Popular with employees: In April, 80 employees took part in National Teach Children to Save Day. The team helped 7,500 students learn about budgeting, interest and understanding needs versus wants.

Popular with employees: North Shore organizes several walks, runs and bikes throughout the year and pays for employees to participate.

Popular with employees: Some FirstBank locations have a ping-pong table in the break room. This year four branches in Lakewood hosted an employee tournament that raised more than $800 for Junior Achievement.

Popular with Employees: Employees can submit prayer requests via the company's "Happy Hub" intranet.

Popular with employees: More than half of the employees serve on at least one committee focused on strategic initiatives, allowing them to share ideas and take action.

The Best Banks to Work For study is a collaboration between American Banker and the Best Companies Group, which conducts extensive employee surveys and reviews employer reports on benefits and policies.

From birthdays to volunteer work to losing weight, these institutions from our annual Best Banks to Work For list have given their employees inventive ways to earn extra time off.

Tri-Valley Bank in San Ramon, Calif., plans to raise $1.35 million in a private placement of its common stock.

FirstMerit in Akron, Ohio, has reached an agreement with Paychex to provide payroll-processing services.

Poage Bankshares in Ashland, Ky., has promoted its bank president to chief executive, following the resignation of Ralph "Gene" Coffman.

Traditional gadflies are again pressing banks to find buyers. They could soon be joined by less vocal investors who still know how to put pressure on executives and directors.

Algonquin State Bank in Illinois has promoted several employees in a revamping of executive management.

SBT Bancorp in Simsbury, Conn., plans to raise about $7.5 million through a private placement of subordinated debt and $8.6 million through a public offering of common stock.

CVB Financial in Ontario, Calif., has appointed entertainment industry veteran Kristina Leslie to its board.

Even as the number of credit unions shrinks, the number of credit union branches is going up, opposite the trend in bank branching, according to new analysis.

Many community banks seem to have forgotten that they are most valuable for their ability to identify customers' pain and put an end to it. But fierce competition from fintech startups like Lending Club and Kabbage offers a reminder that they cannot afford to disregard this reality.

Citizens First in Bowling Green, Ky., has appointed a Tennessee businessman and a Kentucky government official to its board.

Phoenixville Federal Bank & and Trust in Pennsylvania has converted to a state charter.

ASB Bancorp in Asheville, N.C., has received its second demand in less than a month to put itself on the auction block.

When the hurricane hit the Gulf Coast nearly a decade ago, it brought with it unimaginable destruction. Still, it also allowed the area's banks a chance to work together, connect with clients and work toward a stronger future.