Unity Bank Demonstrates that Charity Begins at Home

(Clinton, NJ, April 29, 2010) - Some of the larger banking institutions can be quite impersonal. Maybe you just don’t feel a sense of belonging when you walk through the doors of your larger banking institution. Maybe you’ve applied for a loan and been denied, despite the fact that you’ve been with the same bank for many years. If this is true, you probably have no idea about community banking.

Most community banks pride themselves on remembering faces and knowing a customers’ names and even their children’s names. When you walk into a community bank, you usually get the feeling that those who work there are people who really care about their customers, their employees and their local communities. They sponsor Little League and recreation soccer teams. They have a presence at every street fair and Chamber of Commerce event. They collect food for Thanksgiving and Toys for Tots during the holiday season. And that may only scratch the surface of what they do to help out the communities in which they serve.

Community banks are able to make decisions about charitable giving more quickly because charitable requests don’t get caught up in a lot of “red tape.” Decisions regarding charitable giving can sometimes be made at the branch level, but if they need to be bumped up, at least the decision maker is easier to get to and…get an answer from.

Volunteering Time to Local Charities

Unity Bank, headquartered in Clinton, NJ, is well aware of what it means to have roots deep in community. Since its inception, Unity Bank’s mission has been to serve as an active participant in local communities served by its branches. Throughout the years, managers at every level have held positions in local civic organizations; however, in 2010 all employees are committed in their mission to serve through their participation in Volunteer Days.

Each Unity Bank employee is allotted one Volunteer Day on which to donate his or her time to a specific non-profit organization. The list of organizations includes Habitat for Humanity, The Red Cross, The United Way, The Food Bank of NJ, Home First Interfaith Hospitality, and Grow a Row Project Easton. Going forward with this program, Unity expects to broaden the list of non-profit organizations and to provide additional Volunteer Days so that employees can have a greater impact on serving the needs of local communities.

Community-Centered Initiatives

Other Unity Bank community-related and/or charitable initiatives include:

• Employee participation in community events, such as street fairs, bank-sponsored events and networking events
• Management involvement in civic organizations in the towns in which they work or reside. Approved organizations include Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, PTA/PTO, Boys/Girls Clubs and Boy/Girl Scouting
• Coffee with the President – throughout 2010, Mr. James Hughes, President of Unity Bank, will meet with customers in all 16 branches (four per quarter). Customers will have the opportunity to discuss the financial status of the bank, interest rates, lending criteria and any other concerns or questions they might have.
• Holiday food and financial donations to local food banks served by communities in which Unity Bank branches are located
• Donations to support needy families (i.e., those affected by home fires) in communities served by Unity Bank branches
Any Unity Bank employee can suggest a charity for sponsorship consideration. A committee comprised of middle/senior management carefully evaluates each suggestion to determine Unity’s ability to support the charitable organization and its level of support.

Helping Local Non-Profit Organizations through UCare - a Charitable Giving Program
Unity Bank has implemented a unique charitable giving program for its non-profit organization account holders as part of the bank’s commitment to help local communities grow.

Organizations enrolled in the UCare program are eligible to receive quarterly donations from its supporters who are also Unity account holders. Based upon certain requirements, bank donations are deposited directly into the organization’s account, at no cost to its supporters.

According to Unity Bank Senior Vice President/Director of Sales, Janice Bolomey, “All of Unity Bank’s charitable giving programs are designed to help local community activities and organizations. Whether it’s giving time through our Volunteer Days, material donations of food and clothing, or financial support, Unity Bank is having a positive impact on the communities we serve. We want to give back to and support the communities that support us and help us grow because that creates a win-win situation for all involved. Our charitable programs aren’t just about donating money – they’re about building partnerships in which each partner helps the other to grow.”

Unity Bank has branches in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, Union and Warren counties in New Jersey, and Northampton County in Pennsylvania. The bank began as First Community Bank in 1991 with two branches and thirty employees. It now has over one hundred and sixty employees.
For more information about Unity Bank, call Rosemary Fellner at 800.618.BANK(2265), or visit www.unitybank.com.
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Ilena Sorge

Administrative Assistant

Delia Associates

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