Community Bankers of Iowa Monthly Banker Update August 2013 | Page 12

Lee County Bank & Trust Exemplifies How Community Banks Are Making a Difference on Main Street
The Fort Madison Bank Receives CBI’s Community Banking Month Best-of-the-Best Award
Independent community banks across Iowa have an important role and impact in their local communities. However, the volunteer work of one Iowa independent bank’s employees and their ingenuity in giving back to the Fort Madison and West Point communities earned them the Community Bankers of Iowa’s (CBI) Community Banking Month Best-of-theBest Award. Lee County Bank and Trust was presented with the award and recognized during CBI’s awards ceremony. What stood out to CBI and sealed Lee County Bank and Trust as the 2013 Best-of-the-Best Award recipient were their “random acts of kindness.” Throughout the year employees of the bank have been giving back to those who help support the Fort Madison and West Point communities by performing random acts of kindness. Examples of the random acts include: free coffee to the morning “coffee club” at local establishments; free fountain beverages and coffees at local convenience stores; preThroughout Community Banking Month paying for pizzas for those who called Carla Meierott accepts the Community Banking in for evening delivery, etc. Recipients (recognized in April in Iowa and across the nation) Lee County Bank and Trust’s Month Best-of-the-Best Trophy on behalf of Lee of the random acts of kindness were all employees volunteered with their local given a card that explained why they County Bank & Trust from Erik Skovgard. Meals on Wheels program. The local were being treated and thanking them program was struggling with deliveries, so the bank’s employfor supporting local merchants. The card read: ees stepped in to help keep Meals on Wheels delivering a hot meal to those in need. “Not only are we helping out our comCommunity is very important to us at Lee County Bank & munity, but our employees are also feeling the gratification of Trust N.A. and we appreciate your support of a local busidoing a good deed to help out their fellow neighbor,” stated Lee ness to help keep our community thriving. Please accept County Bank and Trust Marketing Manager Carla Meierotto. this random act of kindness from us today as a token of She also noted that the employees found so much enjoyment our appreciation. To do something, however small, to help and fulfillment through volunteering with Meals on Wheels that brighten a person’s day is a joy to us while giving back to they have continued working with the program past Community those helping our community grow. Banking Month. CBI’s Best-of-the-Best Award distinguishes one Iowa, independent bank that epitomizes how community banks are making a difference on Main Street. “The actions of Lee County Bank and Trust throughout Community Banking Month and the year truly exemplify the significant role that independent community banks play in stimulating their local economies,” stated CBI Executive Vice President and CEO Don Hole. “Community banks are based on relationships with customers and their symbiotic relationships with the communities they serve helps small businesses and Main Street Iowa communities survive as the economy continues to recover.”