Independent Banker - April 2022 - 56

Michelle Unthank
Administrative specialist at $628 million-asset
Legence Bank in Eldorado, Ill.
Time in community banking: 17 years
mobile apps, online
applications; and
technology in general
has drastically
improved. We live in a
fast-paced world with
immediate needs, and
we strive to provide
those services to our
customers.
The name
I took a leap of faith and made a career change
after managing a Dairy Queen for 13 years
and applied to Legence Bank in 2005. I began as a
receptionist with Legence and started learning how to be
a teller. I started fi lling in when one of our tellers needed
time off or they needed extra help on the weekends.
After six years, I transitioned roles and started
working in our eBranch. The eBranch handles our online
banking, mobile app and online account opening. I was in
this role for 10 months, and then I was off ered a branch
manager position at our Equality, Ill., location. I was
thrilled and accepted the position with open arms. I worked
at this location for one year and was then off ered the
branch manager position at a larger branch in Eldorado.
In 2015, I moved to another large branch
location in Harrisburg as the branch manager
and remained there for fi ve years.
In 2021, I moved to our corporate
off ice, where I am currently working as an
administrative specialist. I provide support
to our commercial, consumer and mortgage
lenders, while also helping with business
development to assist with the bank's growth.
Working for a community bank allows me
and other team members to treat our customers
like family and not a number. We are aff orded
the opportunity to develop relationships, not
just make a transaction. We take time to know
and understand our customers' fi nancial needs.
We are big supporters of the communities we
serve through volunteerism, giving through
sponsorships, donations, education with our
fi nancial literacy program and so much more!
We love supporting local businesses to
help our communities continue to thrive.
We may be a smaller bank, but we pride
ourselves on providing the same products and
services as the larger banks, while focusing on
relationship banking.
Since I began working in the financial
industry in 2005, there have been a
tremendous number of changes. There are
so many new developments in online banking,
54 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q April 2022
" community banking " speaks volumes when it
comes to Legence Bank. Working for Legence has never
been just a job to me; it is an opportunity to be part of a
family that cares about our communities and serves our
customers. It has taught me to treat others the same way I
would want to be treated, and I demonstrate this with our
customers daily. When I go to work, my focus is helping
our customers with any and all of their fi nancial needs. It's
such a fulfi lling experience to know they come to us for
guidance and help with achieving their goals. Giving back to
our communities is so important to me and our team. I love
watching the individuals, families and our communities
grow and prosper. Being able to make a diff erence and
positively aff ect someone's life is priceless.
" Working for a community
bank allows me and other
team members to treat our
customers like family and
not a number. "
-Michelle Unthank,
Legence Bank
Michelle
Unthank
(above and
bottom, right)
is active in her
community.
Independent Banker - April 2022

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