ChoiceOne Bank Blog

When Al Ochadleus thinks back on his career, he fondly refers to himself as “just a punk kid” who was given a chance to work for Vlasic Food Products, Inc. in 1962. Al likes to reminisce about his first job as an 18-year-old kid pitching sauerkraut from large wooden barrels in Imlay City, Michigan, boasting that he’d take over the company someday. “I literally started at the bottom of the barrel,” chuckles Al. “But it was a matter of trust when they hired me, and it led to a great career. And I did take over the Midwest!”

ChoiceOne Bank is pleased to announce Ryan L. Wolthuis has joined the Grand Rapids team as Senior Vice President, Grand Rapids Market Executive.

“We are pleased to welcome Ryan to ChoiceOne Bank as our Grand Rapids Market Executive,” said ChoiceOne Bank CEO Kelly Potes. “Ryan is an experienced leader with a successful career in commercial banking. His financial expertise and leadership skills, along with his knowledge of the Grand Rapids market will prove valuable as we continue to grow our community bank franchise throughout Michigan.” 

Wolthuis joins ChoiceOne Bank with nearly 20 years of commercial banking and executive management experience. He began his career at Kent Commerce Bank/Michigan Commerce Bank in Grand Rapids as a commercial Loan Officer/Commercial Credit Analyst and progressed to Market Executive. 

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: COFS) (“ChoiceOne”) today announced the completion of the merger of Community Shores Bank Corporation (“Community Shores”) with and into ChoiceOne, effective as of July 1, 2020. The combined organization is the 12^th largest bank holding company in Michigan based on asset size, with approximately $1.7 billion in assets and 33 offices across Michigan.

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: COFS) today announced the company has been added to the Russell 2000 Index.  

Correction Made on June 29,2020: We received over 100 applications from 26 different high schools and one home schooled student across our footprint. The 12 2020 winners came from 8 of those high schools and one was a home schooled student.

ChoiceOne Bank has awarded a one-time, need-based scholarship of $1,000 to12 seniors in eight different community high schools and one home school. Seniors were asked to submit a 500 word or less essay explaining their experience with community service, why they got involved, who benefited, and how the student benefited. Spanning Michigan, ChoiceOne serves markets in both West and Southeastern Michigan. Six winners were selected from each market.

ChoiceOne Bank is pleased to announce our participation in the LINC UP’s Rock the Block 10-Year-Anniversary Celebration with a $5,000 sponsorship. Rock the Block is an annual community event hosted by LINC UP and will mark a decade this year! Rock the Block is a celebration of the community coming together to connect, share resources, and spend time experiencing the culture of community in Madison Square, August 15 from 11 am to 4 pm.

It was 11 years ago Jeff Zack, co-owner of Fōmcore started his first business so he would have something to do in retirement. Little did this Sergeant at the Michigan Department of Corrections know at the time he was just getting started!

While many businesses and nonprofits across Michigan are feeling the hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic, ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: COFS) ("ChoiceOne”), the parent company of ChoiceOne Bank and Lakestone Bank & Trust, quickly began processing loans under the Payroll Protection Program (PPP). To date, the Banks have processed over 700 Payroll Protection Program (PPP) applications with a value of over $100 million.

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: COFS) ("ChoiceOne”), the parent company of ChoiceOne Bank, today announced the successful completion of its previously announced consolidation of Lakestone Bank & Trust into ChoiceOne Bank.

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: COFS) ("ChoiceOne”), the parent company of ChoiceOne Bank and Lakestone Bank & Trust, announced the Banks have processed over 700 Payroll Protection Program (PPP) applications with a value of over $100 million in April.