American Banker Magazine - September 2019

Many of the 85 banks on our seventh annual Best Banks to Work For list have novel approaches to leadership, communication and more.

It can be difficult to measure the effectiveness of the wellness programs that banks offer to employees to help keep morale high, stay competitive in recruiting and lower health care expenses.

The Tennessee bank was able to give employees more flexibility and cut its costs in half for its biometric screenings initiative.

Management at the Oklahoma City bank prides itself on listening to employees, and embracing the volunteer policy suggested by the chief marketing officer is just one example of that.

Executives at Atlantic Capital Bank had to take a hard look at its strategy and culture after the acquisition of First Security Group dampened employee morale.

The two banks' strong chemistry helped 1st Security's integration of Anchor go smoothly.

Employees of the Minnesota bank get a $500 "self-improvement allowance" each year.

When H. Lynn Harton joined United Community Bank seven years ago, he knew he was on track to eventually become CEO. But he still felt he had to earn it.

Executives of the Wisconsin bank realized employees weren't getting enough direction so they adopted a strategy that breaks objectives into smaller steps.

A range of startups are experimenting with more ethical retirement savings products than traditional reverse mortgages and annuities, says venture capitalist Ben Cukier. However, according to Cukier, they're too focused on millennials and ignoring a group with more urgent needs and greater wealth — baby boomers.

The Federal Housing Administration is aiming to limit the share of borrowers who have been withdrawing money from the value of their homes.

The Alabama bank, which is spending hundreds of millions on technology, says the ability to make faster credit decisions is one reason digital metrics such as checking account openings are soaring.

Walmart has filed a patent application for a digital currency that, like Facebook's Libra, would be a stablecoin backed by traditional currencies. And it envisions a very specific use case where its coin could stand in for cash — or even for a bank account.