The Best Banks to Work For — $3 billion to $10 billion of assets

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The Best Banks to Work For with between $3 billion and $10 billion of assets are very focused on getting work done more efficiently.

The chief executives at the Best Banks in this size range highlighted the ways in which they rearranged responsibilities, cut out red tape or used technology to automate repetitive or tedious tasks.

One of the the priorities at Seacoast Bank, for example, is investing in the latest technology to stay competitive, while continuously looking for ways to streamline processes to make work easier, said its president and chief executive, Charles Shaffer.

The $9.3 billion-asset Seacoast in Stuart, Florida, has found that there is a side benefit to its tech focus when it comes to attracting new employees. "While it's certainly a competitive marketplace for talent, we find that our culture of innovation and improvement is an essential aspect of our recruiting efforts," Shaffer said.

Origin Bank recently created a department that looks for areas where robotic process automation, or RPA, can create efficiencies and minimize manual tasks. The bank is targeting processes that have to be completed after hours, requiring employees to work outside the normal business day.

“RPA has given them valuable time back and promoted a better work-life balance,” said Drake Mills, president and CEO at the $7.2 billion-asset bank in Ruston, Louisiana.

Executives at these midsize banks also had plenty to say about providing leadership development and recognition for a job well done. And though they may have different approaches to getting results, one thing they have in common is a focus on continuing to improve. This typically entails seeking employee input and acting on it.

Consider Lakeland Bank in Oak Ridge, New Jersey, which tweaked its retention strategy based on what it heard from employees who chose to leave the bank.

After taking a closer look at rising turnover, Lakeland executives saw that it was concentrated in entry-level and consumer-facing positions. In exit interviews, those employees said they were leaving for better compensation, flexible working arrangements, or better career advancement opportunities.

The $7.8 billion-asset bank took several steps in response, including more flexible scheduling and adjustments to total compensation packages. Finally, it expanded its career advancement program, which has already yielded an increase in internal promotions during the first half of 2021.

Overall 90 banks earned a spot in the Best Banks to Work For ranking this year, with just 25 of them having between $3 billion and $10 billion of assets. Scroll through to see how these banks fared compared to their midsize peers and what they are up to in their quest to improve efficiency and employee engagement.

More Best Banks coverage:

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Centier Bank

Merrillville, Indiana
Assets: $5.9 billion
Employees: 915
President and CEO: Michael Schrage
www.centier.com

Culture of caring: One of Centier Bank's goals is to make sure its employees feel that executives care about them. But a pandemic year offered an opportunity for the bank to demonstrate that in new ways.

This included offering paid time off for employees to take coronavirus tests, get vaccinated or, when necessary, quarantine. The bank let employees carry over a week of unused time off into 2021 as well.

Employees whose spouses lost jobs benefited from Centier’s CARE Program, which paid out $49,000 in 2020. The bank also mailed care packages to employees going through difficult times.

Because employees were unable to gather for their annual holiday party in 2020, the bank provided family dinners for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Pictured: Centier Bank hosted a bank-themed birthday party requested by one of its junior investors.
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Origin Bank

Ruston, Louisiana
Assets: $7.2 billion
Employees: 664
Chair, President and CEO: Drake Mills
www.origin.bank

Giving back time: New employees at Origin Bank are handed a “Culture Book” that defines what its values are.

Among the hallmarks is a commitment to creating a positive work-life balance for employees, and lately that has been the impetus behind some of its technology initiatives.

The bank recently created a department that looks for areas where robotic process automation, or RPA, can create efficiencies and minimize manual tasks. The targets include processes that have to be completed after hours, requiring employees to work outside the normal business day, said Origin’s president and CEO, Drake Mills. “RPA has given them valuable time back and promoted a better work-life balance.”

RPA technology also proved valuable in handling the flood of Paycheck Protection Program loans. It helped the bank deliver quickly for its customers, Mills said. But it also reduced the stress on employees.

