News & Announcements

February 10, 2010

WARNING - Fraudulent Emails Circulating

ALERT – 2/10/10
We have recently been made aware that Macatawa Bank’s name is being used in a new Phishing email. A portion of the fraudulent email is shown below:

Dear Customer,

Macatawa Bank Corporation carrying out a major system upgrade. This upgrade became necessary following recent security threats. Consequently, in the next few days, you may notice temporary interruption when using online banking to access your account. To experience a smoother and more secure online banking, please update your information in our records. The link below will guide you through the process:

The e-mail is fraudulent, and recipients should not click on the link.

Clicking on links in such e-mails could enable the fraudsters to download malicious software into victims’ computers and steal passwords and other account identifiers.

Macatawa Bank will NEVER ask you to reveal your account information or password via email or over the phone.

If you have received a email similar to this or if you have already clicked on the link and provided your information, please contact Macatawa Bank immediately at 877-820-2265.

February 1, 2010

Macatawa Bank Wins National Award

Macatawa Bank Wins National Award for its Dave Ramsey Partnership,
Innovative Efforts to Improve Financial Literacy in West Michigan

Holland, Michigan, Macatawa Bank today announced it is been awarded the prestigious American Bankers Association (ABA) Community Bank Award, which recognizes community banks’ exceptional charitable commitments. Macatawa Bank was honored with a 2010 ABA Community Bank Award in the category of Improving Financial Literacy for the bank’s innovative partnership with Dave Ramsey.

Macatawa Bank was one of only seven community banks in the nation honored for outstanding leadership, from a field of well over 100 nominations. Recipients were selected based on the innovation, creativity and effectiveness of the bank’s approach to making a difference in its community.

The innovative Macatawa Bank / Dave Ramsey program was piloted with the renowned personal money management expert to increase financial literacy throughout the West Michigan community – from high school students to those in mid-life who are preparing for retirement. The new program was built from the ground up with the Ramsey Group and encompasses four key areas:

Since fall 2009, nearly 300 bank customers have signed up for a free Financial Peace University kit and 61 of the 62 area high schools are teaching the Foundations curriculum. Additionally, 30 Macatawa Bank employees enrolled in the first Financial Peace Workplace class. Participants in that initial 10-week course saved a combined $35,250 and paid off a combined $55,502 in debt.

“The severity of Michigan’s economic downturn continues to impact our customers. As West Michigan’s community bank, we saw a real opportunity to provide the public with a foundation for strong, lifelong financial habits. We believe that a financially smart and healthy community is a strong community, and we’re excited to continue to bring the Dave Ramsey program to our customers, employees, corporate partners and the community at-large.” said Macatawa Bank President and CEO Ron Haan.
The 2010 awards were announced at ABA’s National Conference for Community Bankers in Hollywood, Fla. on Feb. 23. The award winners will also be featured in an upcoming issue of ABA’s Community Banker magazine.
Ramsey will be returning to the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids in February 2010 with his Total Money Makeover program. Macatawa Bank is a sponsor of the event.

About Macatawa Bank

Headquartered in Holland, Mich., Macatawa Bank Corporation is the parent company for Macatawa Bank and Macatawa Bank Mortgage Company. Through its subsidiaries, the Corporation offers a full range of banking, investment and trust services to individuals, businesses and governmental entities from a network of 26 full-service branches located throughout communities in Kent, Ottawa and northern Allegan counties. Services include commercial, consumer and real estate financing; business and personal deposit services; ATMs and Internet banking services; trust and employee benefit plan services and various investment services. The bank is recognized for its local management team and decision making, along with providing customers excellent service and superior financial products.

About the American Bankers Association
The American Bankers Association brings together banks of all sizes and charters into one association. ABA works to enhance the competitiveness of the nation’s banking industry and strengthen America’s economy and communities. Its members – the majority of which are banks with less than $125 million in assets – represent over 95 percent of the industry’s $13.5 trillion in assets and employ over two million men and women.

January 27, 2010

Protect Yourself Against Fraud

ALERT 1/27/10: We have recently been made aware that the ABA’s (American Bankers Association) name is being used in a new phishing e-mail. The e-mail informs recipients that an “unauthorized transaction” has been charged to their account using their bank card. The amount of the transaction is listed, and recipients are asked to click on a link to review the transaction.

The e-mail is fraudulent, and recipients should not click on the link.

