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2024 Award Winners

Affordable Housing

Columbia Bank, Fair Lawn, N.J., for its Advancing Access program. The special purpose credit program provides affordable home loans in majority-minority communities. Eligible borrowers receive discounted rates, grants to assist with closing or down payment costs, private mortgage insurance waivers and flexible underwriting requirements. In year one of the program, the bank originated nearly $65 million in Advancing Access loans and provided over $1.7 million in grant assistance.

Community and Economic Development

Comerica Bank, Dallas, Texas, for establishing BusinessHQ, a collaborative space providing integral services and value to small businesses in South Dallas. Comerica BusinessHQ provides business owners and local nonprofits with capital, cultivation and connectivity. From coworking and meeting space to technical and business advice, it has become a community hub for small businesses in the area, helping more than 2,400 people and serving more than 165 enrolled members since its inception in May 2023.

Financial Education

Regions Bank, Birmingham, Ala. for its innovative methods of reaching more people with financial education tailored to their needs. Along with its library of free Regions Next Step materials available to everyone, Regions developed content for people who are neurodivergent and/or on the autism spectrum, for students with various disabilities, for people who have been through the justice system and more. 

Economic Inclusion

Berkshire Bank, Boston, Mass., for its Community Comeback program. The program has helped consumers realize the dream of homeownership, improve financial outcomes, create jobs, redevelop neighborhoods and build a more equitable and sustainable future with $5 billion in lending, investment and technical assistance – an increase of approximately 70%. The Community Comeback focused on four key areas: fueling small businesses, community financing and philanthropy, financial access and empowerment and environmental sustainability. 

Protecting Older Americans

American Riviera Bank, Santa Barbara, Calif., for its dedication to combating elder financial abuse through education, training and partnerships with authorities. In addition to providing valuable resources like blogs, podcasts, webinars and community presentations, staff are trained to identify abuse indicators, and their collaboration with law enforcement ensures prompt action against fraud. 

Supporting Military Families

F&M Bank, Clarksville, Tenn., for spearheading Operation Honor, alongside several local and national non-profit organizations. This endeavor distributes resources to combat the food insecurity that is affecting nearly one-third of military families. Additionally, opportunities are provided to active-duty military, veterans and their family members through financial education and personalized banking services. Through this ambitious program, F&M is committed to identifying and meeting the ever-changing needs of those who strengthen our country and community.

Volunteerism

Community Bank, DeWitt, N.Y., for their team members’ shared passion and sense of responsibility for making a difference. Giving back is a key part of their culture, and in 2023, they broke records for the number of hours team members volunteered, organizations supported and dollars donated. Last year, more than 500 employees served on nonprofit boards and committees. Collectively in 2023, their team spent more than 16,800 hours volunteering to help customers and communities thrive. 

George Bailey Distinguished Service Award

Raul Valles, VP, Commercial Real Estate, Dallas Capital Bank

Raul Valles has exemplified the qualities honored by the ABA’s George Bailey Distinguished Service Award throughout his career – as a banker for over 20 years, and in the U.S. Army Reserve for 25 years. Raul transferred to the 14th Ordnance Battalion in 2015, which he has led as first sergeant since 2023. 

For Raul, mentoring others is a crucial part of his mission to give back. Recognizing an unfulfilled community need, Raul stepped up to positively influence the lives of his fellow service members by leading an annual financial literacy class. Since 2019, the class has drawn audiences ranging from 30 to over 100. He has also been involved in Veteran’s Connection, a veterans’ employee resource network, doing his part to help veterans prepare for their first civilian jobs.

Raul joined Dallas Capital Bank in 2020, and in his role as Vice President, Commercial Real Estate, he works to establish goodwill between the bank and the community by working with developers to provide moderate income housing for veterans and underserved areas. Raul recently worked to refinance over $8 million in loans for a client who offers 96 single-family rental properties in south and west Dallas, communities with a long record of inadequate resources.

Raul has enthusiastically established relationships with CDCs and CDFIs for community revitalization opportunities. He also worked with the Tarrant County Small Business Development Center in Fort Worth to develop and share a presentation for their audiences on how to create a business plan to qualify for SBA assistance.

