It feels good to be your choice

The Lincoln’s Choice Awards have been announced by the Lincoln Journal Star, and we were beyond thrilled to have been recognized as the best in multiple categories for the 14th year in a row — Best Bank, Best Customer Service, Best Financial Planner, and Best Place to Work — and as runner-up for Best Customer Service. We also won in a new category this year: Best Mortgage Lender!

We appreciate that our customers and associates 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 we continue to be recognized, year after year. 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 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 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

Lincoln’s Choice for Best Mortgage Lender

“Buying a home, for many people, is one of the biggest financial decisions they will make during their lifetime. There have never been more options available than there are today for people to choose from, and that is why we are so honored to have been chosen by the community of Lincoln as the Best Mortgage Lender.

At UBT, we don’t treat the process of getting a mortgage as transactional. Instead, our Mortgage Loan Officers aim to provide our customers with sound financial advice and create a personal relationship as we determine together what type of mortgage product best fits their needs. We believe that the relationship doesn’t end at the closing but instead is just the beginning. That is why we have made the decision to service the majority of loans we originate. In line with our guiding principle of caring about our customers, we believe our local servicing team makes it much easier for customers if any questions arise at any time with the loan. From getting prequalified to closing the loan and beyond, we are proud to say that UBT is with you every step along the way.”

– Kelly Hillman, First Vice President – Retail Division Head

Runner-up as 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 be recognized 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

Thank you again for this great honor. We know none of it would be possible without our amazing customers and top-notch associates. We appreciate your ongoing support, trust, and relationships, and we promise to keep providing world-class service — both externally and internally. Watch the video of the ceremony and view all category winners here.