Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business (left) presents a “Best Company” trophy to Austin Bank associates Tasha Childress, Julissa Trujillo and Rosie Mireles.The 2022 list of the “Best Companies to Work for in Texas” was released recently and includes a number of Texas banks—one of which placed No. 1 on the roster. The annual list is managed by Workforce Research Group in partnership with the Texas Association of Business. Recipients were recognized and honored on October 6 at the Best Companies Gala in Austin.
The companies were recognized in three categories by company size—small (15–99 employees), medium (100–499 employees) and large (500 or more employees)—and were ranked both within their size category and overall in the competition, which touted 87 participating companies.
Texas-bassed banks that made the list include:
- Community National Bank & Trust of Texas, Corsicana, which ranked No. 1 in the medium-sized category and No. 1 overall;
- Vera Bank NA, Henderson, No. 13 medium-sized company and No. 45 overall;
- SouthWest Bank, Odessa, No. 17 medium-sized company and No. 52 overall;
- FirstBank Southwest, Amarillo, No. 18 large-size company and No. 55 overall;
- Guaranty Bank & Trust NA, Mount Pleasant, No. 3 large-sized company and No. 24 overall;
- Texas Bank and Trust, Longview, No. 6 large-sized company and No. 42 overall;
- SWBC, San Antonio, No. 9 large-sized company and No. 60 overall; and
- Austin Bank, Jacksonville, No. 11 large-sized company and No. 65 overall.
The list also includes two companies that serve the financial services industry: CalTech, San Angelo, No. 29 medium-sized company and No. 84 overall; and CSI, Paducah, Kentucky, No. 12 large-sized company and No. 73 overall.
The “Best Companies to Work for in Texas” program was open to all public and privately held organizations, both for-profit and nonprofit. To be eligible for consideration, companies must have a facility in Texas and at least 15 employees in the state. Employer rankings are determined based on employee feedback and employer assessments.
Improving from last year’s ranking as fourth place in medium-sized companies, Community National Bank & Trust placed first overall in the 2022 program, surpassing both winners in the small and large categories as well. “Each year, we analyze the data collected through these surveys,” says Rusty Hitt, CEO of Community National Bank & Trust. “It’s crucial for us to be in a constant practice of improving our culture for the betterment of the bank family.”
The bank’s accolade as the best employer is mirrored by a year of financial success in 2022. With unprecedented profitability in the last two years, Hitt attributes the bank’s streak of success to the employees at each location. “Keeping your employees happy is vital in growing any business,” he notes. “We strive to be the best bank in our communities, which is made possible by being the best employer in our state.”
For Austin Bank, this was the 14th consecutive year it has made the list. “Our employees are the face of Austin Bank not only within the bank, going the extra mile to serve our customers, but also out in our communities helping others,” says Jeff Austin III, chairman. “To support our employees and their vital contributions, it is our goal to provide the best possible workplace environment. Every employee is encouraged to continue learning and developing their career, and to become involved in their local community in order to make the best place to work also the best to live and the best place to bank.”
“At VeraBank, our team is exceptional. We like each other. We respect each other. And we have a culture of achievement, which leads to the recognition we’re honored to receive,” says Brad Tidwell, VeraBank president and CEO.
“This process provides the bank feedback from our team and allows us to understand and continuously improve as a company and as individuals,” says Danette Heffner, VeraBank executive vice president/human resources director. “Attracting and retaining outstanding talent is a top priority for us.”
Click here to see the full list of the 2022 “Best Companies to Work for in Texas.
Pictured above: Employees of Community National Bank & Trust receiving the top award in the “Best Companies to Work for in Texas” competition. Rusty Hitt, CEO, is in the center holding the trophy.
