Bank News

Cornerstone Sponsors 31st Annual Tennis Tournament

YORK--Cornerstone Bank will host its 31^st annual non-sanctioned tennis tournament August 10^th and 11^th at Levitt Tennis Courts next to York High School.

Entries will be limited to one single and one double.  The matches will be the best of three sets with a 12-point tiebreaker at 6-all.  There will be a super tie breaker if sets are split in lieu of a third set.

Registration forms are available at any Cornerstone Bank or click here to print the form.  The entry deadline is noon Wednesday, August 7^th.  Singles entry fee is $15.00 per division and doubles entry fee is $20.00 per team.

Pairings will be available after noon on Friday, August 9^th from Mandy Hengelfelt at Cornerstone Bank at (402) 363-7423 before 5 p.m. or you can visit our website.

Please call Mandy Hengelfelt at (402) 363-7423 for any further information.

UNL College of Business Administration Recognizes Holthus

LINCOLN--The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business Administration held its Advisory Board Annual Awards Luncheon on Friday, April 12. The awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments of business leaders and corporations in the state of Nebraska and the world.

Angie Muhleisen, president of the College of Business Administration Advisory Board and president and CEO of Union Bank and Trust Company, and Dr. Donde Plowman, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business Administration, presented the awards to the recipients. Muhleisen pointed out the significance of the award winners by connecting them with those from the past.

“Those honored here today join an impressive and long list of past recipients, including Cliff Hillegas, Howard Hawks and Warren Buffett to name a few,” Muhleisen said.

Kelly Holthus was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes those individuals for their outstanding leadership and time, energy and guidance provided throughout their career.

Holthus has been associated with Cornerstone Bank of York, Neb., since 1965 and was elected to his present position of chairman, president and CEO in 1977.

He has served as president of the American Bankers Association and the Nebraska Bankers Association, been a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber and chairman of the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce. He is currently treasurer of the York General Health Care Services and a member of the University of Nebraska Foundation Board of Trustees.

Holthus served as president of the York Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the York City Council, along with many other local, civic and philanthropic organizations.

He attended the University of Nebraska and is a 1970 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking.

Holthus and his wife, Virginia, live in York and have four grown children.

Other honorees included Delmar “Del” Lienemann Sr. of Lincoln; TD Ameritrade; Kimberly Rath of Lincoln; and Nancee Berger of Omaha.

The College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska­–Lincoln serves more than 3,500 students by providing undergraduate and master’s programs, and is the only Ph.D. granting business college in Nebraska.  Established in 1913, the college was a founding member of and accredited by the AACSB.  

Mobile Deposit Now Available

YORK--Cornerstone Bank announced that it has enhanced its Mobile Banking product by adding Mobile Deposit.  The new feature is available as of April 2^nd. 

Mobile Deposit allows customers to make deposits by simply taking a photo of the front and back of a check when using the Cornerstone Bank downloadable App. 

“This new feature is now available to all Mobile Banking Customers and no additional enrollment is required,” said Becky Stuhr, Electronic Banking Officer at Cornerstone Bank in York.  “We are excited to be one of just a few banks in Nebraska offering this technology.”

There are no additional fees included with Mobile Deposit; however standard message and data rates may apply.

“In the past Mobile Banking Customers have been able to view accounts, transfer funds and pay bills,” Stuhr said.  “Adding Mobile Deposit allows the customer’s phone to become a bank they can use when and where they want.”

A November 2012 Federal Reserve survey showed 28% of all mobile phone users and 48% of smartphone users had used mobile banking in the previous 12 months.  Twenty one percent of mobile banking users also reported using their phones to deposit checks.

Cornerstone Bank as of December 31, 2012, had $1.25 billion in assets and has 33 banking facilities in 24 communities along with 12 insurance locations.  At the present time Cornerstone Bank has banking facilities in the following communities in Nebraska: Albion, Aurora, Bartlett, Bradshaw, Central City, Clay Center, Columbus, Davenport, Geneva, Glenvil, Grand Island, Hampton, Harvard, Henderson, McCool Junction, Monroe, Polk, Rising City, St. Edward, Shelton, Stromsburg, Sutton, Waco and York.

Cornerstone Purchases Glenvil Credit Union

GLENVIL--Effective Friday, February 1^st, Glenvil Cooperative Credit Union will merge into Cornerstone Bank.  

Dave Bondegard, who is Vice President and Manager of Cornerstone Bank in Clay Center and Davenport, will also serve as Vice President and Manager of the Glenvil Facility. 

Kelly Holthus, President of Cornerstone Bank stated that he felt the Glenvil area would be a very good fit for Cornerstone.  With this addition, Cornerstone has 33 banking facilities in 24 communities and 12 insurance agencies in the 13 county area that it serves.  Cornerstone Bank has over $1.2 billion in total assets and is a wholly owned subsidiary of First York Ban Corp.

Cornerstone Bank Honors 54 at Recognition Dinner

YORK --On Monday, January 14, 2013, Cornerstone Bank held its annual Employee Recognition Dinner at the York Country Club.  Recognition gifts were presented to 54 honorees at that time.