Raul served as team lead for Dallas Capital Bank’s Habitat for Humanity Holiday Playhouse project and has volunteered many times for the food bank at Metrocrest Services, one of the bank’s CRA beneficiaries, and a local organization helping families and seniors through crises. 

Honorable Mentions

 

Affordable Housing

City/State: Orlando, FL
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: OFB Community Builders One Florida Bank founded OFB Community Builders in 2019 to help families in Central Florida access quality, affordable homes. The bank has contributed more than $204,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Seminole-Apopka financially. Last fiscal year alone, OFB awarded the affiliate over $149,000, benefiting home construction and individuals’ and families’ financial education journeys.

City/State: Perkasie, PA
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: THRIVE Community Development Plan/Home Opportunity Mortgage
Penn Community Bank’s THRIVE Community Development Plan helps create and sustain thriving communities – namely, through homeownership in the region. The bank’s Home Opportunity Mortgage program is a first-of-its-kind offering for a community bank, ensuring affordable and fair access to housing for modest- or low-income borrowers. Penn Community Bank has also invested into regional housing nonprofits.

 

City/State: Berryville, VA
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Bank of Clarke Foundation
Since 2021, Bank of Clarke’s Foundation has donated over $750,000 to approximately 200 organizations in northern Virginia. Recipients are 501(c)(3) organizations focusing on education, sports, healthcare, social services, the environment, history, the arts and more.

 

City/State: Vienna, VA
ABA Asset Size: Medium
Program Name: Increasing Access to Capital to Maximize Affordable Homeownership Opportunities
United Bank enjoys strong partnerships with several Habitat for Humanity affiliates – combining board and volunteer service, purchasing whole loans, donations and commercial financing. United Bank has provided critical financing needed to fund operating expenses and to acquire property for new developments, and site work including the construction of water and sewer lines, streets and sidewalks.

 

City/State: Morristown, NJ
ABA Asset Size: Medium
Program Name: We Are Home – Legacy Housing Preservation Project
Valley Bank’s We Are Home legacy housing preservation project is a community-led neighborhood plan to protect and promote homeownership and wealth-building in the area. Several organizations partnered to help local families build new homes on properties that have been passed down in their families for generations. Valley Bank helped homeowners secure equitable loan packages.

 
 

Community and Economic Development

City/State: Louisville, KY
ABA Asset Size: Medium
Program Name: Republic Bank Juneteenth Event: Helping our Community Thrive
Republic Bank hosted its fourth annual Juneteenth Event on June 8, 2024, at the Republic Bank Foundation YMCA in Louisville, KY. The goal of the event was to improve health outcomes where access to healthcare has historically been limited, offer education activities and resources and to provide wonderful local food and fun for all ages.

 

City/State: Wheeling, WV
ABA Asset Size: Medium
Program Name: Small Business Resource Event
WesBanco Bank, Inc. held an event designed to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners in the region. This Small Business Resource Event brought together industry experts to share practical advice on financing, government contracting, business plan development, grant funding and more. It was an exhibition-style event where attendees could ask questions and make connections.

 

City/State: Dublin, GA
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Morris Bank Community Foundation
The Morris Bank Community Foundation was formed in 2017. Through this program, financial grants are awarded to fund and strengthen schools, community and faith-based organizations, public services, nonprofits and other 501(c)(3) organizations. The Morris Bank Community Foundation has reinvested over a quarter of a million dollars back into their bank’s footprint.

 

City/State: Berlin, MD
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: For Good Grant Program
The Taylor Bank For Good Fund was established in 2023 to support local community organizations. Grant-making through this program is additional to the bank’s Corporate Sponsorship Program. A portion of all For Good Checking Debit Card transactions are included in the bank's Fund contributions. This philanthropic effort occurs at no additional expense to the customer.

 

City/State: Birmingham, AL
ABA Asset Size: Large
Program Name: Full Circle Community Partnership
For almost 25 years, Regions Bank has partnered with Pathway Lending to support small businesses and work toward affordable housing and sustainable communities. In 2020, the Regions Foundation provided disaster relief after a tornado hit Nashville. In 2023, Regions Affordable Housing invested in the Tennessee Community Investment Tax program to increase affordable housing options for under-resourced local communities.

