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The National Community Bank Service Awards program acknowledges the valuable role community banks play in sustaining communities across the nation, and nationally recognizes community banks for their outstanding volunteer efforts.

All community banks with a community service, volunteer, or financial literacy program, helping to sustain communities across the nation are eligible to be nominated for the 2012 National Community Bank Service Awards. Entry is free for all community banks and multiple entries are encouraged. You may nominate your own bank.

Award recipients will be recognized during ICBA’s National Convention, March 11-15 in Nashville, TN. The Grand National Award recipient receives roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations courtesy of ICBA. In addition, all National Award recipients will be recognized in the April 2012 issue of the nationally recognized community banking magazine ICBA Independent Banker.

As a bonus, the Grand National Award recipient receives $1,000 to use toward future community service efforts. National Award recipients each receive $500 for their programs.

Nominations are judged by a panel of community bankers and industry experts. The deadline to submit nomination forms is Friday, December 02, 2011.

Criteria

Though service programs do not need to meet all of the judging criteria, nominations are evaluated on four criteria:

1. The program’s impact on the community. How well the service program solves the problem it set out to alleviate? (the positive changes the project has made on the community).
   
   
2. The creativity or innovative nature of the service program. Did you design this service effort organically or was it already established. (what makes this project special or unique).
   
   
3. The involvement of bank employees in the service program. (what percentage of bank employees are involved in the project, do bank staff have direct involvement. )
   
   
4. Average time donated by bank employees. (how many hours on average, have your bank employees donated)
   
   

Submitting media clippings, photographs or other materials illustrating a bank’s service program efforts and success are helpful, but optional.

Award Categories

• Grand National Award
  
  
  • A Community Bank which demonstrates extraordinary commitment to their local community by creating and participating in local service programs.
    
    
• National Awards:
  
  
  • A Community Bank which demonstrates exemplary commitment to their local community through community service or volunteer efforts.
    
    
    • Category A: Assets under $500 million
      
      
    • Category B: Assets over $500 million2011 Award Benefits
      
      

Award recipients will be recognized during ICBA’s National Convention, March 11-15 in Nashville, TN. The Grand National Award recipient receives roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations courtesy of ICBA. In addition, all National Award recipients will be recognized in the April 2012 issue of the nationally recognized community banking magazine ICBA Independent Banker.

As a bonus, the Grand National Award recipient receives $1,000 to use toward future community service efforts. National Award recipients each receive $500 for their programs.

All Community banks are eligible and encouraged to electronically submit nominations. All entries or nominating organizations must complete and submit an official nomination form. You can nominate your own bank.

Submitting media clippings, photographs or other materials illustrating a bank's service program efforts and success are helpful, but optional.  Any materials submitted as part of the application remain the property of ICBA, and may be used for future promotional efforts at the discretion of ICBA. 

Please send nomination forms by Friday, December 02, 2011, to marketing@icba.org.

Nomination Forms and Information:

2012 Nomination Form: Online | Print