Employees who were recognized for 5 years of service included Connie Buescher, Kylie Catlett, Linda Fuhr, Alicia Gundlach, Brittany Hansen, Kay Hellbusch, Laura Howard, Kelly Kadavy, Jamie Lindburg, Mark Mercer, Gene Oxley, LaDonna Pendleton, Aaron Purvis, Carolyn Romohr, Leslie Ruybalid, Sharon Saathoff, Dennis Schack, Brenda Schmidt, Steve Snider, Laura Teichmeier, Jean Wilcynski, Bonnie Wilson, and Ken Wolfe.

Jodi Bradley, Merna Driewer, Shirley Griess, Jody Griffith, Mandy Hengelfelt, Melody Hoffman, Lisa Howell, Dana Matzner, Richard McDougall, Cindy Quiring, Steve Scavo, Don Stewart, and Barb Wilshusen were honored for 10 years.

Those recognized for 15 years included Brenda Clark, Jim Donovan, Shawn Fowler, Sandi Osentowski, Norma Pohl and Deb Quick.

Twenty-year honorees included Marc Haggadone, Paulette Heiden, Darrell Pohlmeier and Daryl Wilton.

Mary Jane Meradith was recognized for 30 years of service.  Dale Adams, Bruce Fagot and Denise Gruber were honored for 35 years and Carol Miller was recognized for 40 years.

In addition, Bruce Fagot, Kendell Holthus and Randy Shelden were honored for 15 years on the Board of Directors.

Holthus Planning York Convention Center

YORK – Kelly Holthus, president and CEO of Cornerstone Bank, has announced that he recently purchased the 70 acres of farm land just north of his bank branch and Wal-Mart (on the east side of South Lincoln Avenue, to the southern boundary of the Sahling Kenworth property) with the intention of spearheading the construction of a 28,000-square-foot convention center.

 “I’ve been thinking about this for some time,” Holthus said. “I visited with my family in January about the project and we are going to be moving forward.

“York has been good to us,” Holthus explained. “My mentor was Lige Levitt and he was always very generous, always did what he could to help the community. I decided it was time to give back. What would really make a difference, I asked myself. York’s had a lot of progressive improvements in the past few years, so I took a look at what this community really needs.

“A year ago, I attended the Cattlemen’s Ball in West Point, which was held at their new convention building, the Nielsen Center,” Holthus explained. “It’s a beautiful, very large facility – it is exactly what York needs. I said I’d like to just pick it up and move it to York.”

He was so impressed, he talked with West Point leaders and bank associates who were involved in the 2008 project. They explained how their convention center came to be and how much its meant to the West Point business community. Holthus later made another trip, this time accompanied by York Mayor Chuck Harris and York City Administrator Jack Vavra.

Why involve city officials?

“The intention is to form a private LLC to construct the facility,” Holthus said, “and also to form a non-profit corporation that will allow donations to be deductible. By forming the LLC, we wouldn’t be under the bid process as the city would be – and that will make it possible for us to use all local contractors. After the facility is built, if the city agrees to accept, we will hand it over to the city to run it, maintain it. Those details haven’t been discussed with the council as of yet, but those are the intentions.”

Holthus says he’s prepared to donate the land needed for the convention center and parking, as well as $2 million of his own money toward the project.

“The projected cost of the facility is around $6 million, so we would be looking for $4 million from outside sources,” Holthus said. “I am also prepared to guarantee any shortfall until the project is paid in full, so it would go to the city debt free.”

He’s already talked with a number of donors who have pledged their support.

“I realize there will need to be some traffic alterations in that area, with the intersections and such,” Holthus said. “Perhaps a service road will have to be built. I am prepared to donate land to the Nebraska Department of Roads and/or the city, to make that happen.”

He says members of the LLC will have the naming rights for the center itself – but inside naming rights (for individual ballrooms, etc.) would be open to entities that make large financial contributions.

“If every bank in the community had a ballroom named after it, that would be fantastic,” Holthus said. “That’s what they did in West Point and it worked out very well for them.”

The proposed convention center would be sizable enough to host large conventions and other events – including as many as three or four weddings at one time. Holthus says the convention center would have state-of-the-art technology and impressive audio/visual equipment.

“This is the perfect location for a convention center,” Holthus said. “We are right between Kearney and Lincoln. We have the hotels. It would be right at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Highway 81.”

Holthus says he feels it would also create excellent opportunities for local businesses, such as caterers, limo services, linen/dish rentals, DJ services, etc.

“And it would bring people into the community, where they would spend money in a variety of ways,” Holthus added. “I also feel very comfortable that it would bring even more businesses to that area.”

“I want this to be a community project,” Holthus said. “I came to York with nothing, I’ve made my living here and now I want to give back. It would be a legacy for my family and I think a really great benefit to the community.”

Holthus is expected to approach the city council in the near future, to explain the project and ask if the municipality is willing to accept the multi-million gift. If the council gives its blessing, Holthus says the goal is to start building in the spring/summer of 2013 with a completion date at the same time in 2014.

He also noted that because the convention center would be closely modeled after the West Point center, he will be chartering a bus for all interested persons to tour the other facility.

“This would allow York to host large conventions and all sizes of gatherings,” Holthus said. “I think it’s something the community really needs and it would create great economic benefits.”

Courtesy of the York News-Times.