News
Freddy Visits Emerson Elementary
Tue, Apr 10, 2012
On March 1st, Linda Stewart, Assistant Branch Manager in our Main Office, and Fortune Freddy visited the first graders at Emerson Elementary to kick off Reading Month.
Each year, the Ionia County Literacy gives one book and bookmark to each first grader throughout Ionia County and invites community members to read to the classrooms during "March is Reading Month."
The Ionia County Literacy is a non-profit organization and has been active since 1987. Their mission is to increase literacy in Ionia County by recruiting and training volunteer tutors and networking with community and business organizations. The volunteer tutors teach adults how to read or improve their reading skills. They work closely with the office of Michigan Works to ensure that those job seekers who are deficient in reading and/or math acquire the necessary skills to obtain or retain employment, as well as to help inmates improve their reading skills by recording books on tape for their children.
Colleen Lance, Darcie McKendry, Linda Steele, and Dan Mitchell also volunteered at Rather, Jefferson, and Woodland Elementary Schools.
Linda Stewart reading "The Magic Bus, Arctic Adventure"
Fortune Freddy with Mrs. Gifford's 1st grade
Southside Front Line Staff Members Make a Difference
Fri, Feb 3, 2012
Here is another great example of how our staff is the best in the business! The front line staff at our Ionia, Southside office helped to protect one of our customers from losing money in a scam. Because they took the time to listen to her when she came in to withdraw $2700 to send to her "grandson" who called her from Peru to say that he was in an accident and needed money to pay the deductible, they explained to her that it was most likely a scam and she should verify her grandson's whereabouts before she sent the money. As it turned out, we were right; her grandson was not in Peru but at work in Yplisanti. She was so relieved that our staff helped her avoid a potentially devastating situation that she wrote a commentary and submitted it to the local paper; The Sentinel-Standard thanking our staff for caring that much about her.
Congratulations to our Southside office and thank you for continually demonstrating to our customers that at Firstbank, we really are all about you!
Chili Dawg Challenge in Ionia
Mon, Nov 28, 2011
Chili Dawg Challenge Tops off Spirit Week in Ionia
October 27th was the night we put Sheila Ransom’s favorite chili up against all of the best chili cookers in Ionia. We didn’t win, but we had fun and we donated over $700 to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization to assist them in the cause of providing adult mentors for kids who don’t have a significant adult in their life.
To quote our favorite sports teams: We’ll be back next year!
Thank you all for your help this year.
Sheila Ransom won the internal chili dawg cook-off, then went on
to compete in the IBC Chili Dawg Challenge.
School Supply Drive in West Michigan
Tue, Oct 11, 2011
Firstbank - West Michigan held a school supply drive for Ionia Public Schools prior to the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year. Between August 8th and September 2nd, the branches in Ionia collected backpacks, notebooks, paper, pencils, markers, calculators, and more to benefit students of Boyce, Emerson, Jefferson, Rather, and Twin Rivers. On September 20th, two representatives of Firstbank delivered the items.
Sandy Branch, Southside Office Manager, and Debrann Hausserman, Vice President and Main Office Manager, on left, present the supplies for Ionia Public Schools. Among the recipients are Elementary Principals Matt Vogel, Dayna Ellis, Stacey Bovee, Mitch Mercer, and Darin Magley.
Firstbank Float Supports Ionia Homecoming
Tue, Oct 11, 2011
Ionia High School cheerleaders and mascot ride the Firstbank float in the Homecoming parade on Friday, October 7th.
West Michigan Fall Decorations
Wed, Oct 5, 2011
During our “Rake in Your Rewards” promotion all of our branches have been enjoying decorating and getting into the season! Our West Michigan locations showcase some of the beautiful colors of autumn.
West Michigan Food Drive
Wed, Oct 5, 2011
In 2010, Firstbank-West Michigan participated in a food drive to support local organizations. Through generous contributions from employees, customers, and local residents, Firstbank-West Michigan was able to raise 484.3 lbs. of food along with $483.88 to help buy necessities for those who need it.
Among the organizations were Belding Ministerial Association, Zion United Methodist Food Pantry, Saranac Community Church, Flat River Outreach Ministries Local Food Pantry, Love, Inc. of Hastings, and Mana's Market in Woodland.
Firstbank-West Michigan is proud to take donations again this year, beginning on Monday, October 24th, and ending Friday, November 11th. Stop by any of the Belding, Ionia, Lowell, Hastings, Woodland, or Sunfield locations to help contribute to a great cause!
Senior Scholars at the Free Fair Parade
Thu, Aug 11, 2011
Firstbank was a sponsor of the Ionia Free Fair again this year. We also took part in the parade, and had the senior scholars from Ionia High School ride on our float!
