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TECUMSEH - In the process of redesigning its main office, United Bank & Trust has created a space that could be described as redefining banking itself.
Rather than just slapping fresh paint on the walls and installing the latest office furnishings, United started from scratch, questioning every traditional notion of how a bank interacts with its customers.
The result is a revolutionary interior that looks nothing like a bank branch, but a lot like a retail store. Unveiled in December, the redesigned main office boasts an interactive environment calculated to educate clients about their fmancial affairs and help them discover how the bank's products and services complement their lifestyles.
"We're not simply offering a new look," says John Wanke, president and COO. "We're introducing a whole new approach to banking. The perception most people have of banks hasn't kept up with changes in the business. We want our clients to realize that we've evolved from the bank they used to know."
New Financial Order
With roots in southeastern Michigan dating to the 1930s, United is especially keen to prove that its long-standing presence in the community doesn't prevent it from embracing change like a nimble start-up.
The main office in Tecumseh, about 30 miles southwest of Ann Arbor, is the hub of a banking network that includes 15 offices and 13 ATMs scattered throughout Lenawee County, as well as the neighboring communities of Saline and Dundee.
Over the past few years, United has greatly increased its...