Keeping employees engaged and happy at work is a challenge even in the most mundane of times. But doing so amid persistent economic uncertainty, political flareups, technological disruption and fast growth driven by industry consolidation is truly something to brag about.
Over the past year, banks have grappled with both familiar and new challenges: higher deposit costs, reduced demand for loans, a rapidly changing regulatory environment, employee-retention issues, the swift ramp-up of artificial intelligence in the office and the risks that go along with mergers and acquisitions, particularly the often-grueling integration process.
Still, even while facing those pressures, several banks stepped up and supported their staffs. They provided robust benefits packages and regular employee recognition programs. They offered hybrid work schedules, leadership development opportunities and paid time-off to volunteer during work hours. And they tried to better connect their employees by reducing silos, gathering for weekly or monthly events and showing up for each other during times of stress.
This year, 90 banks made it onto American Banker's 2025 Best Banks to Work For list. The 13th annual ranking runs the gamut from the 59-person Pan American Bank & Trust in the Chicago suburb of Melrose Park, Illinois, to SouthState Bank in Winter Haven, Florida, whose employee count was 6,484 at the time the bank completed its application.
American Banker determines the ranking in collaboration with Best Companies Group. The final list depends on two data points: a survey of all employees that measures their overall workplace satisfaction and a review of each applicant banks' employee policies and benefits.
According to the survey results, banks that made the list emphasize strong leadership and long-term planning, effective communication and transparency and a corporate culture that prioritizes autonomy, employee appreciation and a clear understanding of the roles that everyone plays.
Among the winning banks, an average of 92% of employees said they have confidence in the leadership of their organization, while an average of 95% of employees said they like the people they work with. At the banks that applied but didn't make the list, these figures were 80% and 90%, respectively. Meanwhile, an average of 89% of employees at winning banks said they feel like they can trust what their employer tells them, compared with 75% at banks that didn't make the cut. An average of 76% of employees at winning banks said they think they are paid fairly for the work they do, compared with 63% who feel the same way at the nonwinning banks.
Note: With one exception, which is noted below, total assets for each bank are from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. as of June 30, 2025. Employee headcounts were provided by individual banks when they applied to the program.
1: Wood & Huston Bank
Marshall, Missouri
Assets: $1.2 billion
President and CEO: Mark Thompson
No.
of U.S. employees: 189
2: Oakworth Capital Bank
Birmingham, Alabama
Assets: $1.8 billion
Senior managing director, chair and CEO: Scott
Reed
No. of U.S. employees: 163
3: Paragon Bank
Memphis, Tennessee
Assets: $865.2 million
President and CEO: Robert Shaw
Jr.
No. of U.S. employees: 121
4: Pinnacle Financial Partners
Nashville, Tennessee
Assets: $54.7 billion
President and CEO: Terry
Turner
No.
of U.S. employees: 3,459
5: Centier Bank
Merrillville, Indiana
Assets: $9.8 billion
CEO: Michael Schrage
No. of U.S.
employees: 1,107
6: Peoples Bank of East Tennessee
Madisonville, Tennessee
Assets: $432.7 million
President and CEO: Jeremy
Callais
No. of U.S. employees: 113
7: Peoples Bank
Lubbock, Texas
Assets: $1.1 billion
Chair and CEO: Larry Allen
No. of U.S.
employees: 179
8: Origin Bank
Ruston, Louisiana
Assets: $9.6 billion
Chair, president and CEO: Drake
Mills
No. of U.S. employees: 845
9: TIB
Farmers Branch, Texas
Assets: $2.997 billion
President and CEO: Michael
O'Rourke
No. of U.S. employees: 251
10: NebraskaLand Bank
North Platte, Nebraska
Assets: $948.3 million
President and CEO: Michael
Jacobson
No. of U.S. employees: 106
11: Climate First Bank
St. Petersburg, Florida
Assets: $1.2 billion
President and CEO: Lex Ford
No.
of U.S. employees: 120
12: First United Bank and Trust Company
Madisonville, Kentucky
Assets: $589.2 million
President and CEO: Jason Hawkins
No. of
U.S. employees: 101
13: CS Bank
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Assets: $593.8 million
CEO: Charlie Cross
No. of
U.S.
