Lincoln, we’re proud to be your choice

The Lincoln Journal Star recently announced the winners of its annual Lincoln’s Choice Awards, and we were beyond thrilled to learn that for the 13th year in a row, we earned top honors in multiple categories: Best Bank, Best Work Environment, Best Customer Service, Best Financial Planner, and Best Place to Work!

We appreciate that you find us win-worthy in each of these categories, and we hope to keep living up to the honor. We asked the folks inside UBT to give us their perspective on why their areas/departments continue to be recognized. Here’s what they had to say.

Lincoln’s Choice for Best Bank

“We are honored to be recognized again as Lincoln’s best bank. It really speaks volumes about our loyal customers and the faith they place in us. We have tried to earn that faith by truly caring about our customers, creating a great environment for our employees, and caring for the community in which we live and work.

Our culture of caring isn’t just something we say, it’s who we are — and I honestly feel that is reflected in the banking relationships we build. We care about the customers who trust us for a wide variety of financial needs, from everyday banking to lending solutions for families and businesses to complex financial plans. And our employees — from the front lines in our lobbies to the behind-the-scenes operational people you may never see — help us to achieve that. We have over 300 employees who have been with the bank 10 years or longer, which makes for a very knowledgeable team. Our team is dedicated to helping solve problems with a positive attitude, helping our customers meet goals, volunteering in the community, and having fun along the way.  

We know it is a privilege to serve our customers, and we are grateful for being recognized as Lincoln’s best bank!”

– Jason Muhleisen, President & CEO

Lincoln’s Choice for Best Work Environment and Best Place to Work

“In Human Resources, the bank’s employees are our customers, and working for an organization that truly cares about its people has made my job easy. Since our employees provide the best in customer care day in and day out, we do the same for them, from providing on-site lunches to an award-winning wellness program. As our department has evolved, we have leveraged technology to improve our employee experience. We want to serve our employees as efficiently as possible, so they can continue serving their customers.

As a department, we are the champions of the UBT culture, which we don’t take lightly. We hire people based on this culture, and it works. Our HR employees exemplify the values we hold as an organization. As a result, integrity and compassion are at the heart of all our interactions. I know that we are going to do what is best for our employees.”

– Christine Wilcox, Director of Human Resources

Lincoln’s Choice for Best Customer Service

“At UBT, we want to provide excellent customer service because we care about the people and the communities we serve. To know that people in the community are the ones who voted for UBT to win this award makes this a special honor. We truly try to know our customers — not just know their name, but their family members’ names, what activities their children are in, or where they are going on their vacation. We focus on building relationships with our customers and let them know we will be there for them with a smile when they need us.

At its core, customer service has not changed over the years. It’s always about listening to the needs of our customers and partnering with them to help them attain their personal financial goals. Technology like mobile deposits, electronic bill pay, and UBTgo have made it more convenient and quicker for some things, but it all remains in the pursuit of providing our customers the tools and resources they need to be successful.”

– Ryan McConahay, Vice President – Customer Service

Lincoln’s Choice for Best Financial Planner

“Partnering with our clients to jointly create a plan that charts a course from financial dreams to financial reality is incredibly rewarding in and of itself, but we are humbled by the outside recognition of these efforts. Our planning team prides itself on truly getting to know the people they work with. Honest communication — not only about individuals’ goals and aspirations but also about what might keep them up at night — is at the core of every successful planning relationship and something that we feel is highly valued by our clients.

Our area has evolved over the years, and as the Wealth Management division has grown, financial planning has taken on a more pronounced role across multiple business departments. It is now often the genesis for relationships in many areas. To that end, time-tested expertise, honest communication, and a laser focus on understanding clients’ goals has enabled our planning team to foster deep and lasting relationships that go far beyond something purely transactional.”

– Jon Gross, Senior Vice President – Wealth Management Division

Thank you again for this great honor. We know none of it would be possible without our amazing customers and top-notch employees. We appreciate your ongoing support, trust, and relationships, and we promise to keep taking utmost care of you to the best of our ability. Watch the video of the ceremony and view all category winners here.