Pictured: Origin Bank employees helped with an art project undertaken by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Louisiana for a regional art show. The final product was displayed in front of an Origin branch.
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Jim Roland

TIB — The Independent Bankers Bank

Farmers Branch, Texas
Assets: $3.8 billion
Employees: 279
President and CEO: Michael O’Rourke
www.tib.bank

Coffee with a view: Workplace relationships aren’t the only magnets drawing employees into the office. TIB’s headquarters boasts a coffee bar with balconies on every floor, as well as an employee lounge with a market featuring deli-style food and other items.

The workplace also is filled with celebrations marking everything from the changing seasons to stories of great customer service.

In addition, TIB routinely closes down early ahead of holidays to give employees extra time with family and friends.

Pictured: The TIB mascot, Tibby, and the Easter Bunny greet employees at a vaccine party in March 2021.
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The Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank

Hyannis, Massachusetts
Assets: $4.6 billion
Employees: 534
Chair and CEO: Dorothy Savarese
www.capecodfive.com

Eye on education: The Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank, also known as Cape Cod 5, expects its employees to bring their most authentic selves to work. The bank holds up its end of the bargain by committing to support the physical, emotional and intellectual well-being of its employees.

The bank’s commitment includes programs geared to support lifelong learning and development. Employees benefit from access to industry-sponsored programs such as the New England School for Financial Services and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the Wharton School.

Other elements include tuition assistance for both undergraduate and graduate degrees and a student loan repayment program. Internal opportunities include cross-functional development and a mentorship program.

Read more about Cape Cod 5:

Pictured: Cape Cod 5 employees bundled up for an outdoor holiday-themed event in the community.
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Atlantic Capital Bank

Atlanta
Assets: $3.8 billion
Employees: 212
President and CEO: Douglas Williams
www.atlanticcapitalbank.com

Better together: Atlantic Capital Bank welcomes new employees with a wellness program that rewards them throughout the year for maintaining healthy habits, provides free membership to a local gym and offers access to biometric screenings.

The bank prides itself on its teamwork, so the pandemic posed challenges. Still, Atlantic Capital responded quickly, devising a flexible workplace policy that enabled employees to work remotely, in the office or through a hybrid schedule that is a mix of both. It also introduced some team-building exercises, such as virtual Bingo.

The bank continues to offer flexible work arrangements to employees, but, said President and CEO Douglas Williams, “we realize that our best work is collaborative and that occurs when we are together.”

Read more about Atlantic Capital:

Pictured: Atlantic Capital Bank employees pack meals and toiletry supplies for the homeless with the local nonprofit Distant Relatives.
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Independence Bank

Owensboro, Kentucky
Assets: $3 billion
Employees: 427
Chair and CEO: Chris Reid
www.1776bank.com

A pretty penny for your thoughts: Many of Independence Bank's best ideas for efficiency and honing new products come from employees, who receive a financial reward if their idea is successfully adopted.

Bank employees can look forward to holiday celebrations catered by food trucks and parties during major sporting events like the Super Bowl and the Kentucky Derby. On Halloween, the entire staff wears costumes and children from the community are invited into branches for trick-or-treating.

"While we may not have planned for everything 2020 brought us, Independence Bank rose to the challenges of the pandemic because we have the best people, who we call family," said Chris Reid, the chair and CEO at Independence.

Pictured: Independence Bank employees honor first responders with an annual lunch delivered in person.
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First Internet Bank

Fishers, Indiana
Assets: $4.2 billion
Employees: 265
President and CEO: David Becker
www.firstib.com

On their toes: First Internet Bank has a basketball hoop in the parking lot, where employees often gather for a game of hoops on their breaks. That kind of camaraderie and teamwork, developed over years of convivial games, outings and events, is what allowed the bank to not miss a beat when the COVID-19 pandemic forced many employees to work remotely.

"I'm proud that First Internet Bank has always been a model for workplace culture. We believe in the power of personal connections," said President and CEO David Becker.

