Exceptional Winner

Awarded to a bank that developed its service program three or more years ago

Investing in the next generation

Gulf Coast Bank has been a supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana for 35 years.

By Roshan McArthur

When a service program lasts for decades, it becomes part of the fabric of a community. That is clearly the case with $500 million-asset Gulf Coast Bank and its partner, Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana.

For the past 35 years, Gulf Coast Bank in Abbeville, Louisiana, has been a supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana’s annual fundraiser. Since 2009, the bank has raised almost $700,000 for the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which provides low-cost afterschool and summer programs for the region’s youth who need them most. 

Fundraising can sometimes be challenging, says Jason Patout, senior vice president of Gulf Coast Bank. “But when this rolls around, our employees jump on it,” he says. “There is a whole lot of buy-in and excitement around it. We do have some incentives to try to keep it fun and light, and we’ve got a lot of really competitive employees. So, it kind of plays to that advantage.”

The raffle-style event runs from January to April each year, and bank employees are encouraged to sell tickets with incentives like lunches, paid days off and trophies. Customers get equally fired up, not least because the grand prize is a new car.

According to Rhyan Wheeler, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana, Gulf Coast Bank functions like an extension of the organization’s own team. 

“We really can’t do the event without them,” Wheeler says. “More than 50% of the fundraising is from the bank’s side. It is incredible to have a partner that’s so invested in what we do.”

From ducks to crawfish

The fundraiser has been through several iterations, and chances are if you’ve passed by any of Gulf Coast Bank’s 10 locations in recent years, you’ll have spotted a giant inflatable duck. In the Running of the Ducks event, raffle tickets in the form of rubber ducks were raced down a giant waterslide.

“The duck race was a well-known event around town,” Wheeler says, “and at the time they would take these large inflatable ducks and put them at their branches. One year, one of them was stolen, and there was some sort of wild duck chase to get the inflatable duck back!”

The missing duck was eventually located. However, in 2020, the fundraiser went digital. Realizing that the rubber duck race was an expensive way to run a fundraiser, the organizers changed it to an online Crawfish Crawl featuring a new mascot named Claudia Pinchington. Happily, there was no decline in funds raised. 

The format may have changed, but the idea behind the fundraiser is the same: to raise awareness of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana’s work supporting youth and provide funds for items such as STEM technology, art and craft supplies, meals and transportation.

“The youth in our communities are our future—our future employees, business leaders, community leaders, doctors, lawyers,” says Patout. “We just think it’s vitally important to reach out to the youth and make sure they’re set up for success.”

“The youth in our communities are our future—our future employees, business leaders, community leaders, doctors, lawyers. We just think it’s vitally important to reach out to the youth and make sure they’re set up for success.”

—Jason Patout, Gulf Coast Bank

More than a kids club

In addition to the Crawfish Crawl, Gulf Coast Bank sponsors a monthly birthday party at the club closest to its head office in Abbeville. Volunteers from the community bank bring cupcakes, hang out with the kids, play games and mentor them. 

“We really try to get involved and be a good role model for those kids,” says Patout. “Some of these kids—this is their outlet. They’ve got maybe a single-parent home, their mother or father is working multiple jobs, and so this is a safe space for them to go while their caretaker is at work.”

The clubs provide programming for children who are priced out of other after-school or extracurricular opportunities. 

“We charge $25 for the entire eight-week summer program, and then $25 for the entire school year, so kids really can access the things that they need,” says Wheeler. “The hours of 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., when kids are out of school, maybe home alone, are really critical hours. That’s when juvenile crime rates go up. So, we want to be there for the kids and families that need us.

“When kids come to us, they are provided homework help,” she adds. “They get a hot meal every day, and we’re teaching them to give back to the communities that they’re growing up in and plan for their futures, because we want them to be successful.”

It’s clear to Patout that this program matters to Gulf Coast Bank and to each team member on a personal level. “To be able to go and help these kids is just personally gratifying,” he says. “I’ve got three kids, and they love going to the clubs. It’s a way for me to teach them to give back. We owe it to our community and those that are less fortunate to give back to them.”

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Emerging Winner

Awarded to a bank that developed its service program less than three years ago

Volunteerism made legendary

Legends Bank’s Legends Lift program supports the community during natural disasters and other crises.

By Bridget McCrea

Legends Bank in Clarksville, Tennessee, has always had a culture of giving. Across its 10 locations, $880 million-asset Legends prioritizes the needs of others both in and outside of the organization. 

The community bank proved this true in 2024 by establishing Legends Lift, a volunteer service program that steps up during times of crisis and pitches in to help fulfill ongoing needs in the community.

Located in a region that’s prone to natural disasters, Legends Bank works with YAIPAK—which supports local military individuals experiencing homelessness—to support their recovery efforts in communities during and after tornadoes, floods and other catastrophic events. The bank staff puts thousands of volunteer hours annually toward groups like Habitat for Humanity and has taken home the United Way’s “Best Overall Campaign” award 11 times.