Clicking on links in such e-mails could enable the fraudsters to download malicious software into victims’ computers and steal passwords and other account identifiers.

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ALERT 11/12/09: Notification has been received from NACHA – The Electronics Payments Association telling us fraudulent emails are being sent to random individuals regarding rejected transactions. The emails appear to come from NACHA instructing recipients to click a link. Do Not Click The Link – viruses are associated with the link.

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Beware that Phishing scams are on the rise. Phishing is e-mail fraud where the criminal sends out very legitimate-looking e-mails that appear to come from well known and trustworthy sources like banks, and governmental offices in an attempt to gather personal and/or financial information from the recipient. Many times they simply request information or they may direct you to a website for you to verify information. Once they have your information they commit account fraud.

They mirror real names and real companies — Rather than create a phony company, they might use a legitimate company’s name and they use the look and feel of its website (including the color scheme and graphics) into the email.

Sometimes they appear to be “From” an actual employee — The “from” line or the text of the message (or both) could contain the names of real people who actually work for the company. That way, if you contacted the company to confirm whether “Jane Doe” truly is “VP of Client Services,” you’d get a positive response and feel assured.

Criminals are sophisticated and they create URLs that “Look Right” — The email might include a convenient link to a website that looks legitimate, where you can enter the information they want to steal. But in reality the website will be a copy-cat — a “spoofed” website that looks like the real thing. In some cases, the link might lead to select pages of a legitimate website — such as the real company’s actual privacy policy or legal disclaimer.

More often then not, they include an “Urgent Message” — Many criminals use fear to trigger a response, (threatening to close your account, etc.) if you don’t respond and phishers are no different. In common scams, the emails warn that failure to respond will result in your no longer having access to your account. Other emails might claim that the company has detected suspicious activity in your account or that it is implementing new privacy software or identity theft solutions.

Social Engineering is the attempt to manipulate or trick a person into providing confidential information to an individual that is not authorized to receive such information. This can be done in a number of ways, especially through email and phone calls.

NEVER reveal your account information or password to anyone requesting it in an email or over the phone – not even individuals claiming to be from Macatawa Bank or other Governmental offices. Macatawa Bank would NEVER ask for that information.

Avoid opening email attachments received from unknown senders, even though they may look legitimate, they may contain viruses or other malicious computer programs.

If you suspect anyone is trying to obtain information without proper authorization, please contact your local banking office or the Security Response Team at 616.494.1408.

WARNING: 2010 Census Cautions from the Better Business Bureau


Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers – by Susan Johnson

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is – how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.

While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, YOU DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit http://www.bbb.org

October 8, 2009

Important Disclosures Regarding the Guarantee Program

The standard insurance amount of $250,000 is in effect through December 31, 2013. On January 1, 2014, the standard insurance amount will return to $100,000 per depositor for all account categories except IRAs and other certain retirement accounts, which will remain at $250,000 per depositor.

Macatawa Bank is participating in the Transaction Account Guarantee Program. Coverage under the Transaction Account Guarantee Program is in addition to and separate from the coverage available under the FDIC’s general deposit insurance rules.

Funds held in non-interest-bearing transaction accounts are insured in full by the FDIC. This is in effect through June 30, 2010. Funds held in NOW accounts, which are interest-bearing transaction accounts earning 0.50% or less, and Interest on Lawyer’s Trust Account (IOLTA) / Interest on Trust Account (IOTA) accounts are also insured in full by the FDIC through June 30, 2010.

For additional information regarding FDIC Insurance Coverage please visit http://www.fdic.gov/edie/

September 30, 2009

Macatawa Bank Expands Partnership with Dave Ramsey

Macatawa Bank Expands Partnership with Dave Ramsey
Offers Services to Customers, Businesses and Employees

Holland, Michigan, September 30, 2009 – As part of its ongoing commitment to promote financial wellness, Macatawa Bank Corp. (NASDAQ: MCBC) will now offer financial expert Dave Ramsey’s commonsense approach to money management to customers, businesses and employees in Ottawa, Kent and Allegan counties.

The Holland-based community bank is expanding its partnership with Ramsey to offer financial products, services and workshops based on his Financial Peace model. Ramsey is a personal money management expert, popular author and radio personality of the nationally syndicated “The Dave Ramsey Show.” The new offerings represent a significant expansion of the relationship between the Dave Ramsey Group and the Bank.