employees: 104
14: First National Bankers Bankshares
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Assets: $851.6 million
CEO: Joseph Quinlan III
No. of
U.S. employees: 154
15: Pacific National Bank
Miami, Florida
Assets: $1.4 billion
President and CEO: Carlos
Fernandez-Guzman
No. of U.S. employees: 120
16: American Riviera Bank
Santa Barbara, California
Assets: $1.3 billion
President and CEO: Jeff
DeVine
No. of U.S. employees: 143
17: Signature Bank
Rosemont, Illinois
Assets: $2 billion
President and CEO: Michael
O'Rourke
No.
of U.S. employees: 105
18: Cornerstone Bank
Southbridge, Massachusetts
Assets: $1.7 billion
CEO: Todd Tallman
No. of
U.S.
employees: 193
19: Southside Bank
Tyler, Texas
Assets: $8.3 billion
CEO: Lee Gibson
No. of U.S. employees:
810
20: Seacoast Bank
Stuart, Florida
Assets: $15.9 billion
Chair and CEO: Charles Schaffer
No. of
U.S. employees: 1,541
21: Seamen's Bank
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Assets: $468 million
President and CEO: Lori
Meads
No. of U.S. employees: 70
Notable perk: After-hours yoga classes.
22: Citizens Bank of West Virginia
Elkins, West Virginia
Assets: $682.5 million
President and CEO: Nathaniel
Bonnell
No. of U.S. employees: 91
Notable perk: A family picnic that includes an overnight
resort stay.
23: Vista Bank
Dallas, Texas
Assets: $2.4 billion
CEO: John Steinmetz
No. of U.S.
employees: 203
Notable perk: Profit-sharing bonuses.
24: First Citizens National Bank
Dyersburg, Tennessee
Assets: $2.5 billion
Chair and CEO: Jeff Agee
No. of
U.S.
employees: 300
Notable perk: One extra paid hour during Employee Appreciation Week to come in
late or leave early.
25: Pan American Bank & Trust
Melrose Park, Illinois
Assets: $517.8 million
President and CEO: Frank
Cerrone
No. of U.S. employees: 59
Notable perk: Monetary incentives or extra paid time off
when overnight travel is required.
26: Kentucky Farmers Bank
Ashland, Kentucky
Assets: $307.5 million
Chair and CEO: April Perry
No. of
U.S. employees: 78
Notable perk: An online wellness program with more than 200 digital tools,
including access to health professionals, with a $0 copay.
27: Manasquan Bank
Wall Township, New Jersey
Assets: $3.3 billion
Chair, president and CEO: James
Vaccaro
No. of U.S. employees: 260
Notable perk: On-site barista and ice cream trucks.
28: Machias Savings Bank
Machias, Maine
Assets: $2.6 billion
President and CEO: Lawrence Barker
No.
of
U.S. employees: 291
Notable perk: Employer-sponsored eldercare assistance.
29: Commercial Bank of California
Irvine, California
Assets: $3.7 billion
Chair, president and CEO: Ash
Patel
No. of U.S. employees: 307
Notable perk: Employer-provided mental health benefits
for
employees and dependents.
30: BANKNEWPORT
Middletown, Rhode Island
Assets: $2.964 billion
President and CEO: Jack
Murphy
No. of U.S. employees: 325
Notable perk: "Wellness Week" that includes chair
massages, puppy time and cooking demos.
31: MVB Bank
Bridgeport, West Virginia
Assets: $3.2 billion
CEO: Larry Mazza
No. of
U.S.
employees: 407
Notable perk: Anniversary work gifts for every employee.
32: Bell Bank
Fargo, North Dakota
Assets: $14.1 billion
CEO: Michael Solberg
No. of U.S.
employees: 1,929
Notable perk: A "friends and family program" that gives every employee a gift card and an
extra
day off if they spend the day with and the money on their family members or friends.
33: Vantage Bank
San Antonio, Texas
Assets: $4.7 billion
President and CEO: Jeff
Sinnott
No. of
U.S. employees: 496
Notable perk: Unlimited paid time off for salaried employees.
34: ACCESSbank
Omaha, Nebraska
Assets: $905 million
President and CEO: Tom Corrigan
No.
of
U.S. employees: 113
Notable perk: The annual "Be Kind" program, in which the bank gives each
employee $500 to donate to a person or organization in need.
35: Savings Bank of Walpole
Keene, New Hampshire
Assets: $805.9 million
President: Mark Bodin
No. of
U.S.
employees: 100
Notable perk: Quarterly "parties for no reason" and lots of clubs (book, horror
movie, young professionals).
