In Our Communities
United Prairie Bank partners with Minnesota State University, Mankato's Integrated Business Experience Program
(Mankato) January 6, 2012 – The College of Business at Minnesota State University, Mankato and United Prairie Bank in Mankato will work together on a new Integrated Business Experience (IBE) program in the Spring Semester of 2012.
The IBE program gives students real-world experiences in running a business. The experience includes developing the organization, securing financing and delivering a product or service. All profits, combined with volunteer work, will be donated to a local charity.
“The IBE is an innovative program designed to mesh traditional learning with real-world thinking,” said Joseph Reising, Chair of the Finance Department. “In the classroom the students will learn what they need to succeed just in time to apply it to their business. That application will reinforce their learning and provide them with a deeper understanding of the intricacies of business.”
The student-run company will include managerial, operational and financial roles, among others. Students will present a business plan to obtain a loan from United Prairie Bank in Mankato and then will manage the business and pay back the loan. If the business is a success, the net profits will be donated to a local charity.
“We are very excited to be working with the College of Business and assisting the students in a hands-on experience in developing and running a business,” said Michael Laskey, market president for both United Prairie Bank Mankato locations. “In addition, our company and employees support a variety of charitable organizations in our communities and are pleased to see this program teach students on the importance of giving back to their community.”
The IBE program is available to students enrolled in the College of Business at Minnesota State Mankato. Students must meet certain criteria to be in the program. Visit www.cob.mnsu.edu/ibe/ for more information about the program.
About College of Business at Minnesota State University, Mankato:
The College of Business at Minnesota State University, Mankato is an AACSB accredited business school with undergraduate programs in accounting, finance, international business, marketing, human resources management, and general management. An MBA program is offered now both in Mankato and Edina, Minnesota and has been consistently recognized by the Princeton Review as an outstanding program. To learn more about the College, please visit www.cob.mnsu.edu.
About United Prairie Bank:
United Prairie offers a full line of banking, insurance and investment products for personal, agricultural and business needs in 15 locations throughout central and southern Minnesota. To learn more about United Prairie and the communities they serve, visit www.unitedprairiebank.com.
Employees at United Prairie Donate Over $30,000 to Local Charities
(Mankato) July 20, 2011 – In the first year of United Prairie’s Denim for Dollars program $30,838 has been donated to local charities.
The Denim for Dollars program is a company-wide effort to give back to the communities United Prairie serves, while incorporating casual Friday attire. Employees have the option to pay $5 on Fridays to wear denim jeans. Each quarter the totals are tabulated by location and a company match is applied.
“In the first year of our Denim for Dollars program, our employees have really made a difference in our communities by supporting local charities of their choice,” said CEO Scott Bradley.
Since the program’s inception in July 2010, 18 organizations in Minnesota have received donations from the Denim for Dollars program.
United Prairie Bank launches Graduate Lending Program
(Mankato) July 11, 2011 – The Graduate Lending Program was developed in an effort to train and retain ambitious future leaders for United Prairie Bank. The trend towards some rural areas with lower population growth has led to United Prairie taking a proactive approach in maintaining continuity and stability in leadership in our more rural locations.
The thriving agri-business economy in our rural markets makes this an important endeavor in continuing to provide excellent service to our customers through grooming talented, young candidates to become our future leaders.
The Graduate Lending Program identifies candidates who are recent or soon-to-be college graduates recommended by the leadership of one of our branches as someone with potential, and fit some additional criteria:
• Exhibit a desire to live long-term in a specific area, or are tied to the area by a family farm operation.
• Majoring in business, management or finance.
• Show above average “emotional intelligence” and personal fortitude.
• Have leadership capability.
Candidates in the program, called Analysts, will spend time in the deposit, loan administration, commercial and ag credit analysis and loan portfolio management areas of the bank’s operations. This experience will help the analysts gain a full-understanding through working with local branch leadership and the centralized credit analysis area. The Analysts will test on each of the four main areas to ensure knowledge and understanding levels are achieved. Candidates showing promise in time will enter into a long-term arrangement with the organization to set expectations for future opportunities.
The Graduate Lending Program is currently at capacity with four Analysts currently on staff. Analysts, Clay Sharkey, Brett Block, Spenser Bradley and Tyson Weber make up the first participants in the program.
The United Prairie Management Team is hopeful this program will thrive and continue the organization’s high-level of service for future generations in our branch offices. “With the help of our teams and our Market Presidents, we can develop a talent pool that will work to the advantage of our company and our communities for years to come,” said Scott Bradley, United Prairie CEO.
