In a year rife with uncertainty, certain banks managed to excel at making their employees happy.

This year, American Banker's top 20 Best Banks to Work For took care of their workforces in ways big and small. Each of the banks placed high value on communication, support and fun.

The 20 highest-ranking banks range in size from a bank with less than $500 million of assets to a regional with more than $50 billion of assets, which is set to be acquired by a similarly sized bank.

The overall list of 90 Best Banks banks has a few newcomers, including the one that happened to nab the No. 1 spot. Read on for profiles of the top 20 honorees.

For full Best Banks coverage, visit Best Banks to Work For 2025.

Note: Total assets for each bank are from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. as of June 30, 2025. Employee headcounts were provided by individual banks when they applied to the program.

No. 20: Seacoast Bank

Stuart, Florida
Assets: $15.9 billion
Chair and CEO: Charles Schaffer
No. of U.S. employees: 1,541

Seacoast Bank takes pride in fostering an inclusive culture that aims to make associates feel valued, supported and empowered to grow. The banking subsidiary of Seacoast Banking Corp., which said in May that it would buy Villages Bancorp near Orlando, Seacoast offers five resource groups for employees and commits to performance reviews three times per year.

It also offers a "leader academy" to support the growth and development of employees. And this year it's adding a "leadership excellence" program, which is designed for mid- and senior-level leaders to "bridge the gap" between two existing programs, Chairman and CEO Charles Schaffer said.

19: Southside Bank

Tyler, Texas
Assets: $8.3 billion
CEO: Lee Gibson
No. of U.S. employees: 810

To recognize employees that "go above and beyond in living out" Southside Bank's culture and core values, the company rolled out the Southside Champions Award, CEO Lee Gibson said.

Twice a year, staffers from across the bank submit nominations, and as many as 15 winners are selected. They are invited to attend a "breakfast of champions" with the bank's executive management team, where they are formally recognized for their contributions, Gibson said.

This year, Southside has put much of its focus on enhancing training and development opportunities for employees. It introduced a game-based training platform, rolled out a job shadowing program and opened a new training classroom in Southeast Texas.

"At Southside, we know our success starts with our team members," the bank said. "That's why we've built a culture that makes them feel valued, heard, connected, and celebrated."

18: Cornerstone Bank

Southbridge, Massachusetts
Assets: $1.7 billion
CEO: Todd Tallman
No. of U.S. employees: 193

Cornerstone Bank, whose holding company merged this year with PeoplesBancorp MHC in Holyoke, Massachusetts, believes that companies are "really about people — committed, talented, passionate people who want to be challenged, who want to do something meaningful and lasting, realize their full potential, make a positive impact on their communities, and have fun doing it," Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman said.

At Cornerstone, all new employees receive three weeks of paid vacation. Employees with student loan debt can participate in a loan paydown program that provides as much as $300 per month paid directly to the loan. The bank also recognizes employees with monthly awards and years of service awards, and supports wellness goals by contributing to fitness expenses.

"When you join Cornerstone Bank, you're not just starting a job. You're becoming part of a team that's dedicated to making a positive impact — on each other, on our customers, and on the communities we call home," Tallman said.

17: Signature Bank

Rosemont, Illinois
Assets: $2 billion
President and CEO: Michael O'Rourke
No. of U.S. employees: 105

As it had promised, Signature Bank rolled out a new employee intranet last year that's improved the way the bank communicates and connects with employees across its markets. The boutique commercial bank's new platform allows for tailored content, employee recognition and events visibility, and provides workers with access points for human resources, compliance and information technology.

Next up is further customizing the intranet to make it a tool that's able to "promote timely product rollouts, service updates and customer messaging," President and CEO Michael O'Rourke said.

16: American Riviera Bank

Santa Barbara, California
Assets: $1.3 billion
President and CEO: Jeff DeVine
No. of U.S. employees: 143

Last year, American Riviera Bank introduced new fraud prevention tools that helped the bank prevent or recover more than $2.2 million in check fraud losses. It started offering Carefull, a 24/7 personal fraud prevention monitoring service, to employees and one person of their choosing as a complimentary benefit to avoid fraud, scams and identify theft. The service is available to all employees, regardless of where they actually bank.

American Riviera began a new manager training program that offers communication skills classes, LinkedIn training and skills certification. It also added pet insurance to its insurance offerings.

15: Pacific National Bank

Miami, Florida
Assets: $1.4 billion
President and CEO: Carlos Fernando-Guzman
No. of U.S. employees: 120

Pacific National Bank takes pride in its culture and values, including "an inclusive and opportunity-driven workplace," it said. The bank, which until 2012 was a subsidiary of Banco Del Pacifico, provides quarterly town hall lunches, company picnics, health fairs and massages. Since 2014, it has been owned by four private investors.

"We believe our people are our greatest strength," the bank said. "They are what drives our success."

14: First National Bankers Bankshares

Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Assets: $851.6 million
CEO: Joseph Quinlan III
No. of U.S. employees: 154

First National Bankers Bankshares considers itself to be "employee-centric," meaning that it provides avenues for employees to make their voices heard. That includes direct access to management, participation on committees and a chance to be part of focus groups.