Pictured: The First Friday of the Month party for First Internet Bank employees in May features Indy 500-themed gift bags.
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Community Bank

Brandon, Mississippi
Assets: $4.3 billion
Employees: 845
President and CEO: Charles W. Nicholson Jr.
www.communitybank.net

Dressed for success: Community Bank provides a steady stream of incentives, events and career development opportunities throughout the year to keep employees engaged.

All employees receive a clothing allowance, full reimbursement for undergraduate college courses and stock ownership in the bank.

Each Friday during football season employees are invited to celebrate their favorite team, and during other seasons they look forward to surprise doughnut deliveries and visits from taco trucks. At least once a year employees are encouraged to get out of the office and work in teams on building homes for Habitat for Humanity.

Pictured: Community Bank employees wear red to show their support for American Heart Month.
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BankPlus

Ridgeland, Mississippi
Assets: $5 billion
Employees: 987
President and CEO: William Ray
www.bankplus.net

Leaning in: Employees caught in the act of doing something good at BankPlus frequently receive rewards like scratch-off cash bonus cards, and consistent high performers are eligible for a range of other incentives and awards.

When the pandemic arrived, BankPlus was in the midst of completely overhauling its core operating system. To offset the stress, operations center employees were treated to gourmet lunches and dinners every day. Employees were encouraged by the surprise arrival of coffee, snow cones, ice cream and entertainment.

“A challenging project that could have potentially damaged morale became a true team-building event,” said President and CEO William Ray.

Pictured: BankPlus employees receive plaques recognizing the bank's support of the National Guard and Reserve.
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Washington Trust Bank

Spokane, Washington
Assets: $10.3 billion
Employees: 1,078
Chair and CEO: Peter Stanton
www.watrust.com

Health begins at home: With many employees working remotely during the pandemic, Washington Trust Bank hosted mobile scavenger hunts and virtual games, along with online exercise programs, all in an effort to keep the atmosphere loose in a time of high stress.

To keep employees healthy, it provided a digital health-screening tool to all workers to monitor possible COVID-19 symptoms.

"Because Washington Trust has such an extraordinary culture that values individual contributions and fosters mutual respect across all levels of the organization, we were able to achieve exceptional things while taking care of our employees and helping prevent stress and burnout," said Chair and CEO Peter Stanton.

Pictured: Through a mobile program Washington Trust sponsors, its employees provide support for Girl Scouts in rural areas learning about STEM careers.
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b1BANK

Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Assets: $4.3 billion
Employees: 639
President and CEO: David "Jude" Melville
www.b1bank.com

Cutting red tape: Since it was founded in 2006, b1BANK has been in a high-growth mode, quadrupling its assets over the past five years. That rate of growth requires careful attention to workload management, according to its president and CEO, David "Jude" Melville.

Through the strategic use of technology, b1BANK has helped employees lighten their workloads and free up their mental bandwidth. The company also weaves in fun group activities, with incentives and rewards, to boost morale.

"Unnecessary bureaucracy is a motivation-killer," Melville said. "Hard work is sustainable if you believe what you're doing is important."

Pictured: Volunteers from b1Bank paint houses as part of a community revitalization program.
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Dacotah Bank

"berdeen, South Dakota
Assets: $3.3 billion
Employees: 581
President and CEO: Robert Fouberg
www.dacotahbank.com

Charity choice: "Dacotah" means "alliance of friends" in the Lakota Sioux language, and it defines Dacotah Bank's philosophy of staying connected to employees and the community.

On an annual basis, each Dacotah Bank employee may direct a $200 donation from the bank to a charitable organization of their choice, which increases to $300 if the employee is a member of that nonprofit's board.

To promote healthy habits, management encourages employees to take breaks by going on "walking meetings." The bank also provides stress-management classes and, upon request, ergonomic desks.

"Balancing the needs of all the constituencies where we live and work is a challenge, but our teams remain positive and have continued to build relationships with customers and each other, while serving our communities," said President and CEO Robert Fouberg.