36: Foothills Bank
Phoenix, Arizona
Assets: $1.8 billion
President and CEO: Brian Riley
No.
of
U.S. employees: 217
Notable perk: Flexible hours to accommodate school events and doctor
appointments.
37: Capital City Bank
Tallahassee, Florida
Assets: $4.4 billion
CEO: William Smith Jr.
No. of
U.S.
employees: 956
Notable perk: Financial assistance to help employees recover from natural
disasters.
38: First Metro Bank
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Assets: $998.3 million
President and CEO: Rodney
Howard
No. of U.S. employees: 147
Notable perk: Employee appreciation events that include
gifts and meals.
39: Bank Independent
Sheffield, Alabama
Assets: $2.8 billion
CEO: Macke Mauldin
No. of U.S.
employees: 693
Notable perk: Annual employer match program that pays up to $1,000 in holiday
shopping money.
40: Heartland Bank
Geneva, Nebraska
Assets: $919.5 million
CEO: John Wilkins
No. of U.S.
employees: 114
Notable perk: Free preventative health care clinics for employees and their
spouses.
41: Cape & Coast Bank (formerly The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod)
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Assets: $1.6 billion
Chair, president and CEO: Lisa
Oliver
No. of U.S. employees: 171
Notable perk: Bank-paid bowling night.
42: Colony Bank
Albany, Georgia
Assets: $3.1 billion
CEO: Heath Fountain
No. of U.S.
employees: 474
Notable perk: "Saturday Holiday Pay," which offers time and a half to hourly
team members who work on Saturdays surrounding holiday weekends.
43: BankPlus
Ridgeland, Mississippi
Assets: $7.8 billion
President and CEO: Jack
Webb
No.
of U.S. employees: 1,078
Notable perk: On-the-spot recognition and rewards for jobs well
done.
44: SouthState Bank
Winter Haven, Florida
Assets: $65.9 billion
CEO: John Corbett
No. of U.S.
employees: 6,484
Notable perk: Discount travel and redeemable reward points for certain
employee contributions.
45: Community Bank
Flowood, Mississippi
Assets: $4.8 billion
President and CEO: Justin
Martin
No.
of U.S. employees: 835
Notable perk: Tuition reimbursement for undergraduate courses,
regardless of the course subject or length of tenure.
46: Texas Bank and Trust
Longview, Texas
Assets: $4.3 billion
Chair and CEO: Rogers Pope Jr.
No. of
U.S. employees: 521
Notable perk: Birthday cards with a gift card from the CEO.
47: Bank Five Nine
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Assets: $2.5 billion
President and CEO: Tim
Schneider
No. of U.S. employees: 374
Notable perk: A "Zen room" at the corporate office.
48: Peapack Private Bank & Trust
Bedminster, New Jersey
Assets: $7.2 billion
President and CEO: Douglas
Kennedy
No. of U.S. employees: 672
Notable perk: Free or discounted tickets to local
family
entertainment or sporting events.
49: Chesapeake Bank
Kilmarnock, Virginia
Assets: $1.6 billion
Chair, president and CEO: Jeffrey
Szyperski
No. of U.S. employees: 282
Notable perk: Student debt repayment program, with a
lifetime cap of $10,000.
50: United Community
Greenville, South Carolina
Assets: $28 billion
Chair and CEO: Lynn
Harton
No.
of U.S. employees: 3,062
Notable perk: Sick-time donation program that provides paid time off
to employees who are caring for a family member with a serious or critical medical or life event.
51: Red River Bank
Alexandria, Louisiana
Assets: $3.2 billion
President and CEO: Blake
Chatelain
No. of U.S. employees: 380
Notable perk: An employee referral bonus program that
pays $500 for successful hires.
52: b1BANK
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Assets: $7.9 billion
Chair and CEO: David "Jude"
Melville
No. of U.S. employees: 852
Notable perk: Appreciation meals and gift cards.
53: Dacotah Bank
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Assets: $4.6 billion
Chair and CEO: Robert
Fouberg
No.
of U.S. employees: 601
Notable perk: 100% employer-paid medical and dental premiums for
employees and their families.
54: Home Bank
Lafayette, Louisiana
Assets: $3.5 billion
President and CEO: John
Bordelon
No.
of U.S. employees: 485
Notable perk: In-house leadership program.
