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FEATURE STEP ONE - MAKE THE CALL

Edith Snow
Texas Community 817-676-3316

James Walsh
281-794-0065
Banks Go Above Celena Ivanitch

512-787-2164

Richard Grimes
and Beyond 469-543-9337

LINDSEY GEHRIG

I t should come as no surprise to anyone reading this that Texas

community banks—more precisely, the bankers—proactively iden-
tify needs in their communities and spearhead the solution, no matter
the time or expense. The same goes for ensuring customers’ needs are met and that employees feel valued
and appreciated. That’s the spirit and drive that sets community bankers apart, and it’s exactly why IBAT’s
Best of Community Banking (BOCB) Awards were created 26 years ago—to recognize IBAT member banks’
efforts to better the quality of life for those around them.

BOCB Awards celebrate the many long partnership with the Nexus Teen was challenged to identify a community
accomplishments of Texas community Residential Program in Dallas, which service project based on a need, and all
banks, both in their banks and commu- helps adolescent girls address issues such 237 employees completed the projects
nities. The 2017 BOCB Awards once as life skills, healthy relationships and over two days with a discretionary bud-
again honored IBAT member banks for relapse prevention. FCB staff met weekly get that could only be used to purchase
programs in community service, finan- with the girls, mentoring them on top- supplies. Needless to say, the impact was
cial literacy, marketing and architectural ics such as budgeting, saving, payment widespread.
design. methods, interview skills and dressing for
A few interesting trends emerged in success. The bank gained the trust and Bank Culture and Employee
Engagement
this year’s award entries. There was a positively impacted 60 young women
concerted focus on bank culture and who truly needed the guidance and sup- Several entries this year had an empha-
efforts to engage employees, including port. sis on culture and employee engage-
training, recognition and health incen- Both Citizens National Bank (CNB) ment, including Independent Bank (IB) in
tives. Additionally, financial education in Henderson and First United Bank McKinney that highlighted three internal
efforts crossed generations with banks in Lubbock received prestigious programs—one focused on employee
undertaking programs that impact chil- Community Spirit Awards. CNB earned recognition, another on an employee
dren, teens and adults in the same com- this award in architectural design for health program and the last addressing
munity. Lastly, mortgage offerings were buying and restoring the bank’s original corporate culture. While IB has a tra-
the focus of several banks’ marketing 1930s property to its past glory while dition of recognizing employees when
campaigns, emphasizing the importance providing a modern, efficient space. By they reach milestones, it put a formal
of this offering. doing so, the bank honored its roots program in place that expresses appre-
and created a beautiful symbol for the ciation in several ways and supports its
Top Honors community in the heart of downtown culture of caring. IB also launched a well-
The 2017 BOCB Best of Show Award Henderson where its legacy began. First ness program with employee incentives
went to First Convenience Bank (FCB) United Bank was recognized in com- that align with its guiding principle of
in Mesquite—a division of First National munity service for its Community Spirit building healthy communities, starting
Bank Texas in Killeen—for its year- Project. Each of the bank’s 11 markets from within the bank. Lastly, to ensure

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