 
 

 

Financial Education

City/State: Billings, MT
ABA Asset Size: Medium
Program Name: Financial Education
First Interstate Bank holds a community Mini Bank program and Piggy Bank contest to instill the importance of savings at an early age. The bank uses a program called EVERFI to increase their own teams’ financial literacy acumen and created a financial literacy presentation series called “Let’s Talk”. First Interstate Bank participates in every ABA Financial Education campaign.

 

City/State: Carroll, IA
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Educate U
In 2022, Availa Bank launched an outreach program called Educate U to address financial literacy and fraud in their branch communities. Team members traveled to nursing homes to speak about common scams and red flags. Today, the program includes local schools from daycare to high school and beyond. Availa Bank has reached over 11,800 individuals.

 

City/State: Edmond, OK
ABA Asset Size: Medium
Program Name: MidFirst Invest in Girls
MidFirst Bank launched an Invest in Girls initiative that provides financial education, in-depth financial career resources and leadership mentors to high school girls in the community. In partnership with the Council on Economic Education Invest in Girls program, the bank provides opportunities including a full-day conference where young women learn from women at the top of the financial field.

 

City/State: Middletown, MD
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Financial Literacy Committee
Middletown Valley Bank's Financial Literacy Committee teaches financial literacy to individuals of all ages in the community, from preschoolers to older adults. The presentations cover topics such as banking services and careers, budgeting, credit, elder fraud, saving and investing, loans, paying for college, and more.

 

City/State: Oakland, CA
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Financial Education for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
The financial education and wellness program, a collaborative initiative between Beneficial State Bank and CROP Organization, provides essential financial literacy to formerly incarcerated individuals re-entering their communities. The program covers budgeting, saving, credit management and banking services. Bank employees volunteer time to facilitate interactive workshops for these community members.

 

City/State: New York, NY
ABA Asset Size: Large
Program Name: Teach Children to Save
For nearly two decades, Citi colleagues have participated in ABA Foundation’s Teach Children to Save program – applying real-world skills in classrooms, youth centers and after-school programs. In 2024, Citi fostered innovation in Teach Children to Save events and began expanding the reach of their programs.

 
 

Financial Inclusion

City/State: Austin, TX
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Guaranty Bank & Trust Community First Mortgage Program and Development Program
Guaranty Bank & Trust’s Guaranty Community First Mortgage Program is designed to empower individuals and families in their communities to achieve their homeownership dreams while fostering stronger, more inclusive neighborhoods. The bank provides $1 million in subsidized mortgage loans for residents located in majority minority census tracts in Dallas, setting aside an additional $100,000 for closing cost assistance.

 

City/State: Tyler, TX
ABA Asset Size: Medium
Program Name: Southside Serves Financial Empowerment
Southside Bank actively seeks opportunities to engage and be involved in the financial well-being of others. The bank goes above and beyond what is expected from regulators to serve the local community. The bank provides education starting in pre-K, and all the way to older Americans. Southside Bank facilitates educational sessions tailored to each age group.

 

City/State: Lowell, AR
ABA Asset Size: Medium
Program Name: Arvest Bank Prospect Branch Investment
In 2023, Arvest Bank made a $4.5 million investment in their community – replacing their 70-year-old branch with a modern facility. As the only full-service bank in their predominantly Black community, Arvest began offering ATM with live teller machines, extending weekly banking hours by 30 with video chat. The branch includes a community room used for financial literacy classes.

 

City/State: Thomaston, CT
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: AHEAD (Alliance for Hispanic Education Advancement and Development)
In 2023, Thomaston Savings Bank established the Alliance for Hispanic Education Advancement and Development (AHEAD) to deepen connections with the local underbanked and unbanked Hispanic community. The team creates meaningful engagement, promotes financial literacy and ensures the needs of the Hispanic community are met. AHEAD has spearheaded more inclusive lending procedures and highlights the bank’s bilingual staff.

 
 

Protecting Older Americans

City/State: Charlotte, NC
ABA Asset Size: Large
Program Name: Savvy Saving Seniors®
Bank of America and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) partnered to enhance economic mobility for seniors, namely in underserved populations. In 2023, they piloted an in-person budgeting assistance program which has provided more than 1,000 individuals with basic money management education. The program has expanded into a four-part series of free workshops led by bank volunteers.