Additionally, Macatawa is currently sponsoring and underwriting the expense and placement of Foundations in Personal Finance into 61 area high schools. This approved curriculum was developed by the Ramsey organization specifically for high school students and the financial challenges they face.

Beginning in October, Macatawa Bank will offer:
• Ramsey’s popular Financial Peace University, a 13-week personal finance education course, to new and existing customers
• Financial Peace Workplace, customized on-site workshops for businesses with 200+ employees
• Financial Peace Workplace for Macatawa Bank’s 400+ employees in its 26 full-service branches and corporate headquarters in Holland

“Macatawa Bank is committed to promoting financial literacy and wellness,” said President and CEO Ron Haan. “We are very pleased to expand our relationship with the Dave Ramsey team in a program that will bring his popular financial and money management courses to more people in our area.

“There has never been a better time to refresh or learn the principles of saving, investing, credit and budgeting. With the help of Dave Ramsey’s proven approach, Macatawa Bank is able to offer a strong financial literacy education program.”

Macatawa Bank will offer three Financial Peace University series beginning the week of Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at:
• Holland in the community room of its 141 E. 8th Street branch on Mondays beginning Oct. 5
• Grand Rapids in the training room of its 3177 Knapp Street NE branch on the East Beltline on Tuesdays beginning Oct. 6
• Wyoming in the training room of its 5271 Clyde Park Ave. branch on Tuesdays beginning Oct. 6.

Financial Peace University will be held over 13 weeks and will feature video lessons by Dave Ramsey, as well as classroom discussion and interaction. The course is designed to teach families how to get out of debt, stay out of debt and build wealth. To date, more than 750,000 people across the United States have graduated from an FPU course. The average attendee will eliminate approximately $5,300 in debt and save $2,700 during the three-month period.

The program is free to new customers who open a Macatawa Bank Freedom package, which features a Freedom Goal 4 It savings plan and a Freedom checking account. Customers will also receive a lifetime membership to Financial Peace University, all books and course materials, including an audio CD library and a copy of Ramsey’s popular Financial Peace Revisited. The program is also open to existing customers who expand their current relationship with Macatawa Bank.

Financial Peace Workplace will be offered on-site to businesses with more than 200 employees, as well as to all Macatawa Bank employees. The multi-week course is designed to help educate employees on day-to-day financial issues. The course utilizes a curriculum specifically customized for the business that reinforces the employee-sponsored benefits.

Topics include budgeting, debt elimination, retirement planning, disability and long-term insurance options and related topics. It has a special goal-setting component authored by Zig Zigler, nationally known personal development sales trainer and motivational speaker.

Macatawa’s relationship with Dave Ramsey began in January when the Bank became one of the primary sponsors of his financial seminar on debt reduction and wealth building at the Van Andel Arena. He will return to Grand Rapids on February 25 with his Total Money Makeover program, with Macatawa Bank again sponsoring the event.

Macatawa took the second step in its partnership with Ramsey as students went back to school. The Bank is sponsoring Ramsey’s Foundations in Personal Finance at public, charter and private high schools in the three-county area. Macatawa Bank is the first in the Michigan to offer the curriculum free of charge to the schools.

The courses, which are aligned with state and national teaching standards, are designed to teach sound financial principles so students can avoid financial difficulties as they become adults. The curriculum focuses on:
• Saving and investing, including building a nest egg for college
• Credit and debt
• Financial responsibility and money management, including budgeting and checking accounts
• Careers and employment taxes
• Insurance
• Real estate and mortgages
• Philanthropy

About Macatawa Bank
Headquartered in Holland, Mich., Macatawa Bank Corporation offers a full range of banking, investment and trust services to individuals, businesses and governmental entities from a network of 26 full-service branches located throughout communities in Kent, Ottawa and northern Allegan counties. Services include commercial, consumer and real estate financing; business and personal deposit services; ATMs and Internet banking services; trust and employee benefit plan services and various investment services. The Corporation emphasizes its local management team and decision making, along with providing customers excellent service and superior financial products.

About Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey is a personal money management expert, an extremely popular national radio personality and author of the New York Times best sellers The Total Money Makeover, Financial Peace and More Than Enough. He is also host of “The Dave Ramsey Show” on the Fox Business Network. Through his proven plan, Ramsey helps people eliminate debt and credit cards, learn to budget, avoid bankruptcy, build wealth and find financial peace. Ramsey founded The Lampo Group, Inc. to provide financial counseling, through various means, to the public. More information is available at http://www.DaveRamsey.com.

