ARTICLE
HARRISBURG, PA. – This year, Mid Penn Bank took top honors for their financial literacy community service project, while Jonestown Bank and Trust Company’s chief operating officer was named banker of the year for his exceptional philanthropy and contributions to community banking statewide. The recognition came during the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers’ INSPIRE Awards ceremony held on Thursday evening at the Hilton Harrisburg. This gala ceremony honors community bankers who are inspired to make exceptional, positive contributions to the people they serve, honoring the rich history and tradition of community banking and contributing to its ongoing success. For the second straight year, Mid Penn Bank took the top honor in winning the Tom Bailey Community Support and Engagement Award – an award renamed in honor of Brentwood Bank’s former CEO, Tom Bailey, who unexpectedly passed earlier this year and made extraordinary contributions to the entire community banking industry. “It is truly an honor to host the INSPIRE Awards and celebrate all of the ways our community banks make a positive impact in our communities large and small, said PACB President and CEO Kevin Shivers. “Our banks are the backbone of communities large and small across Pennsylvania, and regardless of the challenges that may come their way, they play a large role in strengthening and supporting individuals, families, schools, businesses, and so much more. This gala event is one way PACB provides an opportunity for our banks to be recognized and honored for their diligent work each day.” The gala featured keynote speaker Lee Rubin, who served as a successful football captain under the late Penn State Coach George Paterno, and Patrick Dix, vice president of strategic services at SHAZAM. The award winners and the respective categories are as follows: Banker of the Year Ed Martel – Jonestown Bank and Trust Company Presented to an individual banker who plays a pivotal role over the years in supporting their community bank, as well as contributing to the growth of area schools and organizations and being engaged with the business and economic development of the region. Jonestown Bank and Trust Company’s Chief Operating Officer Ed Martel has spent more than 30 years in community banking and a savvy subject matter expert in the field, which has included providing key testimony on elder financial abuse and other concerns pertaining to bankers before legislators in Harrisburg. In addition, he is deeply involved in his community through his work with the Union Canal Tunnel Park in Lebanon County, as well as Big Brothers/Big Sisters. “One thing that stands out to me is that Ed makes a point of knowing the name of all 160 JBT employees and greets each on at our corporate center every morning,” said JBT’s President and CEO Troy Peters. “He has had a large impact on developing our culture, which is something we are very intentional about at JBT.” Tom Bailey Community Support and Engagement Award – renamed in honor of former Brentwood Bank CEO Tom Bailey, who made substantial impacts in the community banking field for 40 years. This prestigious award honors community banks for their time, dedication and countless hours in supporting their local communities and engaging with their business communities. Winner: Mid Penn Bank For the second year in a row, Mid Penn Bank has been honored with this special award, notably for its MPB Classroom initiative, which is designed to meet the long-term financial literacy needs of school students and the broader community. The program has expanded into 55 schools and 14 community partner sites. Bank employees volunteer to present the curriculum, helping to build trust, deepen community connections, and ensure financial education reaches everyone, including underserved populations. Excellence in Marketing/Best Digital or Social Media Creative Award – awarded to a community bank highlighting the ever-growing importance of banks reaching their customers digitally. Winner: Jonestown Bank and Trust Company JBT’s “Perfect CD for You Campaign” provided the bank with an opportunity to promote its CDs without having the ability to advertise its rates. To answer the challenge and promote their CDs at the same time, JBT created this campaign, based on its new approach in offering customized terms to meet a customer’s needs. Using display ads targeting specific Google-created audiences, the simple display ad message’s focused on generating interest and curiosity, promoting clicks to the CD page on JBT’s website to learn more. Excellence in Marketing/Best Print Creative Award – this award is presented to a community bank which has excelled in marketing their bank with print media advertising. Winner: Fleetwood Bank Fleetwood Bank’s billboard marketing campaign highlighted their growing presence in Berks County and utilized billboards to create additional brand awareness in areas of the county that presented a significant growth opportunity. Analytics have shown more than three million impressions over the four month campaign, with several community members and business owners noticing and commenting on the billboard campaign. Excellence in Marketing/Best Radio or TV Creative Award – this award is given to a community bank which best utilizes the power behind effective video production to make their bank’s voice heard. Winner: Reliance Bank INSPIRE judges cited the cute approach in Reliance Bank’s “Toddler Loves Reliance Bank” campaign as a key standout in this category. The TV ad featured a local toddler who became excited each time she passed a Reliance Bank location. While overall brand awareness was the goal of this campaign, it’s possible the ad may have also helped Reliance Bank secure a “Hometown Favorite Bank” award in a local contest for the second year in a row! Excellence in Lending/Small Business Lending Award - this award is presented to a community bank which provides vital support to small business lending, helping to grow and build up small businesses as a foundation of success in our communities. Winner: Presence Bank Presence Bank developed two specific lending programs for Lancaster and Chester counties to help small businesses with needed capital. In addition, the bank also created an incredibly competitive loan offer for local property owners to foster local ownership as a way to help ease the affordable housing crisis in those counties. New Associate Member Award – this award highlights a new associate member for their consistent support of PACB and Pennsylvania’s community. Winner: Trusted Land Transfer Associate Member of the Year – this recognition highlights an associate member’s continued support of PACB and the variety of ways it supports community banks in their efforts to promote the values of the industry Winner: VISA Preferred Provider of the Year – this award is presented for outstanding interaction and support to PACB members of the past year and for helping PACB and community banks be more profitable and better serve their communities Winner: Deluxe To view a list of all of the INSPIRE Awards finalists and winners, please click here.
