris are complimentary.

Union Investment Solutions offers products through PRIMEVEST Financial Services, Inc. is an independent, registered broker/dealer and registered investment adviser. Member SIPC / FINRA. Securities and insurance products offered by PRIMEVEST: * Not FDIC insured * May go down in value * not financial institution guaranteed * Not a deposit * not insured by any federal government agency. Kris Reigler’s office is located at 529 W. State St. Hastings, MI 49058.

Farmers' Appreciation Week February 22 to 25
2.4.11
Join us in Pewamo and Westphalia as we celebrate and appreciate our local farmers. Fun and snacks daily with door prizes and lunch on Friday. Stop in!

All Offices are OPEN Today!
2.3.11
The weather and roads have cleared and all of our offices are open and ready to serve you today. Come on by!

All Offices Closed Due to Weather
2.2.11
Due to the severe weather, all offices of Union Bank will be closed today, February 2. We expect to be open tomorrow. ATM's ARE open or you may bank from home using Net Express internet banking or phone banking. Stay safe and warm today!

Beware of fraudulent text messages
1.17.11
Please be aware that there is a fraudulent text message campaign warning consumers that their MasterCard or Visa credit card has been locked and asking them to call and enter their credit card number. You should NEVER need to give out your credit card number. The message does not mention Union Bank and did not come from us. We do not currently communicate via text message. Please know that there are no issues with Union Bank MasterCard Debit Cards or Visa Credit Card accounts. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call 800.974.3273.

Holiday Office Hours
12.17.10
All Union Bank offices will be closing at 12 noon on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve and will be closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. Be sure to use our convenient ATM's, Express Phone Banking and Net Express Internet Banking. Happy Holidays!

Casual for a Cause
12.16.10
UB employees are wearing jeans every Friday in December to show their support for a local charity. Visit your local office to learn more or join us in contributing. Our local partners for this year are:
Dimondale - Give a Kid a Christmas, stop by to sponsor a star!
Freeport - Cash donations for Love Inc. and the Freeport Toy Program.
Hastings - Angel Tree for local families.
Lake Odessa Branch - Food drive for Manna's Market.
Lake Odessa Main Office - Cash donations for Food Bank Council of Michigan.
Mulliken - Food drive for Mulliken Methodist Church Food Locker
Pewamo - Collections for St. Joseph's Church food drive and a hat and mitten tree.
Westphalia - Collections for St. Mary's Church food drive and a hat and mitten tree.

Wrap up your gifts early!
12.15.10
Make holiday shopping easy with Visa gift cards available at all Union Bank branch locations.

Union Bank Closed on February 21, 2011
12.12.10
All Union Bank offices will be closed on February 21 in observance of Presidents' Day. This is a federal holiday, therefore the federal banking system is closed and the bank cannot conduct business. This is the first year Union Bank has closed for this holiday and we will also be closing for Columbus Day and Veterans Day. Union Bank employees will report to work as an in-service day for training in order to better serve our customers. We remind you to utilize our electronic services such as phone and internet banking, and our ATM's. During these holidays, our switchboard will remain open. If you have urgent needs, please call our main office at 800-974-3273.

Join Us in Freeport for the Holly Trolley
12.10.10
The Barry County Holly Trolley will be in Freeport on Thursday, December 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. The trolley leaves the Historical Society building every 15 minutes to tour the area and vote for the best lights. Join us afterward for refreshments at the branch office. See you then!

Visit Santa at the Woodland Festival of Lights
12.4.10
Join us at the park in Woodland at 6 p.m. as we welcome Santa. See the beautiful light displays and enjoy hot cocoa on us! Bring the family for this free event.

Art Show a Huge Success!
11.29.10
The Lakewood Art Show last Saturday was a great success for a first time show. Nearly 300 attended to view the works of 20 local artists. Visit facebook.com/lakewoodarts to see photos.

Missed ArtPrize? Visit our Art Show!
11.12.10
Stop by Lakewood High School on November 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. This event is free to the public. Union Bank and the Lakewood Education Foundation are sponsoring the art show featuring local ArtPrize participants and other local artists. You don't want to miss it!

