By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
THUMB AREA — Independent Bank Corporation officials announced it will be closing the doors of six Michigan branches, three of which are located in the Thumb.
In Tuscola County, Independent Banks in Kingston and Unionville will close, and in Huron County the bank in Ubly will close.
A key aspect in making that difficult decision is the shift of the way customers do business.
The advent of on-line Internet banking has taken several customers away from brick and mortar bank facilities, explained Independent Bank Marketing Director Tricia Raquepaw, but none were returned.
“The closures are a ‘transactional response’ to banking procedures,” said Raquepaw.
“Between direct deposition and being able to pay bills on-line (in-person) transactions at banks is down about 40 percent. So operations are being consolidated.”
The closures are expected to cost the company about $300,000 – $400,000 a year in business, but save it around $1.6 million in expenses, according to a press release.
Each bank is scheduled to close on April 30.
“The employees at those banks have to opportunity to transfer to other branches where there are openings,” she said.
Three years ago Independent Bank closed it branches in Gagetown and in downtown Sebewaing, but the branch on M-25 outside of Sebewaing was expanded.
The remaining local Independent Bank locations will include Bad Axe, Caseville, Cass City, Pigeon and Sebewaing.
Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.