Legends’ culture of volunteerism shows up in a multitude of ways. For example, in 2025, its eighth consecutive “Turkeys for Troops” program is expected to gather more than 100 volunteers on the Saturday before Thanksgiving to distribute frozen turkeys to 1,500 military members and their families. 

The community bank partners with area businesses and Austin Peay State University to mobilize the event, which is open to anyone with a valid military ID. 

“They just pull in, show their ID and get their turkey, two-liter bottle of soda and other items,” says Charlie Koon, SVP and community and business/military development manager for Legends Bank. “It’s been a huge success, and it helps lift people up during the holidays. It’s just another way for us to give back and try to make a difference.”

Being near the Fort Campbell U.S. Army base, Legends Bank’s served community includes many veterans, retired personnel, active-duty officers and military families. Koon estimates that the area has about 40,000 school-age children, with over a third of them being affiliated with the military.

“We honor [veterans] by helping them,” says Koon. “That can mean supplying them with a tractor-trailer load of bottled water or helping out to address food insecurity. We live among heroes here, and we just wanted to help out the best we can.”

A blueprint for community care

CEO Tommy Bates says that Legends Lift was created to help bring Legends Bank’s various community outreach and volunteer initiatives under a single umbrella. He notes that when Koon joined the bank in September, he helped take the project to the next level. 

Legends Bank recently partnered with YAIPAK and The Millan Foundation to mobilize a new Operation Hauling Hope program, which delivers necessities to veterans, families in need and people experiencing homelessness. The community bank gathers donations from the community, organizes the logistics and houses a foundation that manages the financial aspect of the program. 

Throughout the year, Operation Hauling Hope makes weekly semi-truck deliveries of water, detergent, cleaning supplies and hygiene products to area residents and military families. Sometimes those deliveries are routine, and others are focused on disaster relief.

“During the east Tennessee floods [in 2024], we were able to [assist YAIPAK in diverting] trucks up there to deliver the goods to the people in that region,” says Bates.

Sherry Nicholson, founder and CEO of YAIPAK, says the bank’s partnership has had a “profound impact.”

“[Legends Bank’s] contribution to our organization has reached about 40,000 families a month, from providing basic life necessities to education,” says Nicholson. “Our partnership is filling the gaps in a very tangible way and without hesitation. We can mobilize quickly in the cases of those with the most urgent needs. Children to adults are receiving hope through quality care, support and dignity.”

A focus on financial literacy

Legends Bank is also helping to tackle financial illiteracy, which Bates views as a critical issue for students who don’t receive financial literacy education in school. It’s also important for the area’s Hispanic population, which he says doesn’t always get a fair shake when it comes to banking, loans and other financial opportunities. 

“We have a large Hispanic population here that tends to get taken advantage of with high loan rates, payday loans and other issues,” says Bates. “Many of them are being held back, because they’re unsure of how to interact with the traditional banking system. We want to help bridge that gap.”

Two Legends Lift team members created custom presentations in both English and Spanish and offer those programs to church groups and organizations like Junior Achievement and AARP. The topics include budget and credit repair as well as how to avoid predatory lending.

Bates and Koon say they’re always working on plans to expand Legends Lift’s reach and help in new areas. They haven’t announced any formal expansion plans yet but say a broader geographical footprint could be in the cards. 

To community banks that want to start or grow their own community outreach efforts, Bates says to get started even if the initial effort is small at first. 

“It can be daunting, but once you get into it and start seeing the benefit, the momentum just builds upon itself,” he says.

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Exceptional Honorable Mention

A new take on giving

The State Bank and Trust Company’s GIVES program enables bank employees to volunteer and simultaneously earn paid time off.

By Rachel Hatcher

At The State Bank and Trust Company in Defiance, Ohio, maintaining connections and engaged employees go hand in hand. The $1.5 billion-asset bank’s GIVES (Gathering Individuals to Volunteer, Empower and Serve) program connects employees with local nonprofits through meaningful volunteerism. Plus, with every volunteer event, employees earn points for paid time off. 

Nichole Wichman, State Bank’s chief marketing officer, says volunteerism should be supported and celebrated without having to sacrifice precious family and personal time. 

“By offering paid time off in exchange for volunteer hours, we’re acknowledging that work-life balance is about more than just schedules,” she says. “It’s about supporting our people as whole individuals.”

Since the program first began in April 2018, State Bank has amassed 155 volunteers among its staff, who have contributed 8,912 volunteer hours through 643 events. Any local nonprofit can fill out an online form and request volunteer help through the bank’s website. 

The bank also purchased a food truck used for volunteer events. “Not only do we help supply volunteers for their events, but often we also bring the GIVES Truck to serve food, snacks or refreshments to collect freewill donations for the organization,” says Tim McDonough, community relations coordinator at the bank. 

Bank employees have participated in projects that range from cleaning up after events to serving seniors at local fairs. “We empower our employees to invest their time and talents where they’re needed most—before we ask for business in return,” says Mark Klein, State Bank’s chairman, president and CEO.

