2017 NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANK SERVICE AWARDS

The National Community Bank Service Awards, presented by the Independent Community Bankers of America and sponsored by FIS, recognize community banks providing outstanding, hands-on volunteer community service efforts to their local communities. The 2017 National Community Bank Service Awards recognize all types of community service efforts, from community development to financial literacy and everything in between.

Nominations

Nominations are currently closed.

Awards

The ICBA National Community Banker Service Awards include three total awards:

Grand National Award
National Awards (2)
Honorable Mentions (5)

Learn More

Criteria

Award criteria categories include:

Impact & Program Success
Creativity/Innovation
Employee Involvement
Time Donated

Awards Criteria

2017 National Community Banking Service Award Winners

Since the inception of ICBA's National Community Banking Service Awards in 2002, all types of community service activities have been honored. Many spur new economic development. Some work to expand financial literacy. Still others offer a compassionate helping hand or provide widely enjoyed occasions for people simply to come together to celebrate and make new friends.

2017 GRAND NATIONAL AWARD RECIPIENT

Poca Valley Bank in Walton, W.Va.
Service Program: "Elk River Strong"

Through its “Elk River Strong” program, $338 million-asset Poca Valley Bank provided nearly $100,000 in financial aid tothe neighboring community of Clendenin after a flood destroyed homes, schools, churches, a post office and infrastructure last year.

Poca Valley Bank offered loan forgiveness and funding to help residents find suitable housing. The bank also worked with local schools to help replace damaged equipment. Aside from providing monetary assistance, Poca Valley Bank employees volunteered for a winter coat giveaway for affected families and assisted with post-storm community cleanups. Bank employees averaged more than 25 hours annually volunteering for the “Elk River Strong” program.

2017 NATIONAL AWARD RECIPIENT

The Bank of Missouri in Perryville, Mo.
Service Program: "Praying for Perryville"

ICBA recognized The Bank of Missouri for its recovery efforts after a powerful tornado swept through its hometown of Perryville earlier this year. Following the storm, the $1.3 billion-asset bank’s executive team quickly approved special loan packages to help storm victims rebuild. Employees hand-delivered flyers to their community for the bank’s “Rebuild-Remodel-Purchase-Replace” program that covers financing for home construction and improvement and auto loans, with the bank covering all closing costs. The bank posted articles on social media offering tips on how to protect against identity theft. Employees also set up a barbeque pit for two days and fed 300 storm victims and clean-up volunteers. More than 85 percent of the bank’s employees participated in the program, titled “#PrayingForPerryville.”

2017 NATIONAL AWARD RECIPIENT

ChoiceOne Bank in Sparta, Mich.
Service Program: Spanish-Speaking Outreach

ChoiceOne Bank received recognition for its outreach program that provides safe, secure banking to Spanish-speaking workers in the area’s agricultural and farming communities. Many of these workers lack access to U.S.-based banks and use check cashing facilities, which typically charge high fees to cash paper paychecks.

The $614 million-asset bank offered these workers direct deposit and partnered with a prepaid payroll card provider with whom they negotiated reduced fees and waived all ATM charges for the cards. The bank also launched a Spanish-language customer service telephone line and sponsored a nine-week course where 20 employees learned Spanish and about cultural diversity. Employees donated as much as 300 hours individually to make this program a success.