Photos: Polina Osherov

By Whitney McGoram

In the association’s effort to spread the awareness of community banking, ICBA has started working with natural- and green-living guru Sara Snow to spread the “Go Local” message to consumers nationwide. As ICBA kicks off Community Banking Month, Snow will be touting the benefits of banking locally and the role community banks serve in building sustainable communities to consumer-facing media outlets throughout the country. 

“I’m so excited to work with ICBA to help consumers across the country realize the benefits of banking locally with a community bank,” she says. 

As the creator and host of two natural/green lifestyle cable programs for the Discovery Networks—Living Fresh and Get Fresh with Sara Snow—Snow is renowned throughout the green-living community. She also hosted the Big Green Lies program for the Fine Living Channel, authored “Sara Snow’s Fresh Living” and has become an in-demand media contributor and national speaker.

She also has been a guest on news programs such as Fox and Friends, Good Morning America and The Early Show and a featured blogger on various sites, including her own SaraSnow.com. She has been quoted in numerous national publications, including The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Lucky Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar and Better Homes and Gardens. 

Moreover, Snow has already become a powerful, outspoken fan of community banks. She recently transferred her business account from a megabank to a local community bank two blocks from her Indiana home. “I’m all about natural, green living and am a strong advocate for all things local,” she says, “so it just made sense for me to invest my money in a community bank.”

She says she’s thrilled with her decision and the opportunity to speak to consumers about it through her blog and national media. She has already listed ICBA’s Go Local initiative under her grassroots causes on her website.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while, but now that I made the easy switch I’m so thrilled to be working with a community bank that gives back to my community in so many ways,” she says. “Now, when I talk about my finances, I can say that I’ve gone local in one more way.”

Snow appreciates that her community bank is so friendly and convenient, and that it’s near her favorite coffee shop and the locally owned restaurants and hardware store she frequents. “Now when I run out to grab my coffee or head out for dinner with my husband and daughter,” she says, “I can easily stop by my community bank to speak with my banker about anything that’s on my mind.”

ICBA is looking forward to the cooperative partnership with Snow, too, which will include lots of communications about community banking from her over the next few months, including throughout Community Banking Month. “Sara is such an enthusiastic supporter of ICBA’s Go Local initiative, community banks and the values that they stand for,” says Aleis Stokes, ICBA vice president, media and public relations. 

“We want to spread the message that community banks build sustainable communities by serving local residents and small businesses, while putting deposits back to work where they belong—in the local community,” she adds. “It’s all part of the Go Local message!”

Chris Lorence, ICBA executive vice president and chief marketing officer, describes ICBA’s communications partnership with Snow as a natural progression. “Sara inspires consumers across the country to lead a more natural, green and local life,” Lorence says. “With Sara’s help, we look forward to helping consumers across the country realize that they have a choice when it comes to banking, and that by banking locally they can make a positive step in their lives and better their community at the same time. It’s a win-win.” 

Whitney McGoram is ICBA’s communications engagement and integration specialist.