August 20, 2008


The Right Path from Turnover to Mature Market Value

Have you ever imagined not worrying about your association because you know it is on the right path? Have you considered that there are options to help you do what you should do rather than what you have to do? Would you prefer to enjoy the "association living" in the sales brochure, your family, and personal interests and hobbies instead of worrying about your association's money? If you answered "yes" to these questions, consider joining the first banking division dedicated to condominium, townhome and homeowners associations—COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE®.

Barrington Bank & Trust created COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE to offer comprehensive and customized financial solutions for associations—from Turnover to Mature Market Value. Our mission is to help board members maximize the value of their units and their dedicated volunteer time with personal and business financial solutions that help them manage their associations as businesses and achieve their short- and long-term financial goals.

Just like preparing for a complex annual board meeting, it starts with a vision, a plan and a team with the right tools to execute successfully. Association Management is a tough and challenging field. It also has become a complex business. A variety of factors, such as attracting and retaining qualified managers, increasing legal issues, competitive pressures on income and expenses, and liability risks, impose unique financial planning and management challenges for board members seeking financial independence for their associations.

The current environment for association management, more than ever, requires board members to manage their volunteer positions as a part of their career. Yet most board members have little, if any, financial training. Therefore, staying power and financial security depend on being able to operate your association as a successful business, make prudent investments, and provide for the association's financial commitments, such as common element replacement projects, ordinance requirements and upgrades to maintain market value.

What sets COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE apart from other financial-service providers is its ability to combine money-center bank sophistication in the delivery of financial products and services with the accessibility and personal attention offered by a community bank, Barrington Bank & Trust.

Industry awareness and involvement can help support an association. COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE's resource approach offers the right path for board members who see the benefits of speciality niche banking for references, professional recommendations and educational resources. Another benefit is one-stop access to industry resources, such as financial and business consultants, accountants, attorneys, insurance carriers and information technology specialists.

Just as a board member may join a network to enhance resources, Barrington Bank & Trust is backed by a larger financial institution. Wintrust Financial Corporation, the parent company of Barrington Bank & Trust, provides its community banks with access to broader wealth management and commercial lending capabilities. Wayne Hummer Wealth Management, another Wintrust subsidiary and Wintrust's wealth management provider, has served as a trusted financial advisor to its clients for more than 75 years.

Combined, these companies are the source of the comprehensive financial services provided by COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE. These services include:

For more information, call our Trusted Industry Experts at (847) 304-5940 or email service@communityadvantage.com.