First Busey Corp. is investing in software to eliminate the drudgery of some tasks. But this Best Bank to Work For will judge the success of the tech initiative by employee engagement more so than just efficiency. The goal is to boost morale.

A focus on getting work done more efficiently has prompted these midsize banks to rearrange responsibilities, eliminate red tape and use technology to automate repetitive or tedious tasks. Some are also enhancing leadership development and increasing employee benefits amid an increase in turnover.

From paying for lawn care when an Army Reservist on staff was deployed to offering employees office space and laptops for their children to do school work, United Bank in Alabama aims to make life easier for the people who work there. It is also ramping up internal training programs.

The largest of the 2021 Best Banks to Work For, those with more than $10 billion of assets, are trying new recruiting tactics and ramping up diversity efforts.

The Illinois company plans to combine Guaranty Federal Bancshares in Springfield with another bank it bought in the region.

The Pennsylvania community bank lacked the resources to go all-in on developing a diversity, equity and inclusion policy, so it turned to grad students at Georgetown University for help.

The smallest of the Best Banks to Work For have figured out how to thrive in an environment where many employees are working fully or partly from home. Some are using flexibility as a tool to stave off burnout.

On Jun. 30, 2021. Dollars in thousands.

On Jun. 30, 2021. Dollars in thousands.

The Houston companies emphasized the need for added size to compete with megabanks such as JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo.

On Jun. 30, 2021. Dollars in thousands.

Executives at the 90 institutions that made the ninth annual ranking are boosting benefits to attract new employees, amid intense competition for talent. They're also rethinking how they approach recruiting and increasing their diversity efforts.

With its agreement to buy KS StateBank’s residential mortgage operation, Kansas-based Armed Forces is going all in on home lending.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has raised “certain regulatory concerns” about Blue Ridge Bankshares, delaying its combination with FVCBankcorp well into next year.

The $323 million acquisition would give the Indiana bank a presence in affluent Oakland County and in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids.

OceanFirst Financial in New Jersey has agreed to pay $186 million to buy Partners Bancorp, which owns two banks that operate in the Washington suburbs and surrounding areas.

The small Pennsylvania regional signed up four cryptocurrency services companies as customers this week. CEO Sam Sidhu says the bank's new platform is helping it win business in this highly specialized market.

Amid a spate of deals in 2021, community banks are actively recruiting from merging rivals that are focused on closing and integrating acquisitions.

The Cooperative Bank in Massachusetts is working with the tech startup Carefull to monitor accounts for signs that older clients are being swindled by scammers — including people close to them.

The Indiana-based online banking pioneer is purchasing First Century, a similarly tech-savvy company, for $80 million. The deal would diversify its revenue and improve its prepaid card offerings for small businesses.