County National Bank

Contact: Randy Tate, officer w/County National Bank

Phone: 517-439-6121

Listing Price: $179,900

Description: Newer (1998) 3 bedroom, 2 bath country home with 2,160 sq. feet, situated on 3.55 acres. In-ground swimming pool, large pole barn, deck on the rear of house with great views of the rolling countryside. Brand new furnace, carpet and freshly painted rooms. Located at 983 Moore Rd., Quincy, Michigan 49082.

Craig S. Connor, President and C.E.O. of County National Bank, announced that the Board of Directors recently approved the promotion of John R. Waldron from V.P. Senior Loan Officer to Senior V.P. – Senior Loan Officer.

John has been with the Bank since 2002, following nearly 10 years with the U.S. Department of Treasury as a National Bank Examiner.   John has a BBA in Finance and a minor in Accounting from Western Michigan University. 

As Senior Loan Officer, John has been instrumental in the overall success of County National Bank. Remarkably, in spite of a very difficult economy, through John’s direction the loan portfolio has performed well in virtually every important measurement including growth, quality and customer satisfaction.   John has a great set of skills that include community involvement, financial analytics, and leadership abilities; these skills have helped John earn the respect of customers, fellow employees and the Board of Directors.

John is on the Board of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the Board of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra.  He has also been involved with the Ella Sharp Museum and the annual Jackson High School Ambassador Benefit.  

John and his family reside in the Jackson area.

John Waldron

Becky joined CNB in August of 2011 as HR Specialist and Staff Development, bringing over 22 years of human resources experience.  In addition to her HR responsibilities, Becky oversees the training for the Bank’s staff at their 11 locations. 

Becky has an associate degree from Northwest State Community College and is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR).  She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Outside of work, Becky serves as pianist for Cambria Baptist Church and co-manages the family owned and operated ministry of  The Gospel Barn.

Becky and her family reside in the Hillsdale area.

Becky Wiley

Five students of Jonesville High School art instructor, John Loveless, designed, built, and installed a fall display for the space in front of the CNB office in downtown Jonesville.  The bank and the art class formed a partnership a few years ago and their artistic creations have been proudly displayed in front of the bank ever since.  This year’s artwork incorporates two trees and a swing – the “swinger” will be changed out with the seasons.  Thank you to the art students and Mr. Loveless for their talent, creativity, and hard work – it looks great!

Pictured are students Tabitha Harden, Rikkie Sauber, CNB Head Teller Coreen Leonard, Lacee Mullins, Calin Deck, and Chelsea Vreeland.

A CNB Debit Card can also be used as a Credit Card

To use your CNB Debit Card as a Credit Card, it’s as simple as selecting Credit at the point of sale versus Debit.  One of the benefits is that you don’t need to remember or input your PIN – you just sign your name.  And, signature-based transactions do offer you the added protection of zero liability if there are any unauthorized purchases. 

You can use your CNB Debit Card as a Credit Card to make online purchases or even bill payments.  It’s easy and convenient, and you won’t need to rack up charges on your credit card – so, no surprises when that credit card bill comes! 

For security purposes, you can add your photo to your CNB card for free, and the cashier can quickly confirm your identity.  If you don’t have a CNB Debit Card and would like the ease of use and flexibility of one, please visit a New Accounts Representative at any of our office locations.

The use of  Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) has picked up steam locally and nationally in the last couple of years.  It’s a great option for health care coverage for both employers and employees.  HSAs allow some relief to employers from the ever-rising cost of employee healthcare coverage, and they allow employees to be in more control of their healthcare spending.

Health Savings Accounts are linked with a high-deductible health plan and allow users to grow their accounts with tax-free earnings.  HSAs are portable, which means you can take them with you when you change jobs.  Also, unspent contributions roll over from year to year – what you don’t spend, you save!

If you’d like to learn more about HSAs, click here.  Or you may contact one of our HSA experts at 888-322-1088.

In its continued efforts to recycle earnings back into the community through donations to worthwhile projects, County National Bank provided funding for the Hillsdale Community Library’s new Business Center.  The Business Center, located in the main area of the library, is a great resource for entrepreneurs to explore marketing data and gather information to start a new business or expand a current business. 

