Independent Banker - February 2019 - 77

Next: Meet the team on community banking's front line
In 2018, eight banks participated, amassing more than
62,000 items.
" Even though it's a friendly competition, it's still a competition,
and banks have come up with creative ways to collect
the most items, " Heinle says.
Starion Bank features displays in its branches where employees,
customers and community members can drop off
items, she says. During the two weeks of Banking for the
Food Bank, the team periodically reaches out to employees
to keep the enthusiasm going for the food drive between
Starion Bank's Bismarck and Mandan branches.
" We also get the word out to the community through social
media and in-branch posters, " Heinle says.
Creative competition
Security First Bank of North Dakota uses Facebook and
signs in its lobby to rally customers. The $183 million-asset
community bank even incentivized employees with extra
days they can wear jeans in the office in exchange for monetary
contributions, says CEO Sarah Getzlaff. A member of
the team then uses the funds to shop for items to donate.
" As the smallest bank by far in the competition, we knew
we wouldn't collect the most items, so our goal was to buy
as many of the higher-quality, higher-cost items off the pantry's
wish list as we could, " Getzlaff says.
David Mason, Bismarck president of the Stenehjem family-owned
First International Bank & Trust, says employees
and locals who visited the $2.7 billion-asset bank's lobby
were the primary donors.
" This was an 'all Bismarck' team drive, so all of our bank,
mortgage, trust, investment and corporate employees contributed
and challenged each other to participate, " he says.
Stonehome Brewing Co., a brewery in Watford City, N.D.,
also owned by the Stenehjem family, helped the community
bank in gathering items, Mason says. Since the competition
is based upon the number of items, participating banks celebrate
their success and creativity almost daily as donations
pile up throughout the drive.
" Community banks have always been up for competition,
and this is an ongoing event that has gained support and
participation throughout the past several years, " Mason
says. " It has been a fun way for our local community banks
to interact, compete and do what we do best, which is serving
our community's needs. "
First Western Bank & Trust, which is based in Minot,
N.D., but has a branch in Bismarck, collected food items
by placing bins in its Bismarck branch's lobby and an
employee lounge, says First Western president and CEO
Brenda Foster.
The $1 billion-asset bank then encouraged employees to
bring in donations and tell customers about the cause.
" At the end of the day, banks could not operate without
people who live in our communities, " Foster says. " It
is important to give back, not only in dollar amounts, but
also through volunteering and other types of donations depending
on the need, such as the [Bismarck] Emergency
Food Pantry.
" If the community is successful, the banks will be successful, "
she adds. " Each and every day, we are able to part " It
has been a fun way
for our local community
banks to interact,
compete and do what we
do best, which is serving
our community's needs. "
-David Mason,
First International Bank & Trust
ner with family, friends and neighbors to make a difference
and support each other in our community. "
All in the family
Another participant is $990 million-asset BNC National
Bank, where Michelle Radke, a personal trust officer-and
Heinle's mother-works. " I just think it's wonderful that
even though we're competitors in the market, we all come
together to help people in need, " Radke says. " It's really the
food pantry that wins. "
Heinle agrees with her mother.
" This isn't about the banks and their employees. It's
about our communities, " she says. " When you see a need
in your community, I encourage you to ask yourself, 'What
solution can we come up with and how can we make that as
impactful as possible?' "
If the idea is meaningful and easy to implement, Heinle
says, then it'll be easy for others to support your effort.
" Whether you live in North Dakota or Florida or Arizona, "
she says, " we all want our communities to be the best they
can be. "
Katie Kuehner-Hebert is a writer in California.
independentbanker.org Q 77
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - February 2019

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