The only award recognizing elite, ambitious, results-oriented banks that stand out as the best in their community.
2014 Extraordinary Bank of the Year™ Award Winner
2015 Institute for Extraordinary Banking™ Hall of Fame Inductee
“Everywhere we go, everyone asked us, ‘How’d you win that award?’ The first year we won it, we grew more than we had in the previous 8 years combined.”
2019 Extraordinary Bank of the Year™ Award Winner
2022 Institute for Extraordinary Banking™ Hall of Fame Inductee
“We use the Banky recognition as a tool with our employees to push a culture of excellence.”
Our distinguished panel of industry-expert judges found 43 community banks worthy to receive Banky Awards for their commitment to strong community banking. In addition, the judges named winners in four asset classes in five special-focus categories, as well as overall category winners. Finally, the judges selected three finalists for the coveted Extraordinary Bank of the Year Award; the judges and our Super Conference attendees voted to choose the winner.
From left to right: Brad Henshaw, President; Christine Hankins, President of Retail Banking; Charles (Charlie) Holland, Chief Executive Officer
The team from Farmers State Bank of Alto Pass poses with a check representing the $25,000 donation to be made in the bank’s name to The Unstoppable Foundation.
From left to right: Misty Allen, Director of The Institute for Extraordinary Banking™; Roxanne Emmerich, Founder and Chair of the Institute
From left to right: Our winner Charlie Holland, CEO, Farmers State Bank of Alto Pass (Harrisburg, IL); David Krause, CEO, Pioneer Bank (St. Peter, MN); Nevin Grigsby, President, Farmers State Bank (Pittsfield, IL)
From left to right: Misty Allen, Director of The Institute for Extraordinary Banking; Roxanne Emmerich, Founder and Chair of the Institute
From left to right: Brad Henshaw, President; Christine Hankins, President of Retail Banking; Roxanne Emmerich; Founder and Chair, Institute for Extraordinary Banking; Charlie Holland, CEO
From left to right: David Krause, CEO; Roxanne Emmerich; Founder and Chair, Institute for Extraordinary Banking; Duane Olenius, CRO; Clay Sharkey, CCO
From left to right: Roxanne Emmerich, Founder and Chair, The Institute for Extraordinary Banking; Chris Floyd, CEO, First National Bank of Syracuse (Syracuse, KS)
Special congratulations are in order for CEO Chris Floyd and his entire team at First National Bank in Syracuse, Kansas. Talk about not resting on your laurels! First, they were inducted at Super Conference into the Institute for Extraordinary Banking Hall of Fame by virtue of having been named the 2021 Extraordinary Bank of the Year.
But this is a team that just keeps setting the bar higher: they also won or tied for five awards in the 2022 competition.
This high-performing crew racked up the following:
The Extraordinary Banking Awards highlight the vital yet often overlooked role that local community banks play in our nation’s economy. Without a vibrant local banking industry, our small businesses and families often lack the have-your-back support of a true community bank that makes communities really thrive. The Extraordinary Banking Awards recognize the best of what community banks offer to our cities, towns, and nation: a true commitment to the success of the small businesses and local community they serve.
Only the top community banks in America earn these prestigious awards that signify their elite status.
2015 Extraordinary Bank of the Year™ Award Winner
2016 Institute for Extraordinary Banking™ Hall of Fame Inductee
“We not only met EVERY goal in ALL our branches, but we exceeded many of our goals by 100 percent! Our entire organization acts like a team! I can’t imagine any CEO who wouldn’t want this.”
2016 Extraordinary Bank of the Year™ Award Winner
2017 Institute for Extraordinary Banking™ Hall of Fame Inductee
“For a team that didn’t ever think about sales before a year and a half ago, that’s wonderful. We’ve hit a 6.7 average for cross-sales for our whole team and have had individuals as high as 12!“
2017 Extraordinary Bank of the Year™ Award Winner
2018 Institute for Extraordinary Banking™ Hall of Fame Inductee
“Winning the Banky really showed our staff that we were different from our competitors. It gave us new confidence…then our calling programs really started to take off… and the results took off, too.”
America makes buying choices based on these recognized names. What could this designation do for you? In this noisy and competitive world, Banky Award winners stand apart… and above. Imagine the buzz in your community when you’re able to announce that your bank has been recognized as one of the Best Banks in America™. The Banky is a proven differentiator that your best prospects and customers respond to. It’s one of the premier gateways to premium pricing and A+ quality customers and gives you an even higher level of distinction and differentiation for community banks.
