News Release

Andrea C. Cusick

Senior Vice President Communications

800/736-2224 •

For Immediate Release

SPRINGFIELD, IL (September 25, 2012) –Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) annually presentsa Service Development Award at its convention. The recipient is a provider of goods and/or services to Illinois community bankers that has performed above and beyond the call of duty to benefit the cause of community banking through CBAI either during the past year or over a period of years.

The recipient of the 2012 Service Development Award is Midwest Office. Accepting the award were Steve DeMarco, Midwest president and managing partner; and Kevin Gaffney, senior partner.

CBAI has partnered with Midwest Office since 1996 to provide CBAI member banks with access to lowest-cost office supplies, furniture, and bank-related furniture systems. Headquartered in Springfield, Midwest Office maintains warehouses throughout the Midwest which guarantees FREE 24-hour delivery on most items.

“Midwest has supported community banks and their statewide association with impressive effort and depth of service,” stated Mike Kelley, president of Community BancService Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of CBAI. “Its representatives are top-notch and engaged in every aspect of servicing their customers.”

Known for its innovations in customer service, Midwest developed the nation’s first online office-supply catalog and ordering system that enable customers to view items and place orders from the convenience of their computers. Today, Midwest showcases more than 25,000 square feet ofoffice furniture in its Springfield headquarters, the largest furniture showroom outside of Chicago and St. Louis. Having helped dozens of CBAI member banks design and install furniture for new bank facilities and branch remodels, Midwest has established a reputation as the premier provider of office furniture for community banks. No office furniture dealer south of Chicago has equipped more community banks than Midwest.

In the past 10 years alone, CBAI members have purchased nearly 12 million dollars in office supplies and furniture from Midwest, receiving nearly three million dollars in member-only discounts. Last year alone, CBAI members earned $510,000 in savings on 1.6 million dollars in purchases —the single largest savings figure from any other association partner. That’s real savings that goes directly to CBAI’s bottom line.

###

About CBAI — CBAI is a professional trade association representing 400 Illinois commercial banks and thrifts, and their nearly 900 Illinois bank branches. Its members have nearly $70 billion in assets and employ approximately 14,000 individuals. CBAI, headquartered in Springfield, was founded in 1974. For more information, visit .

About Community BancService Corporation, Inc. (CBSC) — About Community BancService Corporation, Inc. (CBSC) A subsidiary of CBAI, CBSC aggregates the “clout” of CBAI member banks to negotiate lower costs and provide improved access to essential bank products and services.CBSC-endorsed programs range from mission-critical investment portfolio, lending and technology services, to discount purchasing and income-enhancing products.Today, CBAI members use an average of nearly five CBSC marketing partners.Contact CBSC today at or 800-736-2224.