News & Announcements
We want to bring your attention to the growing threat of fraud and the importance of being cautious in your financial transactions. Fraudsters are constantly evolving their tactics, making it crucial for you to stay informed and take proactive measures to protect yourself. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
Be skeptical: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of sending or accepting payment when the scenario seems unlikely. If you are selling something, don’t accept a check more than the selling price, and never deposit a check and send money back to someone. Never pay someone who insists you pay with cryptocurrency, a payment app or a gift card.
Protect personal information: Exercise caution when receiving unsolicited calls, emails, or messages asking for personal or financial information. Fraudsters can make a call, email, or text look like it’s coming from a legitimate business. Verify the legitimacy of the sender or caller before sharing any sensitive data. Shred sensitive documents, and whenever possible use e-statements.
Stay informed: Regularly monitor your accounts through our online banking or mobile app where you can also enable push notifications for your accounts and debit card.
Reduce use of checks: Check fraud is on the rise. Fraudsters are stealing mail and gaining access to checks. The checks are either replicated, or the fraudster will engage in “check washing”, a process by which the payee and amount of the check is wiped off the check itself. If you’re still paying bills with paper checks, most companies have online payment solutions available, or use the Bill Pay tool within our online banking or mobile app.
For businesses, Automatic Clearing House (ACH) allows money to be sent to vendors and employees through direct deposit, and wires are a convenient way to transfer money domestically and internationally. If checks must be mailed, drop them off directly at the post office.
Stay safe online: When selecting passwords or passphrases, remember longer is stronger. Never share passwords or passcodes with anyone. Keep your antivirus and anti-spyware up to date.
By staying informed, securing personal information, and implementing preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to fraud. Remember, prevention is key; stay vigilant and take the necessary steps to safeguard your financial well-being.
Shredding has become a necessity to protect your identity. As a service to our customers, we are providing a FREE shredding event on May 6th from 9am to noon. We invite you to shred up to three boxes of personal documents per customer. Simply bring them to the Hastings Branch, and watch as your papers are fed into a commercial grade shredding truck in our parking lot
Mark A. Kolanowski, President and CEO of Highpoint Community Bank, is pleased to announce the addition of Nathan E. Tagg and Chad R. Paalman to the board of directors for both Highpoint Community Bank and its holding company, HCB Financial Corp. Nathan and Chad will be filling vacancies created by the retirement of Archie A. Warner last December and the upcoming retirement of James H. Fisher this December.
Nathan E. Tagg is an attorney with Tripp, Tagg, and Storrs Attorneys at Law. Mr. Tagg has practiced in numerous counties throughout the State of Michigan in areas including estate planning, estate administration, business law, contracts, and succession planning.
Mr. Tagg is committed to giving back to his community, having served in numerous capacities with several organizations during his career. He is a founding member of the Barry County Junior Golf Association and the current President of its board of directors. He is the current Treasurer for the Barry County Bar Association, having served in that capacity since 2008. He served on the Spectrum Health-Pennock board of directors from 2012-2019 and was the Chairman of that board from 2018 to 2019. He served from 2008-2019 as the Vice President of the Green Gables Haven Domestic Violence Shelter. Mr. Tagg is a past President of the Hastings Kiwanis, past Vice Chairman of the Charlton Park Foundation, a former volunteer for the Woodland Athletic Association, former “Big Brother” for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hastings, served several years on the Barry County United Way Allocations Committee, and served as a member of the Barry Community Foundation Investment and Governance Committees.
Chad R. Paalman is CEO and co-founder of NuWave Technology Partners. Additionally, he is the co-founder of Prescott, a governance, compliance, and risk management firm where he also serves on the board of directors.
Mr. Paalman’s previous positions include Cisco System’s Small & Mid-market Advisory Board, founding member and past Chair of Cisco System’s Managed Service Provider (MSP) Advisory Board, CompTIA Partner Advisory Council, The Channel Company’s Xchange Advisory Board, The Channel Company’s NexGen Cloud Advisory Board, Lansing Community College & Career Quest Learning Centers IT Curriculum Advisory Boards, the Michigan FFA Foundation Board, Sparrow Hospital Foundation Board, both the Leadership Council & Past Chairman of the board of directors for the Small Business Association of Michigan.
“It is my pleasure to welcome Nathan Tagg and Chad Paalman to our boards of directors,” said Mark Kolanowski. “These individuals are talented in their respective fields, community focused and proven leaders. They will be tremendous additions to our organization.”
5-Star Highpoint Community Bank
Strength in Numbers
Hastings, Michigan – September 2022: Highpoint Community Bank, Hastings, Michigan has once again earned a top (5-Star) rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., the Nation’s Premier Bank Rating Firm. Bauer rates every federally-insured U.S. bank with the same strict standards. It’s all about the numbers, and in the case of Highpoint Community Bank, the numbers show strength. To earn Bauer’s Top Rating (5-Stars) Highpoint Community Bank must excel in areas of capital adequacy, profitability, loan quality and more. And it does. In fact, Highpoint Community Bank had earned Bauer’s top rating continuously since December 2009, (52 consecutive quarters), earning it the added distinction of “Exceptional Performance Bank”, a designation reserved solely for those banks that have earned this top rating for 40 (or more) consecutive quarters.
“Highpoint Community Bank has capital levels well in excess of what regulators consider to be ‘adequate’. That capital buffer is what will help Highpoint Community Bank weather any downturn that may head our way, just as it has in the past. Capital is King in the banking business,” notes Karen Dorway, president of BauerFinancial. “It’s what enables a bank to continue business as usual even as those around it struggle. What you want is a bank with high capital levels, strong loan underwriting and solid profits, and that’s what you have with Highpoint Community Bank. Neighbors and friends should feel secure in that.”
Established in 1886, Highpoint Community Bank has been a mainstay in this community for 136 years. Community banking is a business based on building relationships. To that end, current and future customers should feel free to contact Highpoint Community Bank in person, by phone or via its website: highpointcommunitybank.com.
Highpoint Community Bank: “Your Hometown Bank Since 1886.”
Bank and Credit Union data compiled from financial data for the period noted, as reported to federal regulators. The financial data obtained from these sources is consistently reliable, although; the accuracy and completeness of the data cannot be guaranteed by BauerFinancial, Inc. Since 1983, BauerFinancial has relied upon this data in its judgment and in rendering its opinion (e.g. determination of star ratings). BauerFinancial, Inc. is not a financial advisor; it is an independent bank research firm. No institution can pay for or opt out of a BauerFinancial rating. Star-ratings are all available for free at bauerfinancial.com.
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BauerFinancial, Inc. P.O. Box 143520, Coral Gables, FL 33114 bauerfinancial.com