The Business Center is designed to help connect entrepreneurs with the resources they need from market research to business counseling. The online resource tools, Business Decision and Reference USA, are available to provide the needed information that can help a new venture get off the ground.  These data resources were secured through a grant that was awarded to the library by the Michigan Small Business Technology and Development Center.  CNB’s funding provided for the furniture, equipment, and computer needs.

County National Bank is excited that the Hillsdale Community Library’s Business Center is available at no charge to the community.  If you have any questions about the Business Center, or if you would like to make an appointment with SCORE, please contact LeAnn Beckwith, the library director, at 517-437-6472.

CountyNational Bank President and C.E.O. Craig S. Connor announced a recent Board approved officer promotion.  Kelly L. Lantis has been promoted to Commercial Credit Officer, and will assume this responsibility as of September 3, 2012.

Kelly Lantis joined CNB in September of 1988, as a senior management assistant for the credit department.  In September of 1991, Kelly was promoted to the position of Consumer Loan Officer.  In July of 1993, Kelly made the decision to continue her career with CNB in a part-time capacity, and has been part of the credit department since that time.  With her experience and education in this area, Kelly will provide strong leadership to the commercial staff as the Commercial Credit Officer, and will rejoin the staff as a full-time member.

Kelly is a graduate of Hillsdale College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in finance.  She has also actively pursued training and education over the years relative to her career with the Bank.

Kelly is an active member of Hillsdale Woman’s Club, Chi-Omega Sorority Advisory Board,Cambria Baptist Church, and Hillsdale Township as Treasurer.

Kelly, spouse Jeff, and her family reside in the Hillsdale area.

In its ongoing commitment to recycle a portion of earnings back into the communities served, County National Bank is proud to announce that they have provided the funding for a sign to promote the Hillsdale County Farmers’ Market.  The sign was designed by Concepts Creative Marketing and Design in downtown Hillsdale and was erected on the corner of Bacon and Broad Streets near the Hillsdale County Courthouse parking lot, where the Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday morning from May through October.  CNB recognizes what a great addition the Farmers’ Market is to downtown Hillsdale and is happy to support the group in this way.  Thank you to the Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners for also recognizing the community benefits of the market, and for hosting the market in the courthouse parking lot and approving the sign. County National Bank urges everyone to visit the market to see the great things that are grown and made right here!

With housing prices and mortgage interest rates at record lows, now is a good time to explore buying a new home.  Preparation is key to applying for a mortgage, so here are some tips from the American Bankers Association (ABA) to help you prepare for buying a home.

 Review your finances.  A detailed analysis of your financial situation is central to the decision to buy.  Calculate all of your monthly expenses, in addition to your potential mortgage payment, homeowner’s insurance, and taxes.  Factor in car payments, credit card debt, and living expenses.  Budget for home maintenance costs as well.  Aim to keep the mortgage payment and all other obligations below 40% of your monthly income and stay within your budget when considering homes.

Check your credit score.  Your credit history is an important factor when applying for a loan.  Most lenders rely on the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) credit score when reviewing your loan application.  The score reflects how well you manage your debt and is calculated using data from your credit report.  A lower credit score will result in a higher interest rate on your loan.

Organize your finances before you go to the bank.  Getting a loan requires a few different documentations including pay stubs, tax returns, and financial statements that are less than 60 days old.  Provide copies of additional monthly payments such as car loans, credit cards, and student loans.

Factor in closing costs.  Once you have found a home within your budget and agreed on a purchase price, there will be costs associated with closing the sale.  These costs can vary and will depend on the purchase price and whether a real estate attorney or title/escrow company will be involved in the transaction.  By law, lenders are required to give you a written estimate of closing costs within three days of accepting your loan application. 

The experienced staff at CNB can help you navigate the process and help you choose the best mortgage option for you.  To begin, you may complete a mortgage application online or if you need more information, please contact a CNB Mortgage Lender at 888-322-1088 or 517-439-0440.

Your credit score is a three-digit number that is used to predict how you will pay your bills. The score ranges from 300-850 and is calculated using your credit history information from your credit report.

When you make an application for credit, the creditor or lender uses your credit score to quickly make a credit/no-credit decision. This same decision can very well be made by simply viewing your credit report, but the credit score makes decision-making easier and less subjective.

While there are several different versions of the credit score, the most commonly used version is the FICO score. Developed by the Fair Isaac Company, the FICO score is used by many creditors and lenders to decide whether or not to extend credit to you.

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