Veterans Day is Thursday, November 11
11.7.10
We honor all those who served our country to protect our freedom. Thank you!
All Union Bank offices will be OPEN, however, all transactions will be processed the following day.

UB Offices Closed for Columbus Day
10.7.10
All offices of Union Bank will be closed on Monday, October 10, in observance of Columbus Day. Because this is a federal holiday, there are no transactions processed. Please take note that when using online banking or other electronic services, your transaction will be dated for the following day.

Fall crops looking strong
9.24.10
Fall harvest has begun in the mid-Michigan area and reports are very positive from our customers. As one of the few agricultural lenders in the state, we understand agribusiness and we'd love to partner with you. Call one of our knowledgeable ag lenders for your next line of credit.

Relay for Life is August 19 - 20
8.12.10
The Union Bank team is warmed up and ready to go! The Barry County Relay for Life event kicks off Friday August 19 in a new location at the Barry County Expo Center. Come cheer on the UB team and over 50 other teams as we combine our efforts to "give the boot to cancer" (this year's theme). For more information visit http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11GL?fr_id=29901&pg=entry

Community Appreciation Day August 21
8.6.10
Thanks for joining us at a fun-filled Community Appreciation Day on August 21. A great time was had by all. Lake Odessa, we appreciate you and your families!

New Phishing E-mail Circulating
7.2.10
There is a new phishing e-mail currently circulating that claims to be from the FDIC and that your bank has failed. This e-mail is not from the FDIC and has no connection to Union Bank. DO NOT click on the link in this e-mail as it could lead you to a bogus website that will attempt to steal personal information or download malicious software. Simply delete the e-mail.

The text of the e-mail reads as follows:

Subject: you need to check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage

You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account.
Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets.

You need to visit the official FDIC website and perform the following steps to check your Deposit Insurance Coverage…

New Regulation Will Make Changes to Your Bounce Protection Service
6.1.10
Bounce Protection was designed to provide our account holders with peace of mind in case of an emergency. For many of our account holders, this is a valued safety net offering flexibility and protection from the potential embarrassment of insufficient funds and the associated merchant fees. However, because of a change in government regulations, the automatic Bounce Protection service you currently have on your account, covering everyday debit card purchases and ATM transactions, will be discontinued as of August 15th. If you want to keep this service available to you in case of emergency, you will need to specifically request that it be continued on your account. More information about this change and your choices will be forthcoming.

Our offices will be closed for Memorial Day
5.26.10
All Union Bank offices will be closed on Monday, May 30, in honor of Memorial Day. Please utilize our ATM's, telephone and online banking services over the weekend.

e-Statements Now Available Through Net Express
5.21.10
As you know, we’ve been busy this spring upgrading and consolidating our electronic banking services. The latest changes have brought electronic statements right into the Net Express portal. Now you can enjoy the same security and efficiency of our old e-statements, with even more convenience. You have only one user name and password to remember and all of your account information available in one place.

Each month, you will receive an e-mail telling you your statement is available to view. You then will have the option of either logging in directly from the e-mail, or logging into the Net Express website to view your statement and all of your account information.

To begin receiving e-statements through Net Express, simply log into your Net Express account and click on the new tab titled “e-Docs.” That will take you directly to the enrollment screen. Follow the very simple instructions and you will be all set in seconds.

Join us for Girls' Night Out!
5.21.10
Come to downtown Lake Odessa on Thursday, June 9, from 4 to 9 p.m. for the annual Girls' Night Out. This year's event is bigger than ever. Be sure to stop by our booth in front of the main office to see a new fashion line and register to win a $100 gift certificate. Learn more on Facebook - search Lake Odessa Girls Night Out.

Help Us Go Greener!
5.11.10
Union Bank has enhanced the processing of transactions conducted at the teller line in an effort to become more economically friendly while offering more benefits to our customers.

How does this change affect Union Bank customers?
Your loan/deposit transactions will now be scanned at the teller window; transactions will immediately post to your account and will be available to view through Net Express.