June 11, 2009

If You're Happy And You Know It, Refer Your Friends!

Macatawa Bank is a true local, community bank that takes pride in knowing our customers personally and meeting their financial needs professionally.

If you are a Macatawa Bank customer and are happy with our service we invite you to tell your friends and family.

Refer A Friend Form

May 1, 2009

Macatawa Bank Wins Awards

Lighthouse Communities gave Macatawa Bank the Enterprise Partner Award

Enterprise Partner Award – Awarded to recognize companies and businesses that engage non-profit organizations expertise, resources and/or partnerships to exemplary results.

Enterprise partners are businesses in the Greater Grand Rapids that are very involved and interests, activities, services provided to develop community services and resources. Corporations that engage with non-profits through philanthropic contributions which have had exemplary results.

Macatawa Bank Wins Award for Promoting Financial Literacy

Holland, Michigan, March 27, 2009 – Macatawa Bank Corp. (NASDAQ: MCBC) has received an award from the Michigan Bankers Association for promoting financial literacy.

Macatawa Bank was recognized with a 2009 Financial Literacy Award from the MBA for “making a special effort to promote” financial literacy. The bank will be honored for its efforts during a special ceremony in May in Spring Lake.

“We recognize the importance of promoting financial literacy among our customers and are very pleased that the Michigan Bankers Association has acknowledged our efforts in this area,” said Phil Koning, President of Macatawa Bank. “I would like to applaud the efforts of Jorge Gonzalez, our Vice President of Community Development, and all his team for their hard work to promote a greater understanding of banking and financial services throughout the West Michigan community.”

Last year, more than 60 Macatawa bankers and staff presented eight financial literacy programs that reached more than 2,100 people in the community – including more than 1,000 children. These programs included:
• Personal Development Account Financial Literacy Program, which partnered with the Kent County Tax Credit Coalition to reach low-income residents. Macatawa Bank opened a fee-free savings account for each client who attended the 12-week program. The Bank matched 50 cents for every dollar saved by participants who successfully completed the program.
• Teach Children to Save Day. Macatawa Bank representatives traveled to a dozen West Michigan schools to teach financial literacy skills in a wide range of classrooms.
• Spanish Literacy Program. Four bilingual professionals served more than 300 Spanish-speaking clients last year. Outreach efforts included on-site classes, columns in local Spanish-language newspapers and radio interviews.
• Financial Literacy for Non-Profits. Macatawa Bank professionals provided on-site classes for a number of non-profits, including Habitat for Humanity, United Church Outreach Centers, Latin Americans United for Progress and others.

Additional programs reached out to middle- and high-school students, low-income residents and Junior Achievement participants. The Bank is currently working to develop a Spanish-language television program on financial literacy, among other ongoing outreach initiatives.

About Macatawa Bank
Headquartered in Holland, Mich., Macatawa Bank Corporation is the parent company for Macatawa Bank and Macatawa Bank Mortgage Company. Through its subsidiaries, the Corporation offers a full range of banking, investment and trust services to individuals, businesses and governmental entities from a network of 26 full-service branches located throughout communities in Kent, Ottawa and northern Allegan counties. Services include commercial, consumer and real estate financing; business and personal deposit services; ATMs and Internet banking services; trust and employee benefit plan services and various investment services. The Corporation emphasizes its local management team and decision making, along with providing customers excellent service and superior financial products.

March 10, 2009

5 Reasons To Use Us For A Loan!

1. We have great rates with a complete range of mortgage, home equity and consumer loan products.
2. It is easy to apply for mortgages and other retail loans with lenders conveniently located in nearly all of our 26 branches.
3. Our non-commissioned lenders are experienced professionals who will recommend what is right for you.
4. We avoid teaser rates and fine print – we focus on what is best for you in the long run.
5. According to an independent survey, 98% of our mortgage customers would recommend our lenders to a friend.

Call 877-820-2265 for the Retail Lender nearest you!

Member FDIC • Equal Housing Lender

March 10, 2009

7 Reasons To Switch!

1. We’re committed to your financial success.
2. We have local decision makers.
3. We have fair, honest pricing.
4. We’re strong supporters of our community.
5. When you call, a live, local person answers.
6. We have friendly, caring employees.
7. We want to help.