Ionia High School Senior Scholars on the Firstbank Float.
Ionia County Free Fair
Wed, Jul 27, 2011
The 2011 Ionia County Free Fair
Firstbank is a proud sponsor of the Ionia Free Fair which is held July 21st through the 30th. The fair which began in 1915 is a 10 day event which features a parade and many exhibits including animals, arts, and crafts, games, a midway full of rides and of course some great entertainment. Come and join us and be a part of Michigan's largest fair!
West Michigan Promotions
Fri, Jun 24, 2011
Kevin M. Meade Promoted to Senior Vice President at Firstbank-West Michigan
Ionia, Michigan ---- William L. Benear, President and Chief Executive Officer of Firstbank–West Michigan announced that Kevin M. Meade was promoted to Senior Vice President at the Bank’s Annual Organizational meeting of the Board. “Kevin joined the bank in 1998 as Vice President, Retail Administration with responsibility for branch administration, facilities and human resources. He currently supervises the bank’s Branch Administration Program and was designated an Executive Officer of the bank. Kevin has been instrumental in representing the bank in community activities and providing leadership guidance within our branch network system” commented Benear.
Meade is a graduate of the Graduate School of Retail Banking at the University of Wisconsin and has a Bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. He currently serves as President of the Ionia Housing Commission, Treasurer of the Ionia County Intermediate School Board, is a Director of the Ionia Downtown Development Authority and was recently appointed to serve on the Workforce Development Board serving Ionia, Montcalm, Gratiot and Isabella counties.
Firstbank-West Michigan is a diversified financial services company providing a wide range of banking services. Firstbank-West Michigan is a wholly owned subsidiary of Firstbank Corporation operating offices in Ionia, Belding, Hastings, Lowell, Sunfield, and Woodland, Michigan. Firstbank Corporation, headquartered in Alma, Michigan, is a financial services company using a multi-bank-charter format with assets of $1.5 billion and 51 banking offices serving Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
Debrann Hausserman Promoted to Vice President at Firstbank-West Michigan
Ionia, Michigan ---- William L. Benear, President and Chief Executive Officer of Firstbank-West Michigan, announced that Debrann Hausserman was promoted to Vice President at a recent meeting of the Board of Directors of the bank. Benear commented “Deb joined Firstbank–West Michigan as a teller in 1978 and has been promoted to a series of increasingly more responsible positions with the bank over the ensuing years. As Manager of the Main Office Lobby and the Dexter Office she is a key contributor to the bank and is very deserving of this recognition.”
Hausserman is a graduate of the Northern Michigan School of Banking in Marquette and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Ionia Area Chamber of Commerce. She is active at the bank with the American Cancer Society 24 Hour Relay and the bank’s annual United Way campaign.
Firstbank-West Michigan is a diversified financial services company providing a wide range of banking services. Firstbank-West Michigan is a wholly owned subsidiary of Firstbank Corporation operating offices in Ionia, Belding, Hastings, Lowell, Sunfield, and Woodland, Michigan. Firstbank Corporation, headquartered in Alma, Michigan, is a financial services company using a multi-bank-charter format with assets of $1.5 billion and 51 banking offices serving Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
Marilyn McDougall Promoted to Assistant Vice President at Firstbank-West Michigan
Ionia, Michigan ---- William L. Benear, President and Chief Executive Officer of Firstbank-West Michigan, announced that at the May meeting of the Board of Directors, Marilyn L. McDougall was promoted to Assistant Vice President at Firstbank-West Michigan. “Marilyn McDougall joined Firstbank-West Michigan in 1984 as a teller. She was promoted to increasingly more responsible positions on a regular basis over the ensuing years, and is very deserving of this recognition.” Marilyn has thirteen years of lending experience and is located at our Lowell Office as a Consumer and Retail Mortgage Lender.
Marilyn is a graduate of Robert M. Perry School of Banking and currently is the Board President of the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador for the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, Lowell Community Expo Committee Chairperson and Affiliate Member of Montcalm County Association of Realtors. Marilyn is actively involved in the Lowell community and is a volunteer at numerous Firstbank sponsored events.
Firstbank-West Michigan is a diversified financial services company providing a wide range of banking services. Firstbank-West Michigan is a wholly owned subsidiary of Firstbank Corporation operating offices in Ionia, Belding, Hastings, Lowell, Sunfield, and Woodland, Michigan. Firstbank Corporation, headquartered in Alma, Michigan, is a financial services company using a multi-bank-charter format with assets of $1.5 billion and 51 banking offices serving Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
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