Retail & Commercial

Elmer Laslo, the chief executive of 1st Summit Bank in Johnstown, Pa., for 39 years, likes to say he manages "by walking around." Not only does his approach resonate with employees in a big way, it has helped keep 1st Summit among the most profitable publicly traded small banks in the country.

Roughly once a quarter senior executives at Community Bank in Brandon, Miss., take a select group of up-and-coming managers on a three-day retreat. The trips are part of a management training course known as the Falcon Program that took flight in 2012.

An initiative to create a more nurturing workplace helped First Busey improve its employee engagement, its standing with customers, and its performance.

Sometimes what makes a bank a great place to work is more about the coworkers than the job itself.

Citizens Bank of West Virginia in Elkins boosts morale by having employees deliver surprise gifts of thousands of dollars each year to residents of its hardscrabble town (pop. 7,000).

Make it three in a row for Live Oak Bank. Initiatives like "Live Oak U" help explain why this bank has topped our list of the best places to work for three years running.

HomeBanc's chairman and chief executive, Jerry Campbell, prefers not to be addressed as "Mr. Campbell." If an employee of any rank has a question, "Hey, Jerry" suffices.

Bell Bank, No. 3 in the overall ranking, is No. 1 in the category for banks with $3 billion to $10 billion of assets.

Popular among employees: The Wow, Win and Spirit awards, which come with different levels of monetary prizes, go to exceptional employees throughout the year. Then, at the end of the year, there is a drawing from the pool of winners for a $1,000 prize.

Benchmark Bank is willing to work with the people who work for it.