This new feature reduces the use of paper documents used in a transaction. Customers’ deposit/loan documents will be replaced with virtual documents. These document images will appear differently on the monthly statements.

Benefits for customers:
• Transaction will post to accounts immediately
• Transactions will be available to be viewed on Net Express faster.
• You can also view your statements online through Union Bank’s e-Statement program. Please ask a teller or customer service representative how to sign up for e-Statements today!

Happy Mother's Day!
5.7.10
From everyone at Union Bank, we wish you a happy Mother's Day and a wonderful weekend.

It's a Proud Day to be an American
5.2.10
Today we remember the victims of 9/11 and give thanks for our service men and women who protect our freedom. Congratulations on a successful mission.

Earth Day is April 22
4.21.10
In honor of Earth Day, how about eliminating your paper statements? If you're already a Net Express online banking user it's easy to switch to eStatements. Just click on the eDocs tab to enroll after you've signed on. That's it!

Closed Good Friday 12 to 3 p.m.
4.20.10
Our offices will be closed from 12 noon to 3 p.m. on April 22 in observance of Good Friday. Please utilize our electronic services during that time. Have a wonderful Easter weekend.

Easter Egg Hunt in Lake Odessa
4.5.10
Wow! Over 400 kids hopped on out to Lake Odessa for some Easter fun at the Lakewood Area Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 3. They enjoyed a huge Easter egg hunt with lots of prizes. Four lucky kids won new bicycles, one of which was sponsored by Union Bank. It was a great time for the whole family!

Database Conversion is Complete
2.22.10
Thank you for your patience this month as we converted our database and upgraded our online banking services. We are happy to report the conversion process went very smoothly! We hope you enjoy the improvements to our systems.

Dahms Honored by Lakewood Chamber
1.25.10
Union Bank Executive Vice President Suzanne Dahms was honored recently by the Lakewood Area Chamber of Commerce with their 2009 Community Leadership Award.

The award is given to an individual who has exhibited strong involvement with the Chamber and a high degree of community interaction. Suzanne has displayed significant involvement in the betterment of the Lakewood business community by exhibiting the highest levels of honesty and integrity in all of her community activities. She is involved in Chamber projects & community events, consistently shows selfless initiative, motivation and above all, leadership in action.

Congratulations Suzanne!

UB Customers Receiving Fraudulent E-mail
1.4.10
We have received notification that some of our customers have received an email this morning with the following information in it. This is an email scam and does not have anything to do with the Net Express upgrades that will be taking place later this month. If you received the email, delete it immediately and do not click on the link that was included on the email.

Union Bank will never send you an email with a link to update information. If you ever receive such an email or have any questions concerning the validity of any email from Union Bank, please contact us immediately at 616-374-3278.


“Dear Customer.

Because we care about your security, we are contacting you to informed you that your online banking access has upgraded new security measure against online fraudulent activities. We Advise you to fill your online Access Agreement and complete this process.

Due to this we advice you to go through Union Bank security measure by following the link below, http://www.ubmich.com/

Please do not respond by e-mail to this message. E-mail replies to this message are routed to an unmonitored mailbox.”

Hand in Hand...Together We Can!
1.1.10
Our holiday community food drive was a big success! Union Bank customers and employees donated over 1,200 non-perishable food items to local food banks. Thanks for helping us do our best to help our communities and make the holiday season a little brighter for those in need.

Food collected was donated to these charities:
Lake Odessa: Manna’s Market of Woodland and Lakewood Community Council Services
Freeport: Love, Inc. of Hastings
Hastings: Eagle’s Choice Mission
Mulliken: Mulliken Methodist Church Food Bank
Pewamo: First Christian Food Bank in Muir
Westphalia: Clinton County Food Bank

Thanks for Joining Us on the Holley Trolley
12.11.09
Over 90 people braved the cold and joined us on the Holley Trolley December 10 on a trip to Freeport and our Freeport branch. Our guests enjoyed a tour of the Freeport Historical Society and then headed to the branch for refreshments and cookies. Everyone had a great time. Thanks again!

