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American Banker's inaugural ranking of the banks, large and small, who are earning praise from workers on benefits, opportunities and yes, the fun factor.
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here for our full special report with rankings, slideshows, relevant articles and more.October 28 -
Category: Under $3B in Assets
Berlin, Wis.
Assets at June 30: $307.2 million
No. of Employees: 75
President: Tom Jensene
On most holidays, banks shut their doors and employees head home. Team Day, a holiday dreamed up by 1st National Bank, is different. Employees spend the day together, socializing, learning, having fun and drawing inspiration from each other. Last year, they donned hard hats as they demolished a myth about bankingthat bankers are only available when the bank is open. The bank also regularly celebrates Dream Team Days, designed to honor people or groups who demonstrate a can-do attitude and seamless customer service, and also promote the bank's emphasis on mutual support and relationship building.
Founded in 1876, 1st National operates eight branches and a loan processing office in east-central Wisconsin. Each quarter, the bank shares 5 percent of its profits with all employees. Another 5 percent is set aside for rewarding employees for specific efforts. But numbers are not the only subject of quarterly meetings, which are led by the president and executive management team. The meeting leaders also share inspiring stories about employees who are making a difference and fulfilling their dreams.