Read more about Dacotah Bank:

Pictured: Dacotah Bank employees collect bedding and financial donations for Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a local nonprofit for needy children.
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Seacoast Bank

Stuart, Florida
Assets: $9.3 billion
Employees: 965
President and CEO: Charles Shaffer
www.seacoastbank.com

Set up for success: Setting employees up to succeed at Seacoast Bank begins on the first day of work, with a two-day orientation that includes in-person greetings from President and CEO Charles Shaffer and other members of the executive team.

One of the bank's priorities is investing in the latest technology to stay competitive, while continuously looking for ways to streamline processes to make work easier, said Shaffer.

"While it's certainly a competitive marketplace for talent, we find that our culture of innovation and improvement is an essential aspect of our recruiting efforts," he said.

Read more:

Pictured: Seacoast Bank employees wear matching pink T-shirts to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
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Alerus

Grand Forks, North Dakota
Assets: $3.2 billion
Employees: 857
Chair, President and CEO: Randy Newman
www.alerus.com

New options: Prior to the pandemic, the culture at Alerus centered on the in-office experience. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated to the bank's management that employees could be even more productive with expanded remote-work opportunities.

"As a result of our employees' feedback, we streamlined our administrative office locations. We now provide worksite flexibility — in the office, at home or a hybrid model — based on the ability of the job to be performed remotely," said Chair, President and CEO Randy Newman.

An employee profit-sharing program at Alerus is one of its stickiest perks. The bank also encourages activities that reinforce healthy connections to colleagues and the community. Employees can take a workday to volunteer with a charitable organization of their choice, for example.

Pictured: Two Alerus teams prepare for battle in the annual Trike Wars event raising funds for needy families through United Way.
FNBA Staff in front of U-Med Branch

First National Bank Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska
Assets: $5.3 billion
Employees: 632
Chair and CEO: Betsy Lawer
www.fnbalaska.com

Self-care first: First National Bank Alaska puts a high priority on wellness and self-care, presenting year-round seminars on managing stress and staying healthy, along with individual and group fitness challenges. Flexible work schedules are available, and employees may roll over vacation days as needed.

The bank also gives employees a roadmap to career advancement. One element of that includes rewards for employees who spot fraud, go out of their way to solve problems and develop additional competencies and banking knowledge beyond their job description.

Retaining employees is so important to First National Bank Alaska that the institution recently created a Culture Blueprint to recognize and advance the qualities and attitudes of its longest-term workers.

"When employees are comfortable where they work they can do their best to meet our customers' financial needs," said Betsy Lawer, the bank’s chair and CEO.

Read more:

Pictured: First National Bank Alaska employees celebrate their "Best Place to Work" award from Alaska Business Magazine at the U-Med Branch in Anchorage, Alaska.
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The Washington Trust Co.

Westerly, Rhode Island
Assets: $5.9 billion
Employees: 619
Chair and CEO: Edward "Ned" Handy
www.washtrust.com

Two-way talk: On the first day of work at Washington Trust, each new hire goes out to lunch with a manager, who then follows up afterward with a personal card mailed to their home.

Team-building events include the companywide scavenger hunt with tasks like taking a selfie with a senior manager. Employees also cheer one another on during group yoga, stretching and pilates classes. Periodically the bank offers all workers free massages and biometric health screenings.

Other perks include special meals and treats, pizza parties, visits from an ice cream truck and a Mardi Gras-themed breakfast.

Pictured: Washington Trust employees wave flags from participating in Rhode Island's Walk to End Alzheimer's fundraising event.
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Capital City Bank

Tallahassee, Florida
Assets: $4 billion
Employees: 774
Chair and CEO: Bill Smith
www.ccbg.com

Powering through: Capital City Bank didn't let COVID-19 ruin one of its biggest milestones. For the bank's 125th anniversary celebration in 2020, more than 700 employees at all 70 branches received a home delivery of cupcakes and balloons.