The correspondent bank also conducts interviews with employees who stay at the bank and conducts satisfaction surveys and informal one-on-one meetings as a way to "keep a pulse on how employees feel about the company," CEO Joseph Quinlan III said. "Their feedback is critical to us in determining where our blind spots are."

This year, First National Bankers Bankshares plans to enhance its computer purchase program for employees, Quinlan said. Currently, employees can purchase a desktop or laptop through the bank and receive a corporate discount on top of a subsidy provided by the bank, he said.

13: CS Bank

Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Assets: $593.8 million
CEO: Charlie Cross
No. of U.S. employees: 104

CS Bank has a theory: Work should be more than a job. It should be about purpose and impact.

To attract and retain workers, the bank offers competitive pay and benefits, as well as perks. Those extras include a fully catered Christmas party where more than $4,000 in gifts are distributed,a "get fit" program in which $100 is given away each quarter and a "dress for your day" work environment.

"We believe that when you treat your bank family great and you prove that they are more than a number, that sort of treatment reflects in a major way in bank success," CEO Charlie Cross said. "We are firm believers that a pretty great place to bank should translate into an amazing place to work."

12: First United Bank and Trust Company

Madisonville, Kentucky
Assets: $589.2 million
President and CEO: Jason Hawkins
No. of U.S. employees: 101

At First United Bank and Trust Company, bank tellers who are required to work half-days on Saturdays receive four additional hours of pay beyond their total weekly hours worked.

"By providing this extra incentive, working a half day on Saturday is no longer frowned upon but rather sought after," President and CEO Jason Hawkins said.

Last year, First United Bank and Trust partnered with a local cancer center to host a cookout at its main banking center and raised more than $7,000. It also launched its own bank foundation so that employees could make tax-deductible payroll contributions to benefit local charities.

11: Climate First Bank

St. Petersburg, Florida
Assets: $1.2 billion
President and CEO: Lex Ford
No. of U.S. employees: 120

Founded in 2021, Climate First Bank continues to lean into renewable energy financing, despite a rollback in climate-friendly policies by the Trump administration. Remaining committed to its mission to be a bank focused on the environment and sustainability has helped Climate First attract and retain employees who share the same values, President and CEO Lex Ford said.

Some of the bank's perks include paid sabbaticals and volunteer time, individual health insurance plans that are paid in full by the bank and a 401(k) retirement program with a 6% employer match.

Climate First also rewards workers who engage in certain mission-aligned activities, such as volunteering, fundraising and composting. Employees who participate earn points that can be redeemed for prizes.

10: NebraskaLand Bank

North Platte, Nebraska
Assets: $948.3 million
President and CEO: Michael Jacobson
No. of U.S. employees: 106

This year, NebraskaLand Bank changed its time-off policy, replacing traditional sick time with a flexible personal leave policy. "This change has shown a healthier work-life balance and reflects our commitment to flexible work schedules," President and CEO Michael Jacobson said.

In addition, the bank is planning to expand insurance and time-off benefits to its part-time employees, Jacobson said. It also recently introduced a leadership development program for employees who are interested in moving into more senior roles, he added.

NebraskaLand's focus on its workforce even extends to their employees' wardrobes. The bank covers 50% of the cost of chosen branded clothes through its employee apparel program. In terms of giving back to the community, employees are able to nominate non-profit groups to be recipients of money that's pledged by employees. Since the program started in 2004, employees have donated $220,000 of their own money to the selected nonprofits, the bank said.

9: TIB

Farmers Branch, Texas
Assets: $2.997 billion
President and CEO: Michael O'Rourke
No. of U.S. employees: 251

TIB is able to attract and retain employees in the highly competitive Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas, market in part because it offers a variety of flexible benefits, President and CEO Michael O'Rourke said. That includes early-release days before holidays, a hybrid work schedule, a 5% 401(k) company match and free, unlimited mental health and virtual doctor appointments.

This year, the correspondent bank is expanding its employee health benefits by adding coverage for hearing aids, therapy for children with developmental disabilities, and other benefits that may be excluded from the traditional health insurance plans, O'Rourke said.

8: Origin Bank

Ruston, Louisiana
Assets: $9.6 billion
Chair, president and CEO: Drake Mills
No. of U.S. employees: 845

Origin Bank's current strategy to generate improved profitability includes three pillars, with one focusing on culture and employee engagement. As part of the initiative to achieve a return on assets of 1% or more by the end of this year, Origin has introduced several programs to help improve communication, connection and employee engagement, according to Drake Mills, chairman, president and CEO of the bank's holding company, Origin Bancorp.

The list includes virtual quarterly dates to go over the company's performance and connect with staff across all markets, as well as weeklong health and wellness fairs that rotate throughout each market and include wellness screenings, healthy meals and fitness challenges with prizes.

7: Peoples Bank

Lubbock, Texas
Assets: $1.1 billion
Chair and CEO: Larry Allen
No. of U.S. employees: 179

Peoples Bank in Texas doles out mid-year and year-end bonuses. It also pays 100% of employee health and dental insurance costs, and it provides cash awards to individuals who are recognized as "Officer of the Quarter" and "Employee of the Quarter," the bank said.