Required Disclosure Regarding Regulation GG
12.1.09
New government regulations (Reg GG) require that all financial institutions provide notification to our business customers that they must comply with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act. This notice is available to all business customers and is not a direct reflection on any specific account activity. It does not affect any non-business accounts at all.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Act (Reg GG) prohibits Union Bank from processing restricted transactions through any of our business accounts or relationships. These restricted transactions include transmittal of any credit, funds or proceeds that any person in the business of betting or wagering knowingly accepts, in connection with the participation of another person in unlawful Internet gambling. It includes credit or the proceeds or the extension of credit (including through credit cards); electronic fund transfers; or a check, draft or similar instrument that is drawn on or payable at or through any financial institution.

For additional information on Reg GG please visit the Federal Reserve website at www.federalreserve.gov.

Lloyd Cunningham Elected Chairman
11.9.09
Union Financial Corporation is pleased to announce that Lloyd Cunningham has been elected Chairman of the Board.

As Chief Executive Officer of Specialty Industries of Sunfield since 1989, Mr. Cunningham is an accomplished business leader. He manages overall operations of the company, which is primarily involved in the feed, grain and flour milling industries. He also farms 350 acres in the Lake Odessa area. Lloyd has been an active member of the UFC Board since 1996. He has served on several committees and is very knowledgeable about the operations of Union Bank and about the banking industry in general.

Lloyd lives with Diane, his wife of 37 years, in Lake Odessa. They have two children and four grandchildren.

The change in leadership was made in preparation for the future retirement of previous Chairman Bill Bulling in 2010. Mr. Bulling is approaching mandatory retirement age and wishes to spend more time traveling with his family, so he has passed the torch to Mr. Cunningham. Mr. Bulling joined the board in 1983 and assumed the chairmanship in 2002.

“The bank greatly appreciates Mr. Bulling’s guidance and wisdom during his chairmanship and we thank him for his leadership over these many years,” said Union Bank President and CEO Cortney Collison. “We also look forward to continued success under Mr. Cunningham’s leadership in the years to come.”

Fraudulent E-mails Claiming to Be From the FDIC
10.27.09
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has become aware of e-mails appearing to be sent from the FDIC that are asking recipients to download and open a “personal FDIC insurance file” to check their deposit insurance coverage. These e-mails are fraudulent and were not sent by the FDIC. The FDIC is attempting to identify the source of the e-mails and disrupt the transmission.

Currently, the subject line of the fraudulent e-mails includes the wording “check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage.” The e-mails state: “You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets.”

The e-mails ask recipients to “visit the official FDIC website” by clicking on a hyperlink provided, which appears to be related to the FDIC and directs recipients to a fraudulent Web site. The Web site includes hyperlinks that appear to open forms. However, it is believed that clicking on the hyperlinks will cause an unknown executable file to be downloaded. While the FDIC is working with the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) to determine the exact effects of the executable file, recipients should consider the intent of the software as a malicious attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to online banking services or to conduct identity theft. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the Web site or download the executable files provided on the Web site.

Hastings Art Hop
9.28.09
Thanks for joining us at the Hastings Office Sept. 25 for the Hastings Art Hop. Over 50 people enjoyed the fantastic works of local artist Lindsey Johnson and chatted with UB staff. The Art Hop is a great community event that Union Bank is proud to host and support.

Class Act Bowling
9.15.09
We had so much fun bowling this month, let's do it again! We'll meet at the Lakeview Lanes in Lake Odessa, October 15 at 12:30 p.m. Lunch, bowling and fellowship all included for the low cost of $3.50. See you there!

Drive In Movie Night a Success
8.10.09
Over 300 moviegoers braved rainy weather to join us at the Barry County Expo Center on August 7 for a drive in movie. UB staff handed out Frisbees, candy and slushies to the many children in attendance. Frisbees were flying everywhere!

All proceeds from the event were donated to the Barry Community Foundation’s Next Generation Fund. UB offers many thanks to the volunteers from the Foundation and Muzic on the Run who presented the movie despite inclement weather.

Looking forward to next year!