On September 18, Bowie-based Legend Bank received the Best of Show honor during the 2023 Best of Community Banking (BOCB) Awards presented by the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT). The Awards Luncheon, held as part of the organization’s 49 Annual Convention in Frisco, recognized the top 17 recipients of IBAT’s 2023 BOCB Awards. This year marks the 32nd year of celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of IBAT member banks and the critical role they play in communities across Texas.

“Community banks do so much for their customers, neighbors and employees but aren’t interested in receiving credit for these efforts,” says Christopher Williston, IBAT president and CEO. “The Best of Community Banking Awards give us an opportunity each year to recognize our banks’ tremendous efforts—both in their banks and in their communities—to better the lives of those around them.”

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 or innovation. Additional recognition is bestowed for Best of Show and Community Spirit.

Legend Bank’s Best of Show entry was titled “The New Definition of Legend.” According to the bank, “one of Legend Bank’s most important priorities for 2022 was to set a clear definition of who we are, who we want to be and what makes us legendary to our employees, shareholders, customers and communities. The process of developing our new mission, vision and values came from within our organization and was all-inclusive. We conducted an all-employee survey and then brought together focus groups involving the board of directors, executives, management and employees at various levels. Together we revisited and reformulated our mission, developed a vision statement to guide us toward that mission and created values so that our employees would understand how to fulfill the defined vision and mission. We’ve incorporated our ‘New Definition of Legend’ into all that we do, reinforcing its importance in helping us make legendary decisions to enrich the lives of our stakeholders.”

Click here to view descriptions of all the winning 2023 BOCB entries, as well as videos, slide shows, photographs, media coverage and other materials provided by the banks in support of their submissions.

IBAT’s 2023 Best of Community Banking Award Recipients

Best of Show:

• Legend Bank, Bowie | Bank Culture: “The New Definition of Legend”

Community Spirit/Gold Eagle:

• Texas Bank and Trust, Longview | Financial Literacy: “Student Board—A Legacy of Leadership”
• Texas Regional Bank, Harlingen | Architectural Design: “Texas Community Architecture and Design at Its Best”
• Veritex Community Bank, Dallas | Community Service: “Vocational Training Program”

Gold Eagle:

• Citizens National Bank, Cameron | Architectural Design: “New Round Rock Location”
• First Bank Texas, Willow Park | Community Service: “Community Partners Program”
• First Liberty Bank, Liberty | Community Service: “FLB Gives Back Through Education!”
• First National Bank Texas, Killeen | Financial Literacy: “Community Engagement in Financial Literacy”
• First National Bank, Wichita Falls | Marketing: “Consumer Protection Marketing Campaign”
• Legend Bank, Bowie | Marketing: “The Scammer Who Almost Stole Christmas”
• Texas Regional Bank, Harlingen | Innovation: “Independence and Safety & Soundness”
• Veritex Community Bank, Dallas | Marketing: “Women in Business”

Silver Eagle:

• First Liberty Bank, Liberty | Innovation: “Modern Banking with FLB”
• Ozona Bank, Ozona | Financial Literacy: “Community Involvement, Stewardship and Giving Back to Our Communities”
• Texas Bank, Henderson (Prosper branch) | Community Service: “Neighbors Nourishing Neighbors (N3) Food Pantry”
• Texas National Bank, Mercedes (Ruben Torres branch) | Architectural Design: “Brownsville Branch Opening”
• Wellington State Bank, Wellington | Community Service: “Beans for Jeans”
• Wellington State Bank, Wellington | Financial Literacy: “Dragon Spirit Bank”

Bronze Eagle:

• FirstBank Southwest, Amarillo | Bank Culture: “Feeling Better Starts With Us”
• Texas Partners Bank, San Antonio | Marketing: “Purpose, Power and Partnership: The Relentless Pursuit of Relationships”
• TransPecos Banks, San Antonio | Bank Culture: “The TransPecos Banks Internship”
• Veritex Community Bank, Dallas | Innovation: “Veritex TrueAccess”
• Vista Bank, Dallas | Bank Culture: “Vista Xperience”
• Vista Bank, Dallas | Financial Literacy: “How to Fish”

Pictured above: The Legend Bank team, with the Best of Show award held by Legend Bank CEO Jay Bearden. IBAT Chair Kyle Irwin, left, and IBAT CEO Christopher Williston, right, presented the awards to community banks this year.