5 minute read
of growth a century
Family-owned Union Bank & Trust treats you like one of their own
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ou’ve got to look for places that people don’t do things.” This quote by Jay Dunlap, founder of Union Bank & Trust (UBT), has always been the bank’s philosophy—find a way to help customers where others can’t. This third-generation, family-owned bank has a century-old history founded on hard work and strong relationships built on trust.
After decades of acquiring small banks in Nebraska and capitalizing on opportunities during industry downturns, UBT is now the largest bank in Lincoln, NE. The company continues to focus on growth. In addition to its location on 177th and West Center Road, UBT opened a 5-story, 137,000 sq. ft. flagship location at the Heartwood Preserve in Omaha last fall. With a full suite of banking services that includes a retail branch and drive-thru, commercial lending, investment, and trust services, UBT is poised to take care of its customers, employees, and the community—a motto etched in stone outside the new Omaha building.
Three generations have led UBT— Dunlap started the bank, his daughter, Angie Muhleisen is the current UBT CEO & President, and her son, Jason, will one day take over the helm. Each generation brings their unique talent, but Dunlap’s original management style has been passed down and embraced by his family.
Tom Weinandt, UBT’s regional president, described that style as “entrepreneurial, accessible, and nimble.” Management has an open-door policy to answer questions and find solutions quickly and easily. “We want our employees to be creative with ways they can help our customers, and having accessibility to anyone in the company helps them quickly do that,” he said.
“Empowering” is a word that John Sutera, UBT’s vice president, Trust Administration, added to the list of the company’s management style. “They empower employees to do what they need to do,” he explained. “They remove the obstacles by giving them the resources they need. And if an employee has a new idea, [management] encourages them to share it.”
Sutera said he’s never experienced that type of accessibility and flexibility before—communicating with management was nearly impossible and opening a simple business checking account could take up to 10 days at previous jobs. At UBT, he said it’s as easy as sending an email or walking into someone’s office, and with proper documentation, they can open an account the same day. “We can get things done, do it right, and do it efficiently.”
A bank with UBT’s longevity translates to employees that have extensive experience and knowledge. Some UBT employees in Lincoln have been with the bank for 45 years. Both Weinandt and Sutera have more than 35 years each in the banking industry, both in the Omaha market. The industry goes through cycles, and that kind of experience not only helps customers but helps younger employees learn the cycles as well. “We’re proud of the longevity of our employees, and it’s a testament to the organization that people are willing to stay so long,” Weinandt said.
UBT’s team-oriented culture is what enables the company to have its “yes” mentality. No matter what the customer needs, they’ll do their best to find a solution. “It may be a different solution than what they’re used to, but we’ll find a way to make both sides happy,” Sutera said. Within his wealth management division, Sutera works with a lot of families on multigenerational planning. He has a family in which he worked with the father, son, and now opened an account for the newborn grandson. “I know everything about that family, and it’s amazing. They know they can call me, and if I don’t know the answer, I can immediately ask Tom or someone else and they can help find a solution.”
Because UBT has a wide footprint in Lincoln, it opened its newest location in Omaha to increase visibility and growth in the market. According to Weinandt, that growth starts with hiring good people. “We attract good people by having a good culture that people like,” he said.
Some of the perks of working at UBT include lunch that is provided four days a week, a wellness program that includes fitness classes, heart health, wellness webinars, and community involvement. Philanthropy has also been a Dunlap family value, and UBT is eager to support causes that are important to employees and customers.
Building relationships with customers is just as important as building them with employees. UBT’s family culture encourages and empowers employees to show they care, whether it’s sending a note because a client’s son played well in a high school football game or calling a client to wish them a happy birthday.
Sutera said enabling their employees to be on the front line is the best way to foster those relationships. “Our employees are experts at what they do, so we let them do the work and get to know the customer. Being entwined with the customer builds loyalty.”
UBT expects to continue to build that customer loyalty in the Omaha market. Both Weinandt and Sutera have no doubt the company is well positioned and flexible enough to handle any client’s diverse needs. Weinandt concluded, “We’re a full-service bank with local decision-making ability. We are hard-working, honest, and look for clients who can grow with us. We’re here for you and our goal is to find a way to get it done.”
Story by EDGE CONTRIBUTOR
On Friday, September 8, the 5th annual Shadow Ridge Music Festival returns with its biggest lineup to date. Grammy nominated indie-rock legends, Barenaked Ladies, will headline the show, along with 90s icons Collective Soul and Toad the Wet Sprocket. The Samples, a fan favorite of the early 90s Omaha music scene, will open the show.
“Cumulatively, this lineup has sold nearly 20 million albums and has produced more than a dozen hit songs,” said festival founder Justin Shanahan. “This is, without a doubt, our strongest lineup from start to finish. If you are a fan of 90s music, it is a show you won’t want to miss.”
All the bands are widely regarded for their live performances and have been playing to sold out crowds for over 30 years. “If you haven’t seen Barenaked Ladies or Collective Soul live, you are in for a special experience,” said Shanahan. “Not only do they have tons of hit songs, they bring tremendous energy to their performance and have an incredible rapport with their audience during live shows. This is the perfect lineup for an outdoor summer concert.”
In addition to great music and cold beverages, a dozen local restaurants and food trucks will be on hand for festival goers to enjoy. “Great food is important, and we always try to bring in interesting local food trucks that represent the diverse Omaha culinary scene. We have some great new additions this year that festival goers will love.”
Once again, the Shadow Ridge Music Festival has partnered with the Lane Thomas Foundation, founded locally by Matt and Melissa Graves, and a portion of every ticket sold will go to supporting families of children in need of life-saving transplants.
“The Lane Thomas Foundation is an organization that is near and dear to us, and last year, we were able to raise over $20,000 for them. We feel it’s important to continue giving back to the community, and the Lane Thomas Foundation is the perfect charitable organization for us to partner with,” Shanahan said. “I encourage everyone to visit www.LaneThomas.Org and learn about the incredible work Matt and Melissa are doing to support these families who are facing incredible adversity.”
With just over 6,000 in attendance last year, the Shadow Ridge Music Festival was one of the biggest paid outdoor concerts in Omaha in 2022, putting it on the map as West Omaha’s premier concert event of the summer. “I am proud of the fact that our festival continues to grow, and we now host one of the best live music events of the summer in West Omahan’s backyard. The support from our community has been incredible.”
