Unizan Financial Advisors, Inc. Enhances Wealth Management Capabilities CANTON, Ohio, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Unizan Financial Advisors, Inc., a subsidiary of Unizan Financial Corp., is proud to announce the organization's enhanced Wealth Management capabilities by adding to its staff of highly skilled individuals and leveraging the expertise of Linsco/Private Ledger. Unizan's Wealth Management Group is positioning itself as a trusted financial advisor to each of our clients and prospects by thoroughly understanding their unique needs, concerns and overall financial situation. With our knowledge and expertise, we partner with individuals and businesses to help them accumulate, preserve and distribute their wealth in the most tax- efficient manner. As an objective and trusted financial advisor, we provide years of expertise in helping our clients plan for major life events and uncertainties; balance investment risk and return; make tax-smart decisions; and formulate a plan to pass on a personal estate with comfort and confidence. To support our advisory model, Unizan Financial Advisors, Inc. is pleased to announce the additions to our Wealth Management team. These individuals are responsible for developing and servicing long-term financial planning relationships in their designated locations: Tim Armstrong, financial advisor, covering Unizan's Columbus Region, joins Unizan from NatCity Investments in Columbus where he served as a Regional Sales Consultant. Prior to that, Armstrong served as a Production Manager and Financial Planner with MetLife Securities. He is a graduate of the University of Florida. Armstrong currently holds a NASD Series 7 and 66 and Ohio Life, Accident and Health licenses. He is a graduate of the Life Underwriters Training Council and is studying for his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. Armstrong is located at Unizan's Upper Arlington Financial Center, 3005 Northwest Blvd. He can be reached at 614.486.9293 or . Kurt Gitschier, financial advisor, advises Unizan's North Canton Financial Centers, including the North Canton, Lake Cable, Canal Fulton and Hills & Dales offices, as well as the organization's North Canton Private Banking office. Gitschier joins Unizan Financial Advisors, Inc. from Banc One Securities where he was a senior financial consultant. He is a Certified Financial Planner(TM) and holds a Series 7 and 63 NASD licenses as well as Ohio Life and Health insurance licenses. He is a graduate of Ohio University where he received his Bachelor degree in Business Administration. Gitschier is also an adjunct professor at Stark State Technical College and a member of St. Michael Catholic Church. Gitschier is located at 4689 Portage St. NW, North Canton, Ohio. He can be reached at 330.966.5162 or via e-mail at . Ryan Glaspell, financial advisor, serves as the organization's financial advisor in Unizan's Alliance, Hartville and Green Financial Centers. Glaspell joins Unizan Financial Services Group from VALIC where he was a successful financial services advisor. He currently holds his Series 7, 63, 65 and 24 NASD registrations as well as an Ohio Life, Accident & Health Insurance licenses. Additionally, Glaspell has received the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) designation. He is studying for his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. Glaspell is located in Unizan Bank's Alliance/Mt. Union Financial Center, Two West State Street, Alliance. He can be reached at 330.829.3217, or via e-mail at . David Schneider, financial advisor, based in the organization's downtown Massillon Financial Center, Schneider will also cover Unizan Bank's Wooster, Brewster, Perry and Massillon Amherst Financial Centers. Prior to joining Unizan, Schneider was a successful investment representative at David Noyes & Co. Previous to this position, he had an outstanding performance record at Key/McDonald Investments. Schneider attended The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, where he majored in Finance. He currently holds his Series 7, 63 & 65 NASD registrations and his Ohio Life, Accident and Health license. Schneider is located in Unizan Bank's downtown Massillon Financial Center, 153 Lincoln Way E., Massillon, Ohio. He can be reached at 330.830.7223, or via e-mail at dschneider.com. Charles Scrattish, assistant vice president and financial advisor, serves as a financial advisor to Unizan Bank's Canton Financial Centers, including Market Ave., Raff Rd., Rotunda, and 34th St. In this position, he will be responsible for developing and sustaining long-term financial planning relationships in these locations. In addition, Scrattish will provide financial advisory coverage to the Canton-based lending group. Scrattish joins Unizan Financial Advisors from Community Financial Services Group in Littleton, NH, where he was a successful Trust Business Development Officer. Previously, Scrattish was a senior investment consultant at Banc One Securities. He was also a successful financial advisor with Charter One Investments and American Express Financial Advisors. He holds a Series 7 and 66 NASD licenses as well as Ohio Variable Life/Annuity, Accident and Health insurance licenses. He is a graduate of Cannon Trust I and Personal Trust Sales Schools and received his B.S. degree in Business Administration/Marketing from the University of Akron. Scrattish is located at 220 Market Ave. S., Canton, Ohio. He can be reached at 330.458.3305 or via e-mail at . Joe Staggs, financial advisor, serves as the organization's financial advisor to Unizan Bank's Dayton-area Financial Centers, including West Milton, Bellbrook, Tipp City, Brookville, Washington Township and Englewood. In this position, he will be responsible for developing and sustaining long-term financial planning relationships in these locations. Staggs joins Unizan Financial Advisors from the Alexander Chase Company where he was a successful investment representative. Previously, he was employed by American Express Financial Advisors and Cintas Corporation. He holds a Series 7 and Life and Health insurance licenses. Staggs received a B.A. degree from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio. Staggs is located at 25 Lowry Dr., West Milton, Ohio. He can be reached at 937.698.6788 or via e-mail at . "I am delighted to have recruited the depth of talent these individuals bring to our organization," said Dennis Kennedy, Unizan Financial Advisors, Inc., vice president, director of Wealth Management Sales. "Their education, financial advisory experience and proven production skills make these individuals valuable members of our Wealth Management team. Their expertise, coupled with the talent of Bob Rownd and Ron Davis on our existing team, enables Unizan to offer an unprecedented level of service and innovation to help our clients achieve their financial goals," Kennedy said. Through the organization's new agreement with Linsco/Private Ledger (LPL), Unizan Financial Advisors has gained a premier financial planning organization that has an exceptional level of sophistication in the high-end financial advisory world. Over the years, LPL has become a leading source of objective advice for accumulating and managing personal wealth. "I strongly believe this new venture with LPL will provide an exceptional level of service to individuals who depend on us to help them grow and prosper, manage the financial success they have achieved and to protect their wealth for a lifetime," concluded Kennedy. Unizan Financial Corp., a $2.8 billion holding company, is a premier financial services organization headquartered in Canton, Ohio. The company operates 45 full-service retail financial centers in five metropolitan markets in Ohio -- Canton, Columbus, Dayton, Newark and Zanesville. Through Unizan Financial Corp.'s subsidiaries, Unizan Bank, National Association; Unizan Financial Services Group, National Association; Unizan Banc Financial Services, Inc.; and Unizan Financial Advisors, Inc., the company offers its client base corporate and retail banking, Internet banking and wealth management products and services. Additionally, the company operates niche businesses in government guaranteed loan programs through its business lending centers in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; Detroit, Michigan; Mt. Arlington, New Jersey; and Indianapolis, Indiana; as well as aircraft lending centers in Columbus; Orlando, Florida; and Sacramento, California. For more information on Unizan Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries, visit the company on the Web at http://www.unizan.com/ . DATASOURCE: Unizan Bank, National Association CONTACT: Investor, James J. Pennetti, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Unizan Financial Corp., +1-330-438-1118, or +1-866-235-7203, or , or Media, Sandy K. Upperman of Unizan Bank, National Association, Vice President, Corporate Communications - Marketing, +1-330-438-4858, or Web site: http://www.unizan.com/

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