Heritage Clubs International and Northeast Iowa Community College Team Up To Offer Certified Bank Club Director Certification

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, April 13, 2012

Heritage Clubs International (HCI), in partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College, announced that they are offering the first ever certification program for Bank Club Directors. It is another great opportunity for the HCI member banks as HCI becomes the only premier bank marketing organization in North America to offer bank club directors an opportunity to become accredited with a Certified Bank Club Director (CBCD) designation. HCI and Northeast Iowa Community College carry similar missions, both tied to helping members and students to reach their career goals.

"We are thrilled to be offering our members a chance to advance their career development by earning certification credit through Heritage Clubs International," said Ted Nelson, Executive Director of Heritage Clubs International. "Heritage Clubs has always been focused on providing resources to educate and help members to become more valuable employees in their banks and more rounded as individuals. The certification will bring trust and integrity as they continue to build relationships with bank customers, while at the same time helping to promote growth in deposits and increased profitability from sale of bank services."

Announced in Rogers, Arkansas during its Annual Peer Group Conference this month, Heritage Clubs will award certification credit for director participation in the organization's many seminars, webinars and forums, including the annual Peer Group conference which offers educational sessions focusing on strategies to increase membership, cross-selling banking products and peer networking opportunities. Credit will be approved by Northeast Iowa Community College and will apply towards the designation as a Certified Bank Club Director. The CBCD program will incorporate application, coursework and a final reflection paper and is structured so that completion is possible within one to three years.

About Heritage Clubs International

Heritage Clubs International, LLC was founded in 1980 by First Citizens National Bank in Mason City, Iowa and currently has a membership of more than 200 parent banks located in 33 states across the country. Each bank has formed a bank club that offers membership to senior customers who meet deposit requirements and who have time and interest in social activities and travel. The primary goal for the banks is growth in deposits and increased profitability from sale of bank services. This is done by generating strong relationships with the members. The bank club offers many banking related benefits to these customers, with most offering travel programs, from one day trips to extended tours, plus international tours and cruises. The travel program is the "jewel" of the bank clubs as it develops the strongest relationship of all of the banking services. For more information visit: http://www.heritageclubs.com.