Core Insights - The article highlights the top 20 banks recognized for their employee satisfaction and workplace culture, emphasizing their commitment to communication, support, and fun [1][2] Group 1: Rankings and Overview - The list includes a diverse range of banks, from those with less than $500 million in assets to regional banks exceeding $50 billion, showcasing various approaches to employee engagement [1][2] - The overall list features 90 banks, with profiles of the top 20 honorees provided [2] Group 2: Employee Engagement Initiatives - Seacoast Bank emphasizes an inclusive culture with performance reviews three times a year and a new leadership excellence program [3][4] - Southside Bank introduced the Southside Champions Award to recognize outstanding employees and has focused on enhancing training and development opportunities [5][6][7] - Cornerstone Bank offers three weeks of paid vacation for new employees and supports wellness goals through fitness expense contributions [8][9][10] - Signature Bank improved internal communication with a new employee intranet, enhancing employee recognition and access to resources [11][12] - American Riviera Bank provides fraud prevention tools and a new manager training program, along with pet insurance [13][14] - Pacific National Bank promotes an inclusive workplace culture with various employee engagement activities [15][16] - First National Bankers Bankshares encourages employee feedback through direct access to management and satisfaction surveys [18][19] - CS Bank focuses on purpose-driven work and offers competitive pay, benefits, and unique perks [20][21][22] - First United Bank and Trust Company incentivizes Saturday work with additional pay and engages in community fundraising [23][24][25] - Climate First Bank prioritizes renewable energy financing and offers paid sabbaticals and volunteer time [26][27] - NebraskaLand Bank has implemented a flexible personal leave policy and expanded benefits for part-time employees [28][29][30] - TIB offers flexible benefits, including mental health support and expanded health coverage [31][32] - Origin Bank focuses on culture and employee engagement as part of its profitability strategy [33][34] - Peoples Bank provides bonuses, covers health insurance costs, and encourages employee referrals [36][37] - Peoples Bank of East Tennessee engages employees with a unique holiday gift request initiative [38][39][40] - Centier Bank offers mental health days, development plans, and feedback mechanisms for employees [41][42] - Pinnacle Financial Partners aims to create a motivating culture and relies on employee referrals for recruitment [44][45][46] - Paragon Bank launched "Wellness Wednesdays" and offers various staff-centric perks [47][48] - Oakworth Capital Bank emphasizes a strong culture and offers stock purchase programs for employees [49][50] - Wood & Huston Bank focuses on internal promotions, career development, and wellness programs [51][52][53]

Core Insights - Finward Bancorp reported a net income of $3.5 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, for Q3 2025, an increase from $2.2 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, in Q2 2025 [1] - The company experienced improved profitability driven by margin expansion, stable credit, and enhanced overhead efficiency [1] Performance Metrics - Return on equity increased to 8.96% in Q3 2025 from 5.66% in Q2 2025 [1][10] - Return on assets rose to 0.68% in Q3 2025 compared to 0.42% in Q2 2025 [1][10] - Net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis improved to 3.18% in Q3 2025 from 3.11% in Q2 2025 [1][10] Funding and Deposits - Total deposits reached $1.8 billion as of September 30, 2025, reflecting a slight increase of $4.2 million, or 0.2%, from Q2 2025 [4] - Non-interest-bearing deposits increased by $9.1 million to $280.3 million [4] - Core deposits remained stable at $1.2 billion, representing 69.3% of total deposits [4] Securities and Lending - Securities available for sale increased by $7.3 million to $335.2 million as of September 30, 2025 [4] - The Bank's loan portfolio totaled $1.5 billion, with new commercial loans originated amounting to $62.6 million in Q3 2025, up from $46.1 million in Q2 2025 [4] Asset Quality - Non-performing loans rose to $13.9 million, a 2.7% increase from $13.5 million in Q2 2025 [4] - The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.94% in Q3 2025, up from 0.91% in Q2 2025 [4] Operating Expenses and Efficiency - Non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets decreased to 2.74% in Q3 2025 from 2.90% in Q2 2025 [4] - The efficiency ratio improved to 81.22% in Q3 2025 from 88.92% in Q2 2025 [1][10] Capital Adequacy - The Bank's tier 1 leverage ratio was 8.77% as of September 30, 2025, up from 8.69% in Q2 2025 [4] - Tangible book value per share increased to $32.77 from $30.16 in the previous quarter [4]

Core Insights - Deluxe has announced an expanded partnership with Peoples Bank, a financial institution with assets of $9.5 billion, headquartered in Marietta, Ohio [1] - The new engagement will focus on delivering integrated Merchant Services, enhancing the existing relationship based on shared values of innovation, service, and community impact [1] - Over the past year, Peoples Bank has been strengthening its relationship with Deluxe by choosing to place a portion of its services with them [1]

Core Points - Finward Bancorp declared a dividend of $0.12 per share on its common stock, payable on May 12, 2025, to shareholders of record as of April 28, 2025 [1] Company Overview - Finward Bancorp is an independent financial holding company based in Munster, Indiana, primarily holding the stock of Peoples Bank, which offers a variety of financial services from 26 locations in Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area [2]