The bank leans into ongoing training programs with incentives for those learning new skills and getting results using technology to streamline processes. To help employees cope with daily work stress, the bank provides a free subscription to Headspace, an app promoting mindfulness.

A new tradition includes periodic virtual bankwide breaks called Coffee & Connections, where employees share stories and compete to win prizes.

Pictured: Capital City Bank employees gang up in team costumes for the annual Halloween festival.
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Peapack-Gladstone Bank

Bedminster, New Jersey
Assets: $5.8 billion
Employees: 487
President and CEO: Douglas Kennedy
www.pgbank.com

What gets measured, gets managed: As part of its workforce diversity strategy, Peapack-Gladstone Bank looks at whether its employee base matches the communities it serves.

On a quarterly basis, the bank analyzes the racial and ethnic makeup of its employee base to determine where it’s underrepresented and, thus, needs to improve, said Cecelia Lardieri, its director of human resources.

To better attract diverse talent, Peapack-Gladstone has also initiated a blind recruitment strategy, in which names are removed from resumes during the evaluation process. It also convenes diverse interview panels to remove unintended bias from the hiring process and provides training in how to conduct the interviews.

“We practice behavioral interviewing across the organization, to ensure candidates are evaluated on standard competencies for a role, making the interview process more objective,” Ladieri said.

(See where Peapack-Gladstone ranks on the overall list of Best Banks to Work For.)

Pictured: Peapack-Gladstone employees pick crops at America's Grow-a-Row, a nonprofit in Pittstown, New Jersey, that distributes produce to food-insecure people throughout the state.
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American Savings Bank

Honolulu, Hawaii
Assets: $8.9 billion
Employees: 1,075
President and CEO: Ann Teranishi
www.asbhawaii.com

Turkey as a perk: American Savings Bank in Hawaii has come up with a few creative perks for its employees in recent years.

It offers employees an incentive to shrink their carbon footprint: those who bike, walk or take public transportation to work receive an extra $135 per month, while those who carpool get an extra $60 per month.

The bank also hosted a turkey drive-thru for employees during the pandemic, gifting workers on all five islands a free turkey to take home for Thanksgiving.

Read more:

Pictured: American Savings Bank hosted a turkey drive-thru giveaway and provided nearly 800 employees with a free Thanksgiving dinner.
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Stock Yards Bank & Trust

Louisville, Kentucky
Assets: $6.1 billion
Employees: 656
Chair and CEO: Ja Hillebrand
www.syb.com

Finding the right balance: Stock Yards Bank & Trust tries to strike the right balance between tech savvy and traditional skill sets in hiring.

The bank has seen the same increasing adoption of digital channels as the rest of the industry, but branch traffic has stopped dropping and instead has leveled off recently. That tells Chair and CEO Ja Hillebrand that consumers still value personal interaction, even if they’re also getting more comfortable with options such as interactive teller machines and online treasury services.

When it comes to recruiting, Stock Yards Bank has worked to expand its sourcing of talent — for example, through new relationships with schools — but it still values a few fundamental qualities in candidates.

“Banking has changed, but not so much that new skill sets or backgrounds work better,” he said. “The most important characteristics we seek continue to be integrity, a strong work ethic and strong communication skills.”

Pictured: Stock Yards Bank & Trust employees bond at its Employee Golf Scramble.
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Rik Andersen

Happy State Bank

Amarillo, Texas
Assets: $6.3 billion
Employees: 915
President and CEO: Mikel Williamson
www.happybank.com

A job well done: Happy State Bank has a special recognition program specifically for employees who play a part in catching and stopping fraud.

Any employee can be nominated for membership in the bank’s Fraud Squad, which now stands at 49 strong. A banker might be recognized for placing a hold on a counterfeit check, identifying check forgeries or other fraud, preventing fraudulent wires and requests, or catching identity theft. Those who do so receive $25 worth of new $1 bills and a Fraud Squad t-shirt. The bank estimates that those collective efforts have so far saved $260,951.

