Award Winners

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.