ICBA's National Community Bank Service Awards program acknowledges the valuable role community banks play in sustaining communities across the nation, and nationally recognizes ICBA member banks' for their outstanding volunteer efforts. Award recipients will be announced during the ICBA National Convention and Techworld in March. Winners will be featured in ICBA Independent Banker. ICBA member banks are recognized in four National Award categories based on asset size. One recipient is honored with the Grand National Award, the highest overall honor. The Grand National Award is the bar for the rest of us and gives us a model for all community banks to aspire to. In addition, ICBA recognizes outstanding commitment to promoting financial literacy. Each category may have a national winner. It is possible that judges may not choose a winner in each category. Nominations are judged by a panel of community bankers. ICBA recognizes community banks that receive three Grand National Awards. Called the ICBA National Community Bank Hall of Fame, this category is the pinnacle of community banking service to the community, and represents achievement for all community banks to strive. Upon selection to receive the Grand National Award for the third time since inception of the ICBA Community Service Awards program in 2001, the community bank immediately enters the ICBA National Community Bank Service Awards Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame nominees receive a commemorative trophy for display. Community bank judges can select a Grand National honoree in the same year that an honoree enters the Hall of Fame. There can be a Grand National Award recipient and a Hall of Fame honoree in the same year. It is possible that judges may not choose a winner in each category. Nominations are judged by a panel of community bankers. The deadline for ICBA members to submit nomination forms is Friday, November 19, 2010. Criteria Though service programs do not need to meet all of the judging criteria, nominations are evaluated on six criteria: - The service program must be a volunteer effort.
- The program’s impact on the community (the positive changes the project has made on the community).
- The creativity or innovative nature of the service program (what makes this project special or unique).
- How well the service program solves the problem it set out to alleviate (what the bank is trying to achieve and why)
- The involvement of bank employees in the service program (how many bank employees are involved in the project, do bank staff have direct involvement)
- The longevity of the service program (how long the project has been in place).
Award Categories - Community banks achieve the Hall of Fame award upon selection as a Grand National Award recipient for the third time.
- Grand National Award
- National Awards:
- Category A: Assets under $100 million
- Category B: Assets $100 million to $250 million
- Category C: Assets $251 million to $500 million
- Category D: Assets over $500 million
- Financial Literacy: A community bank financial literacy program may be selected to receive an award for its financial literacy program.
2011 Award Benefits Award recipients are recognized during ICBA’s National Convention in the spring of each year. The Hall of Fame, Grand National, National and Financial Literacy recipients will be recognized in ICBA Independent Banker magazine. In addition, the Grand National Award recipient receives $1,000 to use toward future community service work. All other recipients each receive $500 for their programs. Member entries or nominating organizations must complete and submit an official nomination form online. You can nominate your own bank. Submitting electronic files consisting of 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. Nomination Form and Additional Information | 
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