The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT)—the largest state community banking association in the nation—recently honored 22 Texas community banks with the organization’s Best of Community Banking (BOCB) Awards. The banks were honored on September 20 during IBAT’s 2021 Convention in Austin.

IBAT has celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of Texas community banks with the BOCB Award since 1991. Community banks play a critical role in their local communities. The Best of Community Banking competition is designed to honor these banks for their commitment to helping their customers, neighbors, employees and community. BOCB Awards recognize community banks throughout the state for their innovation, creativity and success in fulfilling a specific community or internal need. Each submission receives a Gold Eagle, Silver Eagle or Bronze Eagle award in one of six categories: bank culture, community service, financial literacy, marketing, architectural design and—new this year—pandemic response.

“This past year has been challenging across the globe as we continue to fight the pandemic,” says Christopher Williston, IBAT president and CEO. “But community bankers have been truly inspiring during these difficult days by processing a majority (57.5 percent) of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for small businesses and helping their communities when they were needed most. This year’s BOCB Award recipients were particularly inspiring in their efforts to meet the challenges brought on by the pandemic, and this recognition is only a small token of our immense pride in Texas community banks to better the lives of those around them. I sincerely congratulate all of the 2021 BOCB Award recipients.”

The 2021 Best of Community Banking Award recipients:

Best of Show/Gold Eagle:

• Texas Bank and Trust, Longview (pandemic response)

Community Spirit/Gold Eagle:

• Alliance Bank, Sulphur Springs (marketing)
• First National Bank Texas, Killeen (financial literacy)
• First State Bank, Gainesville (pandemic response)

Gold Eagle:

• The Commercial Bank, Mason (pandemic response)
• Community National Bank, Midland (architectural design)
• FirstBank Southwest, Amarillo (bank culture)
• First Lockhart National Bank, Lockhart (architectural design)
• First National Bank Texas, Killeen (pandemic response)
• Happy State Bank, Amarillo (financial literacy)
• Kleberg Bank, Corpus Christi (bank culture)
• Legend Bank, Bowie (marketing)
• Lone Star National Bank, McAllen (pandemic response)
• SouthStar Bank, Moulton (architectural design)
• Texas First Bank, Texas City (architectural design)
• Woodforest National Bank, The Woodlands (financial literacy)

Silver Eagle:

• Brady National Bank, Brady (community service)
• The Commercial Bank, Mason (community service)
• Community National Bank and Trust, Corsicana (architectural design)
• FirstCapital Bank of Texas, Lubbock (pandemic response)
• Lamar National Bank, Paris (pandemic response)
• Lone Star National Bank, McAllen (bank culture)
• SouthStar Bank, Moulton (marketing)
• Texas Bank and Trust, Longview (bank culture)
• Vista Bank, Dallas (pandemic response)

Bronze Eagle:

• Brady National Bank, Brady (bank culture)
• Community National Bank and Trust, Corsicana (bank culture)
• FirstBank Southwest, Amarillo (pandemic response)
• First State Bank, Gainesville (marketing)
• First United Bank, Lubbock (marketing)
• Lamar National Bank, Paris (architectural design)
• Legend Bank, Bowie (community service)
• MCBank, Goldthwaite (pandemic response)

Click here to view details on all of the 2021 Best of Community Banking Awards submissions.

Pictured above: Texas Bank and Trust’s Alyssa Weaver, Karen Partee and Aaron May accept the 2021 Best of Community Banking “Best of Show” Gold Eagle Award, along with a Silver Eagle Award, from Christopher Williston, IBAT president and CEO.