Employees have the opportunity to earn extra vacation days by donating a certain amount of money to United Way or volunteering for the Lubbock Parade of Homes.

Peoples, which recently agreed to be acquired by Cornerstone Capital Bancorp in Houston, has begun a cash-based referral program to encourage more employees to refer customers to the bank's treasury management and home loan departments. The bank continues to match up to 4% of employees' contributions to their 401(k) plans.

6: Peoples Bank of East Tennessee

Madisonville, Tennessee
Assets: $432.7 million
President and CEO: Jeremy Callais
No. of U.S. employees: 113

Peoples Bank of East Tennessee's management team had an unusual request for employees: write a letter to Santa Claus asking for a gift they really wanted and then submit it to the bank.

At the holiday party, management put the requests in a bowl, then pulled them out, giving away gifts to employees who "were moved to tears as they received items that were deeply meaningful." Some of the requests were life necessities that were timely and needed, the bank said.

"We will continue to enhance our employee experience, believing that providing the best possible work environment and culture will continue to provide the best customer experience for our customers, consequently creating the best possible shareholder value," President and CEO Jeremy Callais said.

5: Centier Bank

Merrillville, Indiana
Assets: $9.8 billion
CEO: Michael Schrage
No. of U.S. employees: 1,107

No matter how long someone works at Centier Bank, whether it's one year or 40 years, the goal is to make sure that Centier stands out as the best place they've ever worked, the bank said.

Centier's list of employee perks include three paid mental health days, individual development plans, paid pet adoption and speedy access to licensed health coaches and behavioral therapists. The bank is launching "pulse surveys" this year to glean more feedback from staffers.

Centier is also spending a lot of time preparing for its core conversion. The bank set up "evolution teams" to assist with the transition, CEO Michael Schrage said.

"We are ensuring our associates are well cared for with the additional responsibilities and stress that will naturally occur," he said.

4: Pinnacle Financial Partners

Nashville, Tennessee
Assets: $54.7 billion
President and CEO: Terry Turner
No. of U.S. employees: 3,459

Pinnacle Financial has long been laser-focused on being known as the best company for bankers to work for. The point is to create a culture where employees are excited to come to work, which motivates them to engage with clients "in a way competitors can't," the bank said.

It's also about employee recruitment. Pinnacle doesn't rely on search firms to fill jobs; it relies on word-of-mouth, President and CEO Terry Turner said. "The more people we hire, the more people we can hire, and because our associates become our primary recruiters, we make very few hiring mistakes," he said.

The company is in the midst of big changes. In July, it said it would merge with Synovus Financial in Columbus, Georgia. "What I think is part of the appeal about this, and the reason we want to do it, is: Our cultures are remarkably similar," Turner told American Banker.

3: Paragon Bank

Memphis, Tennessee
Assets: $865.2 million
President and CEO: Robert Shaw Jr.
No. of U.S. employees: 121

This past year, Paragon Bank launched a new employee-focused program called "Wellness Wednesdays." Staffers walk for 15 minutes each Wednesday, President and CEO Robert Shaw Jr. said.

The program is part of a long list of staff-centric perks offered by the fast-growing Paragon. The bank, which is celebrating its 20th year in business, generated record-high net income for the second quarter of 2025 and opened a branch in Jackson, Tennessee, in August.

Employees also receive on-site valet car washes, 40 hours of paid time to participate in community service and the option to buy company stock. More than 90% of its employees own Paragon stock, according to the bank's website.

2: Oakworth Capital Bank

Birmingham, Alabama
Assets: $1.8 billion
Senior managing director, chair and CEO: Scott Reed
No. of U.S. employees: 163

Oakworth has consistently ranked near the top of American Banker's annual list of the Best Banks to Work For. The company touts its culture as the "primary recruiter" for top talent. It continues to focus on five core values when hiring — the Golden Rule, character, professionalism, work ethic and having an innovative and creative spirit — and makes those values the cornerstone of the bank.

Oakworth recently launched a program that allows employees to buy stock in the company at a slight discount, by way of payroll deductions, CEO Scott Reed said.

"Equity ownership has always been a part of our strategy," Reed said. "However, this new plan places control of acquiring stock in the hands of associates."

1: Wood & Huston Bank

Marshall, Missouri
Assets: $1.2 billion
President and CEO: Mark Thompson
No. of U.S. employees: 189

Wood & Huston Bank is a newcomer on American Banker's annual Best Banks to Work For list. The 151-year-old, family-owned community bank, which has 12 locations in Missouri, touts that it is "rooted in love," according to Chief Culture Officer Susie Thompson.

To help attract and retain employees, the fifth-generation bank prioritizes internal promotions, provides career development opportunities, offers flexible scheduling and regularly recognizes outstanding work. Employees are paid to work at any community event sponsored by the bank, and they also receive year-end bonuses and extra holiday pay.

In January 2026, Wood & Huston plans to roll out a year-round wellness program to support employees' physical, mental and emotional health.

"We believe that investing in our employees' well-being is not only the right thing to do, but also essential for our long-term success," President and CEO Mark Thompson said.

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