For the bank's annual cook-offs, teams are chosen randomly to foster relationships across departments.

An "appointment time" benefit provides eight hours of paid time off for employees who need to schedule all kinds of daytime appointments, ranging from oil changes to parent-teacher conferences, during work hours.

Every year, the bank collects worn U.S. flags and honorably retires them during Veterans' Day ceremonies.

Sonic Lunch is a free outdoor concert series promoted by the bank in summer that brings people downtown to enjoy free music at a city park in Ann Arbor.

On most holidays, banks shut their doors and employees head home. Team Day, a holiday dreamed up by 1st National Bank, is different.

The Museum of American Finance delves into rarely heard personal stories behind the century-old institution in a new exhibit.

A longtime Chicago CDFI executive looks ahead to influencing job creation through a new advisory post as Treasury.

Building up postitive engagement in the office? It can happen. You just need the right tools and creative thinking to get there.

These companies, featured on American Banker's Best Banks to Work For list, go beyond salaries and health benefits to make their employees feel valued at the office.

Personal visits from the company president, special training for those making the leap to supervisor, notes of encouragement from the boss and from staffers - the institutions on American Banker's list of the Best Banks to Work For offer up interesting examples of what companies can do to boost employee engagement at the office.

The stock exchange has accepted the $136 million-asset company's plan to recapitalize itself and will allow it to remain listed, OptimumBank said Friday.

Heritage Oaks Bancorp in Paso Robles, Calif., is a lesson in seizing the moment. It went on the M&A offensive just weeks after being freed from a regulatory order, is poised to become No. 2 in market share in San Luis Obispo County and sees major cost-cutting opportunities.

Provident Financial Services (PFS) in Iselin, N.J., reported nearly flat quarterly earnings after taking a tax charge associated with its 2003 initial public offering.

Refer credit-challenged mom-and-pops to nonbank lenders and eventually those small businesses will be viable enough to qualify for bank loans, industry experts say.

MBT Financial Corp. (MBTF) in Monroe, Mich., is planning to raise up to $20 million in a common stock offering.

Analysts are concerned that a number of banks have been reluctant to cut costs. In some instances, banks are still hiring in hopes of boosting income.

First Scottsdale Bank (FSB) in Scottsdale, Ariz., and CBOA Financial (CBOF) in Tucson, Ariz., have terminated plans to merge.

Southside Bancshares (SBSI) in Tyler, Texas, posted a dip in third-quarter earnings because of a big decline in gains from the sale of securities.

National Penn Bancshares (NPBC) in Boyertown, Pa., reported a slightly lower quarterly profit as its mortgage fees fell, but it still met Wall Street's earnings forecasts.

TCF Financial Corp. (TCB) in Wayzata, Minn., met Wall Street's quarterly earnings estimates as lower charges related to bad assets made up for a decline in revenue.