United Bank & Trust Blog

The start of the new year provides me with the opportunity to plan and think about the year ahead. As we continue on the path of economic recovery, I just received this interesting overview from the Mortgage Bankers Association regarding the Deloitte 2012 Commercial Real Estate Outlook.

Here are a few important observations that I would like to point out:

• Commercial real estate appears to be on a “gradual but uneven recovery.”
• Any momentum experienced in the industry during the first half of 2011 was stalled due to weak macroeconomic fundamentals, mostly involving the European debt crisis and the U.S. budget woes.
• The future of Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities (CMBS) will play a significant role in the ultimate recovery of commercial real estate.

I encourage you to read the full MBA article to learn more, and please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or comments.

Happy Holidays everyone!
As we prepare to close 2011, we want to take a few minutes to reflect on the great things that happened, but we also want to prepare for a wonderful 2012! Many people are making resolutions about their physical health in the New Year, and as a community bank, we hope to help our communities with their financial health as well.

Our team at United has seen it all when it comes to personal finances. During these tough times over the past few years, we’ve all struggled in one way or another.

So, as we all get ready to ring in the New Year, your friends at United wanted to share with you a few of the best tips we have heard or we have given our clients over the years.

Always reconcile your accounts
Not only does this help you avoid overdraft fees, but it also ensures you are being charged correctly. We have seen clients have automatic debits come out of their accounts for many years before they notice it.

Avoid spur of the moment purchase
Take a day to think about the purchase- that way you won’t be pressured in to anything and you won’t have regrets later.

Avoid charging purchases
• You only need one universal credit card and the credit limit shouldn’t be any higher than what you can afford to pay off each month.
• Save for purchases instead of charging or financing them.
• Cash is king! If you use cash and shop with a budget it can help you avoid spending more than you have.

Tackle your debt
Avoid going further in to debt, and as you pay off items put that payment toward reducing the remainder of your debt or savings.

Take a course on finance
Dave Ramsey and other financial education courses can be a great way to get a jump start on a healthy financial future. If you have a spouse or significant other, this is a great thing to do together!

Save for retirement
• Don’t leave money on the table! Always contribute at least up to your employer’s match if they offer it.
• If you receive a raise or pay off a monthly payment, contribute a portion or all of that new income in to your retirement plan.

Have a financial plan
Meet with an advisor at least once per year to review your financial plan to monitor progress and adjust to any changes.

All of us here at United want to wish you a Happy New Year and financial success in 2012 and beyond!

United Structured Finance Company (USFC) was ranked as the number-one Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in Washtenaw, Livingston, and Lenawee Counties and number-three in the state of Michigan for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011 (in SBA 7a dollars approved) based upon information provided by the SBA. We financed more than $30 million in projects and helped to originate over 30 transactions in Michigan.

These results continue to demonstrate our commitment to supporting the communities we serve by helping small businesses succeed and retain jobs here in Michigan.

A recent transaction we completed provided an opportunity for a borrower, who specializes in fiber coating processes and engineering consulting for industries such as automotive and aerospace, to grow their business and hire additional employees. In addition, they export about 70% of their products overseas.

The borrower asked for additional working capital due to nearly $5MM in increased business. Because of this request, their existing lender ordered an updated appraisal of their commercial real estate which showed a reduced value and the lender was no longer willing to work with the borrower and demanded full payment.

Payroll for this borrower was on Wednesdays, and we knew the proceeding Monday that if we weren’t able to put a solution together for them by then they would have to close their doors and almost 60 employees would suddenly be out of a job.

Not only did we refinance the borrowers existing debt but we added about $800,000 for the borrower to have available as additional working capital for their sales growth.

This is yet another exciting example of the things we are able to do for our borrowers and communities by using the SBA loan programs.

If you are looking for expertise and solutions that can help you in business expansion financing, business acquisition financing, debt restructuring or SBA financing programs, contact United Structured Finance Company today.

See how we have helped other small businesses grow and succeed.

Are you tired of the new fees popping up at larger national banks? Not getting the type of service you deserve? May be it’s time to consider a new banking relationship. United Bank & Trust is extremely proud of the service and solutions we provide our clients each and every day because we continue to deliver on our promise to treat our clients differently than the big banks.

Why you should consider a community bank like United
As a community bank, United Bank & Trust has always been focused on supporting the local communities we serve. We reinvest locally deposited funds directly back into the local economy in the form of loans to local businesses, individual consumers and non-profit organizations.

How has United helped?
Already this year, United has helped 288 clients buy a new home, 301 clients refinance their mortgage and 20 clients build new homes. United has also secured 30 SBA 7a loans totaling more than $30M, the third most in the state of Michigan, helping small businesses succeed. In fact, the most recent loan secured for a client saved 60 jobs that would have been lost if our client could not have funded their revenue growth.

United’s commitment extends beyond the walls of the bank
United’s involvement extends beyond the walls of the bank into the community through individual co-worker volunteerism and company-wide support for those in need of help. In 2010, United Bank & Trust contributed $271,000 to 196 community organizations and non-profits. Our co-workers volunteered over 10,000 hours to 261 community organizations and non-profits.

So, if you are ready to make the switch to a bank that cares about its clients and your local community, contact a United banking office today or start the process online now.

Also, see what our clients have to say and how we have helped them.

First, we covered the U-M Cardiovascular Center, then the U-M Program for Neurology Research & Discovery, and finally let’s review the importance of C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital.

The leaders and best are about to get even better with the opening of the new University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital. This state-of-the-art facility will help us continue to evolve, transform and drive the future of children’s medicine and pregnancy and childbirth care. The goal is to deliver the best in patient and family-centered care for you and your family.

The new hospital, by the numbers:
• 12-story inpatient wing and a 9-story outpatient wing
• 1.1 million square feet
• 348 beds, including 50 private maternity rooms within the Women’s Hospital Birth Center and 46 private NICU rooms for families to celebrate the birth of their new babies
• 16 operating rooms and 2 interventional radiology rooms
• The new hospital features a breathtaking two-story lobby offering entertainment and other activities, opening into an outdoor garden park and reflection area
• In addition to the Ronald McDonald House located around the corner from the hospital, families will also be able to utilize a new in-hospital Ronald McDonald House offering 12 rooms with private baths for families needing short-term lodging to be near critically ill children
• The new facility has its own dining area with food available for both in-hospital dining as well as take-out for families and visitors to take home on busy days
• Families can take advantage of a peaceful meditation space, gift shop, family workout room and an indoor playground!
• Families and visitors will also find Welcome Assistants stationed just off the elevator on every floor to help visitors find their way to clinics and patient rooms

The existing facility will be used to benefit the entire Health System. The space will be used for additional faculty offices, clinic facilities, family space and much more to support the growing needs of UMHS patients.

And these are just a few more of the reasons why it’s important for United Bank & Trust to support Big House Big Heart and for the community to be part of making a difference!

Help raise more money for the Big House Big Heart run. Become a fan of United Bank & Trust on Facebook, and United will donate another $1 for every new fan!