SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
August 28, 2002
(Date of earliest event reported)
Commission file number: 0-20167
NORTH COUNTRY FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
MICHIGAN 38-2062816
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No)
1011 NOTEWARE DRIVE, TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49686
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (906) 341-8401
ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
On August 28, 2002, the Board of Directors of the Registrant
determined not to retain Wipfli Ullrich Bertelson LLP (Wipfli), to audit the
Registrant's financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2002. The
decision was recommended by Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, and
unanimously approved by the Board. The reason for the decision was solely the
Registrant's desire to outsource internal audit, regulatory compliance, and
financial reporting services to Wipfli, which would preclude Wipfli from serving
as the Registrant's independent auditor.
The firm of Rehmann Robson of Saginaw, Michigan, has been
engaged to perform an audit of the Registrant's financial statements for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2002.
Wipfli's report on Registrant's financial statements for the
year ended December 31, 2001, and prior thereto, did not contain any adverse
opinion nor disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principals.
During the Registrant's two most recent fiscal years, and for
the interim periods following December 31, 2001, there have been no
disagreements with Wipfli on any matter of accounting principals or practices,
financial statement disclosures, or auditing scope or procedure, which
disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Wipfli, would have caused
Wipfli to make a reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in
connection with its reports.
Registrant has provided Wipfli with a copy of this disclosure
and has requested that Wipfli furnish it with a letter addressed to the
Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the foregoing
statements. A copy of Wipfli's letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission
is forwarded as Exhibit 16.1 to this report on Form 8-K.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
Exhibit 16.1 - Letter regarding change in certifying accountants
from Wipfli Ullrich Bertelson LLP.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to the signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
NORTH COUNTRY FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Date: September 4, 2002 By: /s/ Sherry Littlejohn
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Sherry Littlejohn, President
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO. EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
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16.1 Exhibit 16.1 Letter regarding change in certifying
accountants from Wipfli Ullrich Bertelson LLP.