Indiana's Largest Privately-Owned Bank
Item
Title
Indiana's Largest Privately-Owned Bank
Identifier
SN.01.186
Subject
Michael Schrage, Marketing, Advertisements
Text
Headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, Centier Bank is a 118-year old independently owned and operation financial institution. Managed by four generations of the Schrage family, Centier Bank has built lasting partnerships through a network of world-class service experiences with families and businesses throughout Indiana.
Centier Bank has maintained a longstanding tradition of being owned and operated by the Schrage family. The bank's current president and CEO and fourth generation to lead the bank, Michael E. Schrage, has managed the bank for the past 41 years. He has made a personal commitment to local communities that the bank will remain independent and "Not For Sale" for years to come.
Local Decision Making
As a NWI headquartered bank, Centier provides local underwriting services that gives the bank a competitive edge on response times and streamlined lending services. In addition, the bank operates a local call center, located in Merrillville, Indiana, to handle both personal and business inquiries. Management consists of a growing board of directors that is comprised of trusted Indiana business leaders and community servants from every region they serve.
"Our board of directors consists of an outstanding group of professionals with knowledgeable, diverse, and driven leadership," stated Schrage, "it is because of Centier's board of directors, associates, and clients that Centier remains the 'bank of choice' preserving independent community banking in Indiana."
Team Leadership
Centier Bank places a strong emphasis on team leadership. In 2013, Centier coordinated a joint call effort between retail branch managers and its new small business lending division. The result is a comprehensive call program, which consists of a cross-functional, unified team of about 15 seasoned bankers who provide proactive outreach to small businesses around the state.
The purpose of Centier's dynamic and personalized service is to provide clients and prospects with the very best in banking. The result, says Schrage, is a deeper understanding of business needs. "We ask probing questions that engage our bankers in the process. The result is an exchange of ideas that develop, enhance, and foster business relationships. Our efforts have resulted in approximately $75 million in small business loans outstanding," Schrage said.
Stability & Growth
Currently, Centier Bank services 46 retail banking locations in more than 25 Indiana communities, including Business Banking Centers in Fort Wayne, Merrillville, Mishawaka, Lafayette, and Carmel. With more than $2.2 billion in assets, Centier remains well capitalized by all regulatory standards and is on track for growth and expansion.
This past year, the bank experienced significant retail branch growth with the addition of retail services at Cedar Lake Strack & Van Til's and Hammond Van Til's. The bank also celebrated the grand opening of two newly constructed branches, Crown Point Downtown, which underwent a complete remodel and expansion, and Valparaiso South, a newly constructed branch relocated just two blocks west of its former space on the corner of Route 30 and Hwy 2.
Expansion to New Markets
In 2014, Centier is planning to expand even further, with two additional new branches in Lafayette, and new construction on full-service banking centers in Mishawaka and Carmel, "Our business plan has always included retail branches in St. Joseph, Hamilton, and Tippecanoe counties," Schrage stated. "A key differentiator in banking with Centier is our personalized service, particularly in commercial banking, and businesses in these regions have responded well to us. Soon, they will have even more options from a full-service branch to address their personal and business banking needs."
#1 Mortgage Lender
In the past 24 months, housing markets experienced an economic resuscitation and to accommodate this growth spurt, Centier expanded its lending division by nearly double. The bank continues to see an extremely active residential mortgage market and has already helped 964 customers purchase or refinance their mortgages on more than $147 million of home loans in 2013.
"Consumers are ready for a new start, and many of them are starting with a new place to live," stated Schrage. "Our lenders and underwriting teams are working hard to get families into homes," Schrage said in reference to the bank's growing mortgage lending division, which has oriented over $400 million in new first mortgages in the past two years. He expects to generation an additional $500 million in mortgages over the next two years, in support of homeownership.
The Best in Banking
Personalized service is what sets Centier apart from its competition, because quite simply, Centier employs the best in banking, from world-class service tellers to its board of directors. In addition to its strong financial performance, Centier was named among the top "Best Places to Work in Indiana" by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for the seventh consecutive years. Previous placement: 2007-10th place; 2008-5th place; 2009-4th place; 2010-1st place; 2011-3rd place; 2012-4th place; 2013-3rd place.
Lending the Way in Social Media
Social media has opened the doors even wider for a community bank like Centier. Since debuting their Facebook page just two years ago, they have generated over 10,500 likes. Recently, the bank ranked among the top five Community Bank Leaders in Social Media by the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). These rankings, which were the first of their kind, highlight the community bank social media trailblazers among the financial industry.
Centier Bank was chosen based on their engagement with fans and followers, the content distributed on their social media platforms, the number of fans and/or followers they have, and the frequency of posting new content . Social media has become an integral part of the company's most effective communication channels and provides followers the opportunity to give feedback and effect change in products and services.
