Retail & Commercial

Mike Barnett had other jobs before coming to work for the bank his family owned and saw enough to know the hell of a bad manager.

Bell State Bank & Trust turns 50 next year, and in that time it's built a culture that knows its values and does a good job of promoting them. The Fargo, N.D., bank hosts family baseball nights, picnics and nighttime Christmas parties — all to let employees know their importance.

As chairman and chief executive of Veritex Community Bank, C. Malcolm Holland gets a kick out of the little things, like writing personalized birthday cards to employees.

It only takes three months for new hires at FNBC Bank in Ash Flat, Ark., to qualify for an enhanced paid-time-off program that gives them an extra 40 hours to use for vacation or other purposes.

Popular with employees: An employee-funded outreach program helps co-workers who have serious health issues or are struggling financially. Last year 64 employees received a total of $34,000.

Popular with employees: At each team meeting, an employee who "hits it out of the park" receives a special baseball. The recipient signs the ball and passes it on to another employee at the next meeting.

Popular with employees: Choice asks its employees in a survey each year what they think are the best things about working there and its flexibility is a favorite response. Operating on the philosophy that flexibility breeds dedication, the bank encourages employees not to let work keep them away from their kids' soccer games.

Popular with employees: Each year BankPlus employees get a day off as an anniversary gift, and every five years they get a gift such as jewelry, furniture, luggage or a vacation.

Popular with employees: Independence charters a bus once a year for employees — and one guest each — to go to Nashville for a shopping day. Attendees get a long-sleeve shirt, $10 for lunch and the chance to win gift cards on the bus.

Tim Colvin used to make consumer loans at Community Trust Bank. Now, as the bank's "dream manager," he spends his workday counseling the bank's employees on everything from figuring out how to adopt a baby to landing their ideal job.