Complete List of Banky Award Winners
• Bank of Guam
• Citizens Bank (Batesville, AR)
• Community Bank – CBNA (Canton, NY)
• Denver Savings Bank (Denver, IA)
• Farmers State Bank (Pittsfield, IL)
• Farmers State Bank of Alto Pass (Harrisburg, IL)
• Field & Main Bank (Henderson, KY)
• First Bank (Sterling, KS)
• First Bankers Trust Company, N.A. (Quincy, IL)
• First National Bank of Syracuse (Syracuse, KS)
• First Volunteer Bank (Chattanooga, TN)
• Flanagan State Bank (Flanagan, IL)
• Forward Bank (Marshfield, WI)
• German American State Bank (German Valley, IL)
• Home State Bank (Jefferson, IA)
• Hoosier Heartland State Bank (Crawfordsville, IN)
• KS Bank (Smithfield, NC)
• Locality Bank (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
• Louisiana National Bank (Ruston, LA)
• Main Street Bank (Marlborough, MA)
• Merchants Bank of Indiana (Carmel, IN)
• Minnesota National Bank (Sauk Centre, MN)
• Montecito Bank and Trust (Santa Barbara, CA)
• Nicolet National Bank (Green Bay, WI)
• North Brookfield Savings Bank (North Brookfield, MA)
• Oconee State Bank (Watkinsville, GA)
• Peach State Bank and Trust (Gainesville, GA)
• Pioneer Bank (St. Peter, MN)
• Richwood Bank (Richwood, OH)
• Rondout Savings Bank (Kingston, NY)
• Savings Bank of Danbury (Danbury, CT)
• Security Bank (Laurel, NE)
• Security State Bank (Scott City, KS)
• Star Bank (Maple Lake, MN)
• Sterling Federal Bank (Sterling, IL)
• Success Bank (Bloomfield, IA)
• The Bank of Elk River (Elk River, MN)
• The First Citizens National Bank (Upper Sandusky, OH)
• TS Bank (Treynor, IA)
• Ulster Savings Bank (Kingston, NY)
• Valley Bank of Commerce (Roswell, NM)
• Vista Bank (Ralls, TX)
• West Shore Bank (Ludington, MI)
BanksGiving™ Award for philanthropy
• Under $300 Million Asset Class: Hoosier Heartland State Bank (Crawfordsville, IN)
• $300 Million to $500 Million Asset Class: TS Bank (Treynor, IA)
• $500 Million to $1 Billion Asset Class: Richwood Bank (Richwood, OH)
• Over $1 Billion Asset Class: TIE between First Volunteer Bank (Chattanooga, TN) and Main Street Bank (Marlborough, MA)
Hoosier Heartland State Bank (Crawfordsville, IN)
Above and Beyond Customer Service Award
• Under $300 Million Asset Class: Security Bank (Laurel, NE)
• $300 Million to $500 Million Asset Class: Sterling Federal Bank (Sterling, IL)
• $500 Million to $1 Billion Asset Class: KS Bank (Smithfield, NC)
• Over $1 Billion Asset Class: Main Street Bank (Marlborough, MA)
Sterling Federal Bank (Sterling, IL)
Thought Leader Award for innovative approaches
• Under $300 Million Asset Class: Security Bank (Laurel, NE)
• $300 Million to $500 Million Asset Class: First National Bank of Syracuse (Syracuse, KS)
• $500 Million to $1 Billion Asset Class: KS Bank (Smithfield, NC)
• Over $1 Billion Asset Class: First Volunteer Bank (Chattanooga, TN)
Security Bank (Laurel, NE)
TGIM® Culture Award for employee engagement
• Under $300 Million Asset Class: Security Bank (Laurel, NE)
• $300 Million to $500 Million Asset Class: First National Bank of Syracuse (Syracuse, KS)
• $500 Million to $1 Billion Asset Class: Field & Main Bank (Henderson, KY)
• Over $1 Billion Asset Class: Main Street Bank (Marlborough, MA)
First National Bank of Syracuse (Syracuse, KS)
Money Smarts Award for financial literacy education
• Under $300 Million Asset Class: Security Bank (Laurel, NE)
• $300 Million to $500 Million Asset Class: TIE between Home State Bank (Jefferson, IA) and First National Bank of Syracuse (Syracuse, KS)
• $500 Million to $1 Billion Asset Class: West Shore Bank (Ludington, MI)
• Over $1 Billion Asset Class: Main Street Bank (Marlborough, MA)
TIE between Home State Bank (Jefferson, IA) and
First National Bank of Syracuse (Syracuse, KS)
BanksGiving Award Overall Category Winner: Hoosier Heartland State Bank (Crawfordsville, IN)
From left to right: Roxanne Emmerich, Founder and Chair, Institute for Extraordinary Banking; Brad Monts, President & CEO
BanksGiving Award Overall Category Winner: Hoosier Heartland State Bank (Crawfordsville, IN)
From left to right: Roxanne Emmerich, Founder and Chair, Institute for Extraordinary Banking; Dean Ahlers, President & CEO
Thought Leader Award Overall Winner: Security Bank (Laurel, NE)
From left to right: Roxanne Emmerich, Founder and Chair, Institute for Extraordinary Banking; Lee Potts, Vice President & Senior Credit Officer
TGIM Culture Award Overall Winner: First National Bank of Syracuse (Syracuse, KS)
