Tailored Banking Solutions For A Twin Cities Title Company
There is power in local connections.
When Michelle Balow, President of West Title, sought banking solutions tailored to her business, she remembered the positive experiences she had with Jamie Butler, now a Vice President of Business Banking at 21st Century Bank, a decade ago.
Balow gave 21st Century Bank a call and initiated a transformative partnership for both organizations. Prior to this call, West Title had worked with our locally-owned bank through loan services and mutual connections – and these new conversations expanded the relationship.
“When we met to discuss West Title’s needs, we focused on providing structure and cash management services customized to them,” said Butler. “As a community bank, we always tailor our services to each customer, ensuring that our solutions fit their needs.”
West Title, an independent title company based in St. Louis Park, has provided title insurance and real estate closing services for 25 years. Balow launched her business in 1999, at a time when she had 15 years of experience in the industry. Throughout her career, she built strong relationships with realtors and partners across the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro Area. Her vision was to create a boutique title company rooted in exceptional customer service.
West Title – A Boutique Title Company
Today, West Title employs a dedicated team of seven and serves over 400 clients. From the start, Michelle Balow aimed to eliminate the corporate red tape that often complicates the closing process. “We operate differently,” said Balow. “We do what needs to be done to complete the closing.”
West Title’s independence from any specific real estate broker, bank or mortgage company provides more flexibility and convenience to its customers. The company is known for exceptional service, quick closings and its ability to handle urgent requests.
“They are great at what they do,” said Jamie Butler. “They go above and beyond for their clients, and I think that’s one of the things that makes our two organizations such a good fit.”
Secure Business Banking Solutions
When Michelle Balow approached 21st Century Bank, her top priority was fraud prevention and banking security. Our Business Banking Team adapted our processes, customizing how we work to exceed West Title’s expectations.
“21st Century Bank’s customer service is 100 percent,” said Balow. “I can always get ahold of Jamie, and her team takes action super quick.”
We set West Title up with critical products, including Positive Pay and an ACH Filter. This addresses security concerns and prevents fraudulent activity in managing business accounts for closings and handling funds between buyers, sellers and lenders. We also implemented multi-factor authentication (MFA) and dual control for all online banking activities.
“Title company operations are a lot more complicated and intense than people realize."
What sets this partnership apart is the innovation of security. 21st Century Bank’s IT team collaborated with West Title to integrate its closing and reconciliation software with our online banking service platform. This tailored system provides convenient checks and balances, safeguarding West Title from fraud.
“We can provide a safe, secure method for them to conduct their business,” said Michael Gallagher, Senior Vice President and head of the Business Banking Team. “It’s the ultimate banking relationship because there are benefits for both sides. Everybody wins.”
Banking Fraud Protection Solutions
West Title relies on two key banking products from 21st Century Bank to safeguard its operations – an ACH Filter and Positive Pay. These tools provide crucial protection against unauthorized transactions and potential fraud, which is especially important given the daily volume of transactions West Title handles.
West Title, LLC
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