Independent Banker - December 2022 - 44

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CNB BANK:
A STRONG CULTURE OF LEARNING
BY BRIDGET MCCREA
NB Bank's employees
feel empowered to make
decisions, enjoy the open lines of
communication that they have
with the institution's leaders and
often work together to achieve
business goals. These are just some
of the attributes that make the
$530 million-asset community bank
in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., a great
place to work.
" It's often said that if you
keep employees happy, then
the customers will take care of
themselves, " says Mark D. Harrell,
president and CEO. " We believe
that. We also fi rmly believe that if
we take great care of our associates,
those employees will also take great
care of our customers. "
Harrell also credits the bank's
board members-the majority of
whom are owners-with staying true
to CNB's mission and supporting
its 104 employees across eight
locations. Founded in 1934, the
bank serves a rural community
where some customers don't even
C
Taking a pulse on employee engagement
In today's tight labor market, community banks have to
provide opportunities for growth and help employees
develop career paths. " If you do that, they will stay with you, " says
Karen Richards, VP of marketing of CNB Bank in Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
" Ask for feedback and act on it, " she continues. CNB has a Leadership
Advisory Committee dedicated to this mission. It meets monthly,
gathers employee feedback and then presents the information to the
bank's senior leadership team.
" We're continually asking associates what we're doing well and where
we can improve, " says Richards. " Then, the committee discusses the
feedback and takes action on it. "
Through a recent Pulse Survey, Mark D. Harrell, president and CEO,
learned that more than 90% of employees understand what they do
every day and how those activities and actions contribute to the bank's
mission. " That's unheard of in an era where employee engagement is
notably low, " says Harrell. And he's right: By Gallup's last count, just
36% of U.S. employees feel engaged in their work and workplaces.
have broadband access, while others
commute to neighboring Washington,
D.C., for their IT jobs.
CNB Bank
Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
Assets: $530 million
cnb.bank
Mentoring is a two-way street
A strong culture of learning is led
by Karen Richards, vice president
of marketing, who also oversees
the creation of career paths for
its associates.
A part-time teller who aspires to
manage a branch, for example, can
work their way up through various
tiers and receive bank-provided
ICBA Community Banker University
courses and self-paced learning
throughout the process.
CNB Bank also runs a mentoring
program where veteran employees
are paired with newer associates
who want to learn more about
diff erent positions, new skills and
career opportunities.
The mentors wind up learning
from their mentees as well, making
the year-long relationship a winwin
for the bank.
" About 12 people have gone
through the program, myself
included, " Richards says. " We
get a lot of good feedback from
the mentees, but it also winds
40 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q December 2022
Independent Banker - December 2022

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