American Banker has released its 2023 list of the “Best Banks to Work For,” which includes 11 banks based in Texas or with operations in Texas among the 90 listed. Like last year and the year before, Oakworth Capital Bank in Birmingham, Alabama, was ranked the Best Bank to Work For. First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Pascagoula-Moss Point in Pascagoula, Mississippi, is the smallest bank in terms of employee headcount to make the list, with just 54 staff members, while SouthState in Winterhaven, Florida, has the most employees with a workforce of more than 5,000.

A two-step process determined this year’s Best Banks to Work For. The first consisted of evaluating each participating bank’s workplace policies, practices and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25 percent of the total evaluation. The second consisted of employee surveys aimed at assessing the experiences and attitudes of individual employees concerning their workplace. This part of the process was worth approximately 75 percent of the total evaluation.

The leaders of the 90 institutions that made the list value several key workplace traits, according to American Banker. “Trust, transparency and leading by example were cited by some of the executives as a priority. Clear communication was also touted as essential as an employer of choice. Generous benefits, especially paid time off to volunteer, was also a common theme. And of course, a bit of fun was had at many of this year’s winners.”

“Ninety-three percent of employees at the banks on 2023’s list said that their employers’ communications were frequent enough while 92 percent said that corporate communications were detailed enough. At the banks that applied but didn’t make the cut, these figures were 84 percent and 83 percent. Eighty-nine percent of staff members at this year’s winners said that their leaders were open to input. That was only 79 percent at the banks not on the ranking. Ninety-five percent of employees at banks on the ranking said they were satisfied overall with their employer, compared with 89 percent for those not on the list.

“Making this list for the sixth time is something we are really proud of,” notes Paul Weaver, CEO of Odessa-based SouthWest Bank, which ranked No. 81 on the list. “We know SouthWest Bank wouldn’t be the special place that it is without our employees. Our employees show up for each other every day and that makes it feel less like a workplace and more like a family.”

Here are the Texas-based banks (or operating in Texas) that made this year’s “Best” list:
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Click here to learn more about the competition and what distinguished these banks as being the “Best Banks to Work For” in 2023.