HARRISBURG, PA. – This year, Mid Penn Bank took top honors for their financial literacy community service project, while Jonestown Bank and Trust Company’s chief operating officer was named banker of the year for his exceptional philanthropy and contributions to community banking statewide.
The recognition came during the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers’ INSPIRE Awards ceremony held on Thursday evening at the Hilton Harrisburg. This gala ceremony honors community bankers who are inspired to make exceptional, positive contributions to the people they serve, honoring the rich history and tradition of community banking and contributing to its ongoing success.
For the second straight year, Mid Penn Bank took the top honor in winning the Tom Bailey Community Support and Engagement Award – an award renamed in honor of Brentwood Bank’s former CEO, Tom Bailey, who unexpectedly passed earlier this year and made extraordinary contributions to the entire community banking industry.
“It is truly an honor to host the INSPIRE Awards and celebrate all of the ways our community banks make a positive impact in our communities large and small, said PACB President and CEO Kevin Shivers. “Our banks are the backbone of communities large and small across Pennsylvania, and regardless of the challenges that may come their way, they play a large role in strengthening and supporting individuals, families, schools, businesses, and so much more. This gala event is one way PACB provides an opportunity for our banks to be recognized and honored for their diligent work each day.”
The gala featured keynote speaker Lee Rubin, who served as a successful football captain under the late Penn State Coach George Paterno, and Patrick Dix, vice president of strategic services at SHAZAM.
The award winners and the respective categories are as follows:
Jonestown Bank and Trust Company’s Chief Operating Officer Ed Martel has spent more than 30 years in community banking and a savvy subject matter expert in the field, which has included providing key testimony on elder financial abuse and other concerns pertaining to bankers before legislators in Harrisburg. In addition, he is deeply involved in his community through his work with the Union Canal Tunnel Park in Lebanon County, as well as Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
“One thing that stands out to me is that Ed makes a point of knowing the name of all 160 JBT employees and greets each on at our corporate center every morning,” said JBT’s President and CEO Troy Peters. “He has had a large impact on developing our culture, which is something we are very intentional about at JBT.”
Winner: Mid Penn Bank
For the second year in a row, Mid Penn Bank has been honored with this special award, notably for its MPB Classroom initiative, which is designed to meet the long-term financial literacy needs of school students and the broader community. The program has expanded into 55 schools and 14 community partner sites. Bank employees volunteer to present the curriculum, helping to build trust, deepen community connections, and ensure financial education reaches everyone, including underserved populations.
Winner: Jonestown Bank and Trust Company
JBT’s “Perfect CD for You Campaign” provided the bank with an opportunity to promote its CDs without having the ability to advertise its rates. To answer the challenge and promote their CDs at the same time, JBT created this campaign, based on its new approach in offering customized terms to meet a customer’s needs. Using display ads targeting specific Google-created audiences, the simple display ad message’s focused on generating interest and curiosity, promoting clicks to the CD page on JBT’s website to learn more.
Excellence in Marketing/Best Print Creative Award – this award is presented to a community bank which has excelled in marketing their bank with print media advertising. Winner: Fleetwood Bank Fleetwood Bank’s billboard marketing campaign highlighted their growing presence in Berks County and utilized billboards to create additional brand awareness in areas of the county that presented a significant growth opportunity. Analytics have shown more than three million impressions over the four month campaign, with several community members and business owners noticing and commenting on the billboard campaign.
Winner: Reliance Bank
INSPIRE judges cited the cute approach in Reliance Bank’s “Toddler Loves Reliance Bank” campaign as a key standout in this category. The TV ad featured a local toddler who became excited each time she passed a Reliance Bank location. While overall brand awareness was the goal of this campaign, it’s possible the ad may have also helped Reliance Bank secure a “Hometown Favorite Bank” award in a local contest for the second year in a row!
Winner: Presence Bank
Presence Bank developed two specific lending programs for Lancaster and Chester counties to help small businesses with needed capital. In addition, the bank also created an incredibly competitive loan offer for local property owners to foster local ownership as a way to help ease the affordable housing crisis in those counties.
Winner: Trusted Land Transfer
Winner: Deluxe
To view a list of all of the INSPIRE Awards finalists and winners, please click here.