Happy State Bank also has a fleet of 13 bank-branded Volkswagen Bugs, which it encourages its employees to drive for work and personal use. Full-time employees can drive them for two weeks at a time, and the bank pays for gas, maintenance and car washes.

Read more about Happy State Bank:

Pictured: Happy State Bank employees cut loose at a “Friendly Feud” event.
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Peoples Bank

Marietta, Ohio
Assets: $5 billion
Employees: 956
President and CEO: Chuck Sulerzyski
www.peoplesbancorp.com

Expanded training: Peoples Bank has made a number of workplace changes over the past year-and-a-half in an effort to hold onto talent.

For example, the Ohio bank created a new mid-manager training program with the ultimate goal of cultivating the next generation of senior leaders. Every business line leader and back-office leader participates in the 12-month program.

Other new benefits include its recently increased 401(k) match, $150 paid to employees who get a COVID-19 vaccine, and casual dress days for employees who donate to the local food bank. Peoples has also initiated regular all-employee calls with the CEO, giving its workforce the chance to get candid responses to their questions.

Pictured: Peoples Bank employees staff a table at Ohio State University’s career fair.
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American National Bank & Trust Co.

Danville, Virginia
Assets: $3.2 billion
Employees: 347
President and CEO: Jeffrey Haley
www.amnb.com

Spark something new: When American National Bank & Trust moved its annual team-building event online, it looked for new ways to foster connections among employees.

The bank invited some of its employees to share a range of personal experiences (it called them “spark stories”) during its companywide Focus Day. Along with a visual slideshow, the five-minute sparks were intended to help employees get to know each other beyond their job titles.

This was the first year the bank moved the team-building and recognition event online and the spark stories were “the overwhelming favorite” aspect of the event, the bank said.

American National also did something new with employee recognition. The day before the event, President and CEO Jeffrey Haley surprised two employees who were recognized for outstanding work and recorded the surprise meetings to share on Focus Day. The entire workforce was also awarded company stock, to emphasize that 2020 had been all about teamwork.

Pictured: American National sponsors several schools in low-income areas in the statewide literacy program, Virginia Reads One Book. In addition to the bank providing financial support, its employees visit the schools to distribute books and read to students.
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Lakeland Bank

Oak Ridge, New Jersey
Assets: $7.8 billion
Employees: 702
President and CEO: Thomas Shara
www.lakelandbank.com

Constructive criticism: Lakeland Bank tweaked its retention strategy based on what it heard from employees who chose to leave the bank.

When executives at Lakeland Bank took a closer look at rising turnover, they saw it was concentrated in entry-level and consumer-facing positions. In exit interviews, those workers said they were leaving for better compensation, flexible working arrangements, or better career advancement opportunities.

The bank took several steps in response, including more flexible scheduling and adjustments to total compensation packages. Finally, it expanded its career advancement program, which has already yielded an increase in internal promotions during the first half of 2021.

Pictured: Lakeland Bank employees participating in the Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County Women Build Week.
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Horizon Bank

Michigan City, Indiana
Assets: $6 billion
Employees: 817
Chair and CEO: Craig Dwight
www.horizonbank.com

A better understanding: Horizon Bank has recently established affinity resource groups open to all of its employees, the first of which was focused on LGBTQ+ issues. The idea behind the voluntary groups is to provide a welcoming forum where employees can share experiences, build relationships and generally cultivate better understanding of each other.

Horizon has also defined and tracked workforce diversity metrics, to better understand where it is lagging or improving. For instance, the proportion of new hires who self-identified as minorities jumped from 16% in 2018 to 26% in 2020.

“We firmly believe that only by leveraging unique talents and learning from differing perspectives will we continue to grow and succeed as a company,” said Chair and CEO Craig Dwight.

Pictured: Horizon Bank employees cut the ribbon at a new branch in Gary, Indiana.
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