From left to right: Roxanne Emmerich, Founder and Chair, Institute for Extraordinary Banking; Chris Floyd, CEO
Money Smarts Overall Winner (tied): Home State Bank (Jefferson, IA)
From left to right: Roxanne Emmerich, Founder and Chair, Institute for Extraordinary Banking; Bob Allen, President
Money Smarts Overall Winner (tied): First National Bank of Syracuse (Syracuse, KS)
From left to right: From left to right: Roxanne Emmerich, Founder and Chair, Institute for Extraordinary Banking; Chris Floyd, CEO
I get your skepticism, but there are NO hidden fees. There’s no fee to nominate your bank, and if you are selected to receive a Banky Award, you won’t pay to attend the Awards Ceremony or The Best Banks in America Super Conference. (The ceremony is at the conference).
You will receive two complimentary tickets for the CEO and an accompanying exec or director. If you want to bring a larger team, you’ll be able to do so at an exclusive “winner’s rate.” This will give you access to both the Super Conference and the Banky Awards.
Great question! You’ve heard of the Emmys, the Tonys, the Grammys… each award of distinction sets consumer buying preferences for entertainment. The Banky gives the same level of distinction and differentiation for community banks.
Unlike most banks that think differentiation means lofty platitudes like “we have great customer service” or “our people make the difference,” you know that you need extreme, meaningful differentiation from your competitors.
Imagine the buzz in your market when you are able to announce that your bank is recognized among the Best Banks in America. You’ll soon find that The Banky is a gateway to premium pricing.
Hundreds of banks will apply, and dozens will receive a Banky Award, signifying their excellence in banking. Twenty select banks will be recognized as category finalists in their respective asset classes, in each of the five categories:
– BanksGiving™ (Philanthropy)
– Above-and-Beyond Customer Service
– Thought Leadership
– Thank God It’s Monday!® Internal Culture
– Money Smarts (Financial Literacy Education)
Three elite banks will be selected as finalists for the Extraordinary Bank of the Year Award. Each will present their accomplishments on stage at the Awards. Then the audience of top-performing bankers will vote to choose this year’s Extraordinary Bank of the Year.
We use a panel of three independent banking industry experts, as well as thought leaders, to review all the applications, and select Banky winners, category finalists and winners, and the three finalists for the Extraordinary Bank of the Year Award.
The identities of the judges are concealed until the awards ceremony to prevent banks from lobbying the judges.
I like your moxie, but you’d be better off plowing that energy into your nomination package. Roxanne is not involved in the judging—it’s completely independent. That said, she does enjoy dark-chocolate-covered strawberries.
Banky Award winners receive an award, a red-carpet photo op, a complete PR/marketing kit. They also receive two complimentary tickets for The Best Banks in America Super Conference and Extraordinary Banking Awards Ceremony.
Category winners receive all of the above, plus special recognition as a category winner.
The Extraordinary Bank of the Year Winner receives a NEW CAR—yes, really—wrapped with the winning bank’s logo, announcing their win. Plus, a $25,000 donation, made in the name of the bank, to fund the construction of a school in Africa. If you win, the car is yours to keep… forever.
The Awards are a part of The Best Banks in America Super Conference hosted by The Institute for Extraordinary Banking in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Best Banks in America Super Conference takes place September 19-20 with the Extraordinary Banking Awards Ceremony the evening of September 20.
Simple. Just have your marketing department or executive assistant click the button below to download the application.
Some of the country’s top community bank CEOs have attended the last three conferences and said they found two years’ worth of implementation ideas at each event.
When you attend, you’ll hear the real strategies used by award-winning banks—many performing in the top 5% of all community banks. These are strategies that will increase your profits. Not theory, but proven, results-driving, real-world, practical strategies that will grow your bank.