#1 Community Bank Employer in the Nation
First State Bank is excited to be recognized by the Independent Community Bankers of America as the best large community bank employer in the nation. Our devotion to treating our employees like family is more than just words – and this recognition is a prime example of that. I’m a fifth-generation banker, and we have a number of employees here who are multi-generational too. And as a family, we’re committed to supporting each employee to help them grow both personally and professionally in their careers.
It all starts with a great training program. When someone begins their career, they immediately partake in our onboarding program that teaches about the history and culture of our bank. It’s important to me that each employee shares the same values as one another, with family being the number one priority. Training then develops deeper into specific job functions with multiple levels of supervisor and leadership training to help them grow and reach their full potential.
Education drives efficiency at First State Bank, so we also send employees to banking schools, including Texas Tech and SMU, depending on their level within the bank and area of expertise. Because every individual should have the opportunity to continue learning in their career.
It’s also crucial that every employee here is enjoying their job. When the pandemic hit, I saw a major level of exhaustion from our team. Everyone was wondering when it would all be over. I thought, if we’re going to spend our time here, we should be at least having fun. So, last year on April Fools’ Day, I gave everyone at work permission to play. While everyone was still getting their work done, we had scavenger hunts, cornhole, bowling down the hallways and more. Everyone had a blast, and we even kept up the cornhole boards to have impromptu tournaments from time to time.
Overall, creating a good workplace isn’t about the money. It’s about making sure that every employee has ample benefits and growth opportunities – those are the key factors in attracting and retaining employees. Permission to play is a great example of creating a positive work environment without a major expense. So, remove from your mind the barrier of dollars and start thinking of ways to improve the quality of life for your employees.
I’m extremely proud to lead a company full of supportive, hardworking team members. It truly does feel like one big happy family. And thank you to ICBA for this honorable award.
If you’re interested in joining our First State Bank family, click below to see our current openings.