 

City/State: McLean, VA
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Wrapping Our Seniors Up with Love: How you — caregivers, bankers, and law enforcement — can prevent elder financial abuse
Primis Bank’s program, Wrapping Our Seniors Up with Love, is all about how caregivers, bankers and law enforcement can prevent elder financial abuse. The bank partnered with county officials, police and local organizations to educate seniors and their loved ones about the dangers of elder financial abuse, and how to identify and evade common scams.

 

City/State: Woodstown, NJ
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Elder Financial Abuse Community Outreach program
Franklin Bank’s Elder Financial Abuse Community Outreach program is a comprehensive presentation that explains various scams that target older Americans. The program’s footprint includes four surrounding counties and has received positive feedback. Presentations are effective and enjoyable, fostering engaging interactions with seniors who are willing to share feedback and discuss their own experiences with fraud.

 
 

Supporting Military Families

City/State: West Plains, MO
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: West Plains Folds of Honor Golf Tournament
West Plains Bank and Trust Company is a Colonel Level sponsor of The Folds of Honor Golf Tournament. The tournament occurs annually to support the mission of the Folds of Honor organization – to provide scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military and first responders. In its first three years, the event raised $80,000.

 

City/State: Fort Leavenworth, KS
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Fortify: Readiness and Resilience for Military Families
Armed Forces Bank has proudly served the military community since 1907. The bank developed the Fortify program to focus on enhancing the readiness and resilience of military families through financial education, career transitioning, VA support, social and family support. The program offers home-buying seminars and participates in Days of Giving and Wreaths Across America.

 

City/State: Killeen, TX
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Financial Literacy Program
First National Bank Texas, under its First Heroes National Bank (FHNB) brand, is committed to the financial success of the military community. In 2023, the bank served over 87,000 soldiers, family members and civilians. FHNB supports III Corps and the Fort Cavazos command by conducting education and financial counseling in budgeting, money management and financial planning.

 
 

Volunteerism

City/State: Defiance, OH
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: State Bank GIVES
State Bank created GIVES (Gathering Individuals to Volunteer, Empower and Serve) in 2018 to provide local nonprofit organizations with access to State Bank employees who volunteer their time to make a difference. As an extension of GIVES, State Bank purchased the GIVES (food) Truck – where volunteers cook and serve food at local events to raise money for local nonprofits.

 

City/State: Rolling Fork, MS
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Bank of Anguilla outreach
The morning after a tornado devastated 80% of their community, Bank of Anguilla was open, even without electricity. The bank housed disaster-related teams, fire departments and served as a registration spot for the Red Cross. Bank employees volunteered in the local distribution center, cooked meals and delivered them around town on ATVs to keep the community fed.

 

City/State: Mount Pleasant, MI
ABA Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Compassion Into Action
Every October, Isabella Bank transforms their commitment to community service into a hands-on experience – an event called Compassion into Action. Bank employees come together for this annual gathering to amplify their volunteer efforts. This day of service fosters a deep sense of purpose among employees and strengthens their bonds with neighbors and local organizations.

 

City/State: Jacksonville, FL
ABA Asset Size: Medium
Program Name: Touchdowns for Tomorrow
EverBank launched Touchdowns for Tomorrow in partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars to help transform lives across the First Coast of Florida. For every regular season Jaguars touchdown, EverBank pledged $500 to Junior Achievement of North Florida (JANFL). This helps JANFL secure financial education materials for its programming, which benefits students from low- and moderate-income communities.

 

City/State: Boston, MA
ABA Asset Size: Medium
Program Name: XTEAM
Berkshire Bank is committed to operating equitably, responsibly and sustainably. This is exemplified through XTEAM, the bank’s employee volunteer program. Since its launch in 2009, Berkshire Bank has completed thousands of community service projects benefiting neighborhoods across its footprint. Bank employees are provided 16 hours of paid time off to volunteer – frequently reaching 100% employee participation.

 

Prior Years

Keep Me Informed

Get updates on the Community Commitment Awards. Contact Melissa Murray if you have any questions.