IONIA, Mich., March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Independent Bank Corporation (Nasdaq: IBCP), a leading Michigan-based community bank, announced today that it would begin offering assistance to homeowners as part of the new "Making Home Affordable" program announced by the Obama Administration on March 4th.

Michael M. Magee, President and CEO of Independent Bank Corporation, commented: "Many aspects of the proposed plan mirror the actions we've taken at Independent Bank over the past year to assist our customers with loan modifications during these challenging economic times. We are encouraged by the scope of the plan put forth by the Administration, and we are looking forward to participating in it as the remaining details of the plan are finalized. In the interim, we will continue to work diligently with our borrowers to find the best possible solutions to help them stay in their homes."

Starting today, Independent Bank is prepared to work with consumers under the Making Home Affordable refinancing program for loans owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac that are serviced by Independent Bank. After initial review of the new refinance program, the Bank anticipates being able to refinance $15-20 million in loans that were unable to qualify in just the past few months. Consumers with this type of mortgage serviced by Independent Bank are encouraged to call or visit their local branch for more information on how to participate in the program.

As an additional step in its efforts to assist homeowners facing foreclosure, Independent Bank also announced that it would participate in a number of foreclosure-related forums to be hosted by Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox in locations throughout Michigan. The goal of these forums is to help broaden communication with consumers tackling tough financial issues. Upcoming forums include:

    --  April 28, 2009, at Ford Field in Detroit
    --  April 29, 2009, at the Horizons Conference Center in Saginaw
    --  April 30, 2009, at the DeltaPlex Entertainment & Expo Center in
        Grand Rapids

Independent Bank continues to focus on providing information to consumers on the mortgage refinancing or modification programs available to them. In addition, the Bank has a program tailored for seniors to assist them in avoiding foreclosure if they have fallen behind in their payments.

For information on new applications/refinancing related to the Making Home Affordable program, call 1-800-285-3111 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, or consumers can apply online at www.IndependentBank.com

For information on loan modification programs call 1-800-292-5020 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday, or from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday.

Consumers may also obtain assistance by visiting their local Independent Bank branch and speaking with a mortgage specialist.

About Independent Bank Corporation

Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP) is a Michigan-based bank holding company with total assets of nearly $3 billion. Founded as First National Bank of Ionia in 1864, Independent Bank Corporation now operates over 100 offices across Michigan's Lower Peninsula through one state-chartered bank subsidiary. This subsidiary (Independent Bank) provides a full range of financial services, including commercial banking, mortgage lending, investments and title services. Payment plans to purchase vehicle service contracts are also available through Mepco Finance Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Independent Bank. Independent Bank Corporation is committed to providing exceptional personal service and value to its customers, stockholders and the communities it serves. For more information, please visit our Web site at: www.IndependentBank.com.

Any statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "believe," "intend," "estimate," "project," "may" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are predicated on management's beliefs and assumptions based on information known to Independent Bank Corporation's management as of the date of this news release and do not purport to speak as of any other date. Forward-looking statements may include descriptions of plans and objectives of Independent Bank Corporation's management for future or past operations, products or services, and forecasts of the Company's revenue, earnings or other measures of economic performance, including statements of profitability, business segments and subsidiaries, and estimates of credit quality trends. Such statements reflect the view of Independent Bank Corporation's management as of this date with respect to future events and are not guarantees of future performance, involve assumptions and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, such as the changes in Independent Bank Corporation's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Should one or more of these risks materialize or should underlying beliefs or assumptions prove incorrect, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences are changes in interest rates, changes in the accounting treatment of any particular item, the results of regulatory examinations, changes in industries where the Company has a concentration of loans, changes in the level of fee income, changes in general economic conditions and related credit and market conditions, and the impact of regulatory responses to any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Independent Bank Corporation does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect facts, circumstances, assumptions or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. For any forward-looking statements made in this news release or in any documents, Independent Bank Corporation claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

SOURCE Independent Bank Corporation