55: Peoples Bank
Marietta, Ohio
Assets: $9.2 billion
CEO: Tyler Wilcox
No. of U.S.
employees: 1,311
Notable perk: Monthly drawing for gifts for employees who complete volunteer
service hours.
56: 1st Security Bank
Mountlake Terrace, Washington
Assets: $3.2 billion
CEO: Joe Adams
No. of
U.S.
employees: 568
Notable perk: Reimbursement for babysitting, nail salon visits, gym
memberships, and mental wellness.
57: TriStar Bank
Dickson, Tennessee
Assets: $512.2 million
President and CEO: Ted
Williams
No.
of U.S. employees: 81
Notable perk: One monthly counseling session for bankers and their
families.
58: The Washington Trust Company
Westerly, Rhode Island
Assets: $6.7 billion
Chair and CEO: Edward Handy
III
No. of U.S. employees: 634
Notable perk: Discounted banking products and loans.
59: Enterprise Bank & Trust
Clayton, Missouri
Assets: $16 billion
President and CEO: Jim Lally
No. of
U.S.
employees: 1,302
Notable perk: Up to $1,000 match per associate in charitable giving.
60: Marquette Savings Bank
Erie, Pennsylvania
Assets: $1.4 billion
President and CEO: John Dill
No.
of
U.S. employees: 165
Notable perk: Additional paid time off for front-line employees whose jobs
don't allow them to work from home.
61: Mutual Bancorp (parent company of Cape Cod 5 and Fidelity Bank)
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Assets: $7.2 billion
Chair and CEO: Matthew
Burke
No.
of U.S. employees: 709
Notable perk: Incentives to buy electric vehicles.
62: First PREMIER Bank
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Assets: $3.1 billion
CEO: Dana Dykhouse
No. of
U.S.
employees: 390
Notable perk: PREMIER University, which offers skill-based and regulatory
classes, as well as courses in leadership and financial education.
63: TowneBank
Suffolk, Virginia
Assets: $18.3 billion
President and CEO: William "Bill"
Foster
No. of U.S. employees: 1,543
Notable perk: Scheduled shopping days with clothing
allowances for bank tellers and receptionists.
64: First United Bank
Lubbock, Texas
Assets: $2.3 billion
CEO: R. Mark Bain
No. of U.S.
employees: 316
Notable perk: Bank-catered Thanksgiving meal for all employees and their
families.
65: First Bank & Trust Co.
Duncan, Oklahoma
Assets: $958.4 million
President and CEO: Robert
Petersen
No.
of U.S. employees: 192
Notable perk: "Fun Days" throughout the year that include contests,
food and other activities.
66: First National Bank Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Assets: $4.9 billion
Chair, president and CEO: Betsy
Lawer
No. of U.S. employees: 618
Notable perk: Annual board of directors-hosted dinner
dance.
67: Centreville Bank
West Warwick, Rhode Island
Assets: $2.9 billion
Chair, president and CEO: Harold
"Hal" Horvat
No. of U.S. employees: 252
Notable perk: Discounts for employees who buy
products or services from the bank's local small business customers.
68: Potomac Bank (formerly Bank of Charles Town)
Charles Town, West Virginia
Assets: $919.2 million
President and CEO: Alice
Frazier
No. of U.S. employees: 126
Notable perk: Company shares are awarded to employees
who
finish major projects.
69: Servbank
Oswego, Illinois
Assets: $932.3 million
CEO: Donald Satiroff
No. of U.S.
employees: 539
Notable perk: Paid vacations for employees who reach their five- and 10-year
work anniversaries.
70: Tioga State Bank
Spencer, New York
Assets: $574.8 million
President and CEO: Robert
Fisher
No.
of U.S. employees: 105
Notable perk: $200 cash award given to employees who earn new
credentials and certifications.
71: Helm Bank USA
Miami, Florida
Assets: $1.1 billion
President and CEO: Mark Crisp
No. of
U.S.
employees: 130
Notable perk: A wellness program that includes monthly challenges, access to
mental health resources and virtual fitness sessions.
72: Martha's Vineyard Bank
Edgartown, Massachusetts
Assets: $1.3 billion
President and CEO: James
Anthony
No. of U.S. employees: 113
Notable perk: Subsidized housing for employees, in an
effort to attract and retain employees in an area with a high
cost of living.
73: Peoples State Bank
Wausau, Wisconsin
Assets: $1.5 billion
President and CEO: Scott
Cattanach
No.
of U.S. employees: 202
Notable perk: Quarterly bonus for all employees, based on meeting the
bank's financial and non-financial goals.
