Stay up to date on all things Union Bank and elsewhere

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!

Now Offering e-Statements
6.11.09
UB now offers the efficiency and security of receiving your account statements by e-mail. You can view your statements anytime online and know that only you can access them. Plus, e-Statements are much healthier for the environment as they eliminate the printing process and save the fuel used to deliver a mailed statement to your mailbox.

See the e-Statements webpage under the Personal tab on this website for more information or to download an enrollment form.

Annual Meeting Held
5.14.09
The Union Financial Corporation Annual Meeting was held May 12 at the Ionia County Church of Christ. President and CEO Cortney Collison updated over 140 shareholders on the bank’s financial results in 2008 and shared plans for 2009.

UB Food Drives Successful
4.9.09
During the month of March, Union Bank sponsored two food drives to help those in need through difficult times in our local communities. An internal food drive was conducted with employees making donations and earning the right to dress casual on selected days. A customer promotion invited depositors to make food donations and receive an increase in interest rates on Certificates of Deposit.

Together, the two promotions raised an impressive 1,697 food items, which were then distributed to food banks and charities in each of our branch market areas. The vast majority of these donations were collected from Union Bank employees.

Suzanne Dahms, Executive Vice President and coordinator of the program stated “I am so proud of the generosity of our staff and our customers. This program has been amazingly successful and I’m pleased to say that we are making a difference in our home communities.”

Food collected was donated to the following charities in each market:
Lake Odessa: Manna’s Market of Woodland: 804 items
Hastings: Barry County Veterans Affairs: 142 items
Freeport: Love, Inc. of Hastings: 90 items
Mulliken: Mulliken Methodist Church Food Bank: 186 items
Pewamo: First Christian Church Food Bank in Muir: 83 items
Westphalia: Clinton County Food Bank: 65 items
Dimondale: The Pantrys of Dimondale Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church of Dimondale: 327 items

Hand in Hand, Together We Can!
2.27.09
Union Bank is sponsoring a local food drive to help those in need through difficult times. You are invited to participate by bringing non-perishable food items to your local branch. Through March, when you contribute non-perishable food items, you are eligible for an extra .40% on your rate for new or renewed Certificates of Deposit*. Plus, you can enter a drawing for a $100 grocery gift certificate when you stop in.

Food collected will be donated to these charities:
Lake Odessa: Manna’s Market of Woodland
Hastings: Barry County Veterans Affairs
Freeport: Love, Inc. of Hastings
Mulliken: Mulliken Methodist Church Food Bank
Pewamo: First Christian Church Food Bank in Muir
Westphalia: Clinton County Food Bank
Dimondale: The Pantrys of Dimondale Methodist Church First Presbyterian Church of Dimondale

*Penalty for early withdrawal. Limited time offer.

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Union Bank News, Fourth Quarter 09
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