"We see social media as a unique channel for communicating with our customers and strengthening ties with both our customers and community," stated Schrage. "The face of banking is changing ,and we feel that direct communication is the best way to circulate your message. As we prepare for the future, we will continue to utilize social media channels to share the Centier story and inform our growing client base of all of our future plans."
Centier Bank has maintained a longstanding tradition of being owned and operated by the Schrage family. The bank's current president and CEO and fourth generation to lead the bank, Michael E. Schrage, has managed the bank for the past 41 years. He has made a personal commitment to local communities that the bank will remain independent and "Not For Sale" for years to come.
Local Decision Making
As a NWI headquartered bank, Centier provides local underwriting services that gives the bank a competitive edge on response times and streamlined lending services. In addition, the bank operates a local call center, located in Merrillville, Indiana, to handle both personal and business inquiries. Management consists of a growing board of directors that is comprised of trusted Indiana business leaders and community servants from every region they serve.
"Our board of directors consists of an outstanding group of professionals with knowledgeable, diverse, and driven leadership," stated Schrage, "it is because of Centier's board of directors, associates, and clients that Centier remains the 'bank of choice' preserving independent community banking in Indiana."
Team Leadership
Centier Bank places a strong emphasis on team leadership. In 2013, Centier coordinated a joint call effort between retail branch managers and its new small business lending division. The result is a comprehensive call program, which consists of a cross-functional, unified team of about 15 seasoned bankers who provide proactive outreach to small businesses around the state.
The purpose of Centier's dynamic and personalized service is to provide clients and prospects with the very best in banking. The result, says Schrage, is a deeper understanding of business needs. "We ask probing questions that engage our bankers in the process. The result is an exchange of ideas that develop, enhance, and foster business relationships. Our efforts have resulted in approximately $75 million in small business loans outstanding," Schrage said.
Stability & Growth
Currently, Centier Bank services 46 retail banking locations in more than 25 Indiana communities, including Business Banking Centers in Fort Wayne, Merrillville, Mishawaka, Lafayette, and Carmel. With more than $2.2 billion in assets, Centier remains well capitalized by all regulatory standards and is on track for growth and expansion.
This past year, the bank experienced significant retail branch growth with the addition of retail services at Cedar Lake Strack & Van Til's and Hammond Van Til's. The bank also celebrated the grand opening of two newly constructed branches, Crown Point Downtown, which underwent a complete remodel and expansion, and Valparaiso South, a newly constructed branch relocated just two blocks west of its former space on the corner of Route 30 and Hwy 2.
Expansion to New Markets
In 2014, Centier is planning to expand even further, with two additional new branches in Lafayette, and new construction on full-service banking centers in Mishawaka and Carmel, "Our business plan has always included retail branches in St. Joseph, Hamilton, and Tippecanoe counties," Schrage stated. "A key differentiator in banking with Centier is our personalized service, particularly in commercial banking, and businesses in these regions have responded well to us. Soon, they will have even more options from a full-service branch to address their personal and business banking needs."
#1 Mortgage Lender
In the past 24 months, housing markets experienced an economic resuscitation and to accommodate this growth spurt, Centier expanded its lending division by nearly double. The bank continues to see an extremely active residential mortgage market and has already helped 964 customers purchase or refinance their mortgages on more than $147 million of home loans in 2013.
"Consumers are ready for a new start, and many of them are starting with a new place to live," stated Schrage. "Our lenders and underwriting teams are working hard to get families into homes," Schrage said in reference to the bank's growing mortgage lending division, which has oriented over $400 million in new first mortgages in the past two years. He expects to generation an additional $500 million in mortgages over the next two years, in support of homeownership.
The Best in Banking
Personalized service is what sets Centier apart from its competition, because quite simply, Centier employs the best in banking, from world-class service tellers to its board of directors. In addition to its strong financial performance, Centier was named among the top "Best Places to Work in Indiana" by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for the seventh consecutive years. Previous placement: 2007-10th place; 2008-5th place; 2009-4th place; 2010-1st place; 2011-3rd place; 2012-4th place; 2013-3rd place.
Lending the Way in Social Media
Social media has opened the doors even wider for a community bank like Centier. Since debuting their Facebook page just two years ago, they have generated over 10,500 likes. Recently, the bank ranked among the top five Community Bank Leaders in Social Media by the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). These rankings, which were the first of their kind, highlight the community bank social media trailblazers among the financial industry.
Centier Bank was chosen based on their engagement with fans and followers, the content distributed on their social media platforms, the number of fans and/or followers they have, and the frequency of posting new content . Social media has become an integral part of the company's most effective communication channels and provides followers the opportunity to give feedback and effect change in products and services.
"We see social media as a unique channel for communicating with our customers and strengthening ties with both our customers and community," stated Schrage. "The face of banking is changing ,and we feel that direct communication is the best way to circulate your message. As we prepare for the future, we will continue to utilize social media channels to share the Centier story and inform our growing client base of all of our future plans."
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