First Bank of Berne earns national award

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) named First Bank of Berne (FBB) of Berne, Ind., the Grand National Award winner for the 2011 ICBA National Community Bank Service Awards for the bank’s outstanding leadership in its “Giving Back” donation program.

“ICBA is proud of First Bank of Berne,” said incoming ICBA Chairman Salvatore Marranca, president and CEO of Cattaraugus County Bank, Little Valley, N.Y.  “They are a shining example of the volunteer service community banks all over the country provide every day.”

Charles Isch, board member and former president/CEO of First Bank of Berne, agreed to make the trip and graciously accepted the award on behalf of the bank at the ICBA National Convention in San Diego, CA. First Bank of Berne was awarded the Grand National Award for its “Giving Back” donation program to the communities it serves..

“This is quite an honor for First Bank of Berne to be recognized for this national award. It is really something to have won not only in our asset size category ($250 million-$500 million), but to be awarded the Grand National overall award,” Isch said. “This is just hard to believe. Coming from a small town community bank in Indiana to being on the grand stage venue in front of 3,000 people was quite overwhelming. Thank you for this. We appreciate the honor.”

The Independent Community Bankers of America, the nation’s voice for community banks, represents nearly 5,000 community banks of all sizes and charter types throughout the United States and is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and the communities and customers we serve.

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today honored six community banks with the 2011 ICBA National Community Bank Service Awards.  The six community bank award recipients were announced during ICBA’s National Convention and Techworld in San Diego, Calif.  There are four service award category winners, based on asset size, and two financial literacy awards, based on asset size, with one overall Grand National Champion of all winners, which this year was FBB, the only winner from Indiana.

Other service award winners were: under $100 million, Reliance Bank in Faribault, Minn.; $100 million to $250 million, Allied First Bank in Oswego, Ill.; over $500 million, Southern Bancorp in Arkadelphia, Ark.; Financial Literacy Awards: under $500 million: Hilltop National Bank in Casper, Wyo.; over $500 million: Cardinal Bank in McLean, Va.

Each year, a certain percentage of First Bank of Berne’s profits are donated back to the communities it serves. In 2010, nearly $200,000 was given back to about 95 entities in the local markets. FBB completed and donated to the City of Berne a new street expansion that connected the retail area of the north corridor to the downtown area of Berne, a five-year, $538,000 project. Two downtown buildings on Main Street were donated to the Berne Boys and Girls Club of Adams County, as well as new beautiful Swiss façades costing $52,000. Each market/branch earns donation dollars based on their percentage of total bank deposit and loans for the year.

“Our goal is to improve and make our community a better place in which to live and work. This includes operating a profitable business and then giving back to those people and businesses who have trusted in us over the years,” said Teresa A. Flaugher, assistant vice president and marketing director of FBB.

ICBA founded the National Community Bank Service Awards program to help celebrate outstanding volunteer efforts of community banks.  The ICBA National Community Bank Service Awards bring national recognition to the unparalleled contributions community banks make to help sustain their communities.  The awards are given to ICBA members that show longstanding commitments to community outreach and development.

Whether located in small towns, suburbia or big city neighborhoods, community banks grow our towns and cities by funding small business and using local dollars to help families purchase a home, finance college and build financial security.

ICBA is committed to providing the highest professional standards in community banking and tailors its programs specifically for community bankers. Through ICBA educational courses, certification options and continuing education programs, community bankers are better able to serve their customers and stay profitable.

The Independent Community Bankers of America is the only national trade association dedicated exclusively to serving the interests of community banks. ICBA aggregates the power of its members to provide: a voice for community banking interests in Washington, profitable solutions to help community banks compete in an ever-changing marketplace, and community bank education and marketing.

Employee owned, First Bank of Berne was named the 2009 and 2010 No. 1 best performing bank in the state of Indiana. The bank has assets of over $425 million and operates a total of eight offices in Berne, Decatur, Bluffton, Portland, Ind., and Van Wert in Ohio.