Northern Michigan University Administration Responds to Requests to Bring Banking Services to Campus

Web-based Survey Finds Students, Faculty and Staff rate
“Bank/Credit Union” in top ten of important services

 Marquette, MI - TCF National Bank and Northern Michigan University today announced a campus banking relationship that will bring convenient banking services to Northern Michigan University students, faculty and staff.

TCF Bank, known for changing the banking landscape with its “Open 7 Days™ philosophy, will offer NMU students "Totally Free Wildcat Student Checking" with no minimum balance requirements, no monthly service fees and free online banking. NMU faculty and staff will receive slightly different benefits through TCF's Totally Free Faculty and Staff Wildcat Rewards checking account. Both students and university employees will be able to access their TCF account via their new Willy the Wildcat Express ID card, which will also act as an ATM and debit card.

"TCF Bank is proud to have been chosen as the banking partner for Northern Michigan University," said Bob Scott, president of TCF Bank's Michigan division. "The students, faculty and staff who requested banking services will be pleased to have TCF Bank meeting their needs - we are an industry leader in campus card banking programs because we understand the campus climate and the university customer."

Andrew Wasilewski, associate vice president for auxiliary services at NMU, said the benefits of the relationship extend beyond the convenience of having a bank branch on campus.

"As part of this agreement, TCF will make annual contributions to NMU scholarships,” said Wasilewski. TCF will accept responsibility for campus ATM’s, offer financial education seminars, and support student organizations, athletic programs and campus events.  TCF is also committed to hiring NMU students as part of its campus banking team.  In a recent NMU student survey, a campus bank branch was the number one request for a new service.  We are very pleased to have TCF as a partner in meeting this need.”

Starting in the summer of 2006, all NMU students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to receive a new ID card, which can be linked to a TCF Bank checking account for use as an ATM/debit card.

In addition to NMU, TCF Bank partners with other universities and colleges in the Great Lakes region with similar campus banking programs. Other relationships include the University of Michigan and Saginaw Valley State University; DePaul University and Northern Illinois University; the University of Minnesota, St. Cloud State University and Minnesota State University – Mankato; and Milwaukee Area Technical College.

Northern Michigan University, located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is a dynamic four-year, public, coeducational university that offers 180 degree programs to undergraduate and graduate students. NMU is one of the largest notebook computer campuses in the United States with all full-time students receiving either a ThinkPad or iBook as part of tuition and fees. The university has national and international awards for its innovative work in the area of technology in higher education.

TCF is a Wayzata, Minnesota-based national financial holding company with $13.8 billion in assets. TCF has 452 banking offices in Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Indiana. Other TCF affiliates provide leasing and equipment finance, securities brokerage, and investments and insurance sales.  For more information about TCF Bank or its products, call 1-800-TCF-BANK or visit the TCF Web site at www.tcfbank.com.

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