Members Only Info

Richard J. Barz, CEO of Isabella Bank Corporation, Named 2013 MBA Banker of the Year

The Michigan Bankers Association (MBA) has selected Richard J. Barz, CEO of Isabella Bank Corporation in Mount Pleasant as its 2013 MBA Banker of the Year.

“We are proud to honor Rick Barz as the MBA Banker of the Year. His dedication to the banking industry, his community and the MBA has been exemplary,” said Dennis Koons, President and CEO of the Michigan Bankers Association.

Each year, the MBA Board of Directors, made up of bank CEO’s from around the state, recognizes a banker as the MBA Banker of the Year based on their commitment to the Michigan Bankers Association, contribution to their bank, service to other banks and a strong record of community service.

Every year, more than 100,000 seniors in the state of Michigan will become victims of someone looking to take advantage of them. The Financial Services Round Table has recently released a model curriculum designed to train financial institution staff on fraud and financial exploitation of adults at risk.

Click here for details.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network this week issued an advisory to help banks identify tax refund fraud. The advisory lists several red flags on such fraud and provides guidance on when to file a Suspicious Activity Report.

ABA also offers a resource page on tax refund fraud that, among other things, can help ABA members identify mule accounts that facilitate such fraud and other illegal activities. Other resources include information on SAR filing and how to return funds to the Internal Revenue Service. Read the advisory.  Visit ABA’s tax refund fraud resource page.

MBA Endorsed Partner VerifyValid is a Finalist for Major Technology Innovation Award
MBA’s newest endorsed partner, VerifyValid, is one of five finalists in the Best Check Category of the Pymnts.com Innovation Project 2013. More than 500 companies were nominated and five were chosen, including VerifyValid. VerifyValid is a West Michigan based payment enablement company that allows a bank customer to make and receive check payments entirely online, utilizing a virtual lockbox and virtual remote deposit capture system.

To vote for VerifyValid click here. Learn more about VerifyValid here or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with VerifyValid or Matt DeWolf at the MBA at (517) 342-9070.

With nearly 80% of banks contributing data again this year, the MBA’s 2012 Compensation & Benefits Survey continues to be a leading resource of industry specific data. The survey encompasses overall compensation and incentive trends, provides the salary and bonus data on 97 specific jobs, and gives detail on eligibility and costs of 25 of the most sought for employee benefits.