Community Bulletin
Bank of Tennessee Receives “GIVE” Award
Nov 12 2009 12:00AM
Bank of Tennessee Receives “GIVE” Award
Honor Recognizes Exceptional Service to the Community
Tri-Cities, TN November 12, 2009 - Bank of Tennessee is one of six financial institutions to receive a 2009 Southeast Community Bank “GIVE” Award, which honors exceptional community service. “GIVE” stands for charitable Giving, community Involvement, Volunteerism and employee Engagement. Judges chose the winners from community banks in seven southeastern states based on criteria including objectives, strategies and results.
Bank of Tennessee won for its efforts with utilizing grants to renovate apartments for low and middle-income families and senior citizens; use of grants to encourage homeownership and for their employees fundraising campaign for the Second Harvest Foodbank.
“The Bank is honored to receive an award of this caliber, especially for its inaugural year. Bank of Tennessee is synonymous with the GIVE award,” said Roy L. Harmon, President and CEO.
The Bank of Tennessee’s motto is “Don’t Worry, Bank Happy.” The bank has made many people happy through its grant participation program, which has secured almost a million dollars to refurbish and renovate two apartment communities for low and moderate-income families and the elderly. Additionally, bank employees pitched in and provided landscape labor . Other grants totaling almost $500,000 have helped homebuyers with their down payments and closing costs; minorities and people with special needs buy their own homes, and financially-strapped families reduce their debt and avoid foreclosure. The bank also has a Community Development Committee, which chose the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee as the bank’s Charity of the Year. Employees raised almost $3,000 through a chili cook-off, jeans day, bake sales and raffles. Another factor in the decision to award Bank of Tennessee is that employees serve on the boards of roughly 30 nonprofits, and donate 350 hours per month to dozens of charities. The bank also provides sponsorships to community events such as Kingsport Fun Fest as well as the Rhythm & Roots music festival.
“We knew that many community banks make helping the community a priority, but we were deeply touched by the scope of their generosity,” said Sal Inserra, partner at Porter Keadle Moore, LLP, the accounting firm that hosted the awards. “We’re happy to make people aware of the inspiring things they do.”
In addition to Bank of Tennessee, the other winners include:
• Fifth Third Bank – Charlotte, North Carolina
• Paragon National Bank – Memphis, Tennessee
• The Peoples Bank – Biloxi, Mississippi
• Southern Bancorp– Ruleville, Mississippi
• the little bank – Kinston, North Carolina
The winners were honored at an awards banquet in Atlanta this month. Sponsors of the event include Porter Keadle Moore, LLP, law firm Bryan Cave, LLP as well as Banker’s Dashboard, FIG Partners LLC and Fidelity National Information Services.
Bank of Tennessee has been serving the greater Tri-Cities area for more than 35 years with 11 Tri-City locations and 200 employees. We continually strive to bring our community innovative banking solutions. For more information, visit bankoftennessee.com or call (423) 378.9500.