74: Cadence Bank
Tupelo, Mississippi
Assets: $50.4 billion
Chair and CEO: James "Dan" Rollins
III
No. of U.S. employees: 5,430
Notable perk: Twelve weeks of paid parental leave for
teammates with at least one year of service.
75: FirstBank Southwest
Amarillo, Texas
Assets: $1.9 billion
President and CEO: Andy Marshall
No.
of
U.S. employees: 240
Notable perk: An employee-sponsored fund that financially supports colleagues facing
unexpected
hardships.
76: Stock Yards Bank & Trust
Louisville, Kentucky
Assets: $9.2 billion
CEO: Ja Hillebrand
No. of U.S.
employees: 1,134
Notable perk: Milestone anniversary gifts include money and vacation days.
77: Ledyard National Bank
Hanover, New Hampshire
Assets: $993.6 million
President and CEO: Josephine
Moran
No. of U.S. employees: 129
Notable perk: Reimbursement of up to $300 per year for
fitness gear, classes, memberships, massages and races.
78: JD Bank
Jennings, Louisiana
Assets: $1.2 billion
CEO: Paul Brummett II
No. of U.S.
employees: 253
Notable perk: $100 gift cards given out at Christmas.
79: Bank of Bird-in-Hand
Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania
Assets: $1.7 billion
President and CEO: Lori
Maley
No. of U.S. employees: 171
Notable perk: Fully employer-paid premiums for short- and
long-term disability benefits.
80: First Merchants Bank
Muncie, Indiana
Assets: $18.6 billion
CEO: Mark Hardwick
No. of U.S.
employees: 2,024
Notable perk: Hybrid work opportunities, depending on the nature of the job
and employee performance.
81: HomeTrust Bank
Asheville, North Carolina
Assets: $4.6 billion
President and CEO: Hunter
Westbrook
No. of U.S. employees: 558
Notable perk: A corporate incentive plan that's open
to
all employees and pays an annual bonus based on the bank's overall performance.
82: Busey Bank
Champaign, Illinois
Assets: $18.9 billion
Chair and CEO: Van Dukeman
No.
of
U.S. employees: 1,432
Notable perk: "B Well," a health and wellness program that offers
incentives such as time off and contributions to a health savings account.
83: Civista Bank
Sandusky, Ohio
Assets: $4.2 billion
CEO: Dennis Shaffer
No. of U.S.
employees: 531
Notable perk: One paid day off for contributing to the United Way.
84: United Community Bank of West KY
Morganfield, Kentucky
Assets: $491.5 million
President: Gwen Paris
No. of
U.S.
employees: 65
Notable perk: "UCB shout-outs" and peer-nominated awards to celebrate
employees.
85: Capital Bank
Rockville, Maryland
Assets: $3.3 billion
CEO: Ed Barry
No. of U.S.
employees: 429
Notable perk: The Elevate leadership program, which provides rising managers
the opportunity to be chosen to attend an eight-month-long immersive leadership program.
86: Investar Bank
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Assets: $2.7 billion
President and CEO: John
D'Angelo
No. of U.S. employees: 349
Notable perk: Taco Tuesdays and Fro-Yo Fridays.
87: American Savings Bank
Honolulu, Hawaii
Assets: $8.8 billion
President and CEO: Ann Teranishi
No.
of
U.S. employees: 978
Notable perk: Quarterly pickleball tournaments and malama (Hawaiian for
"take care of") rooms that provide quiet space for naps or meditation.
88: SouthWest Bank
Odessa, Texas
Assets: $726.7 million
CEO: Paul Weaver
No. of U.S.
employees: 125
Notable perk: Monthly themed lunches that include birthday celebrations.
89: Zions Bank *
Salt Lake City, Utah
Assets: $22.4 billion
President and CEO: Paul
Burdiss
No.
of U.S. employees: 1,311
Notable perk: Points-based "Value You" recognition program that
rewards employees with gift cards and other items.
* Zions Bank is one of several banking divisions operated by Salt Lake City-based Zions Bancorp.
Zions provided the division's asset size to American Banker.
90: United Bank
Atmore, Alabama
Assets: $1.4 billion
President and CEO: Mike Vincent
No.
of
U.S. employees: 251
Notable perk: Up to four hours of paid time for volunteering with
organizations that support the bank's mission as a community development financial institution.