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Emerging Honorable Mention

Tackling poverty head on

Security State Bank of Oklahoma’s targeted housing initiatives are creating opportunities and fostering hope in one of America’s poorest cities.

By Faith Vue

With a poverty rate of 41.7%, Wewoka, Oklahoma, is one of the nation’s poorest cities, yet $390 million-asset Security State Bank of Oklahoma is determined to create lasting change. 

The community bank, which is based in Wewoka, is prioritizing job creation and housing. In 2021, the $390 million-asset bank created the Transformational Task Force with a mission to reduce poverty and encourage financial growth.

“It was important to have the word ‘transformation’ included in the name,” says Tip Burch, CEO of Security State Bank of Oklahoma. “‘Change’ can improve something, but ‘transformation’ creates something better by replacing the old with the new. Transformation is bigger than change.”

In March 2022, the community bank formed the Center for Community Transformation, a nonprofit that enables Security State Bank to apply for grants to fund the Transformational Task Force’s missions. “A lot of what we have accomplished has been through the nonprofit affiliated with our bank,” says Burch. 

In both 2023 and 2024, the Center for Community Transformation received $500,000 grants from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka. Partnering with the Housing Authority of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the bank used these funds to build two new homes for children experiencing homelessness, one for girls and the other for boys. 

Jesse Grandstaff, vice president of Security State Bank, notes that Center for Community Transformation’s services are also advertised to customers. “We had an elderly woman who was in desperate need of a new roof. She came in to apply for a loan and one of our officers suggested for her to come talk to me,” says Grandstaff. “Lo and behold, she qualified. We were able to provide her a new roof at no cost to her.”

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Emerging Honorable Mention

Neighbors in every sense

Key Community Bank’s support of Neighbors Inc., a local food bank, exemplifies its long-standing philanthropic ethos.

By Tarra Willox

Key Community Bank in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, strives to set an example of investing in its local community. It actively supports its community through monetary donations, grants and scholarships, and participation in local events such as parades and festivals. 

The $100 million-asset community bank’s philanthropic spirit is most evident in its weekly volunteer service at Neighbors Inc., a food bank in South Saint Paul, Minnesota. Although the bank has a long-standing relationship with Neighbors Inc., it approached the nonprofit about three and a half years ago to identify areas where support was most needed. 

“There wasn’t really a business that could send people [to volunteer] every single week, and that’s where we said … we can make it happen,” says Jason Erdman, president and CEO of Key Community Bank. 

Holly Christenson, the bank’s vice president of cash management, appreciates the in-person interaction and connections that take place while volunteering at the food bank. “Personally, I love that it’s kind of become our signature where we’re Key Community Bank and ‘community’ truly is the heart of our name, and we really show it,” she says.

Employees genuinely enjoy volunteering with Neighbors Inc., says Chantelle McClure, Key’s SVP of operations and compliance. Despite having just 15 employees, bank staff volunteer their time during work hours, with “backup” employees at the ready if someone needs their time covered. “I don’t think we’ve had a single week that we’ve had to call [Neighbors Inc.] and say it’s not going to work,” she says.

The relationship is mutually beneficial. Through Neighbors Inc.’s Financial Empowerment Center, which supports unemployed or underemployed individuals, the nonprofit helped facilitate the hiring of a new employee by Key Community Bank last May. It worked out well, and the bank is very happy with its new employee, says Erdman.

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Congratulations to the 2025 National Community Bank Service Awards winners!

This well-deserved recognition celebrates your unwavering dedication to serving your communities, driving innovation and embodying what it means to be a trusted partner in community banking.

Service is the foundation of community banking. Today’s customers expect more than financial transactions; they seek meaningful relationships, forward-looking solutions and unwavering security. The leaders recognized through the ICBA National Community Bank Service Awards understand and rise to this challenge, meeting the evolving needs of their communities with exceptional care and innovation. You ensure that community banks remain at the heart of thriving local economies, and for that, we celebrate your outstanding efforts.

At FIS, we share your passion for delivering excellence in community banking. For more than 50 years, we’ve worked to empower financial institutions by harnessing cutting-edge technology and deep financial expertise. We believe that when community banks have the right tools, they can create seamless, secure, and innovative experiences that delight their customers while fostering growth and trust.

Here’s how we’re committed to supporting community bankers like you:

• Comprehensive solutions that address everything from compliance and analytics to core banking and payment processing

• Secure, scalable technology designed to ensure smooth and safe operations as your institution expands

• Innovative customer experience tools that help you meet the rising expectations of modern banking customers

• Actionable insights powered by advanced analytics, enabling data-driven decisions to enhance efficiency and uncover new opportunities

• Dedicated partnerships built on collaboration, with personalized guidance to support long-term success

Your achievements reflect the spirit of transformation and resilience that defines community banking. They inspire us to continue pushing boundaries and unlocking financial harmony alongside you. Together, we can tackle challenges, seize opportunities and strengthen the lifeline community banks provide to their communities.

FIS is honored to partner with you and stands ready to help shape the future of community banking with technology and innovation that empowers you to serve your customers better, faster and more securely.

Visit fisglobal.com for more details.

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