Employee engagement

Financial firms need to focus developer teams on creating products, not fixing legacy IT issues and bad code.

Last summer, the Wausau, Wis., bank combined two employee groups to form the ICEBreakers. Its mission is to support outstanding customer service and foster a positive workplace culture.

HomeTown Bank's decision to designate an employee to oversee its wellness efforts has revitalized the program, pushing it into new areas such as emotional intelligence and stress management.

From on-site clinics to 24-hour access to doctors, many of the 85 banks on our annual list provide unique health benefits to employees.

Banks can’t just make jobs fun, they must help workers find meaning.

Chip Mahan, founder of Live Oak Bank, believes that if employees have their needs outside work met, they will work better with customers.

Michael Towbes, the owner of Montecito Bank & Trust who passed away last year, launched a program in 2003 that gives $1 million away to charities each year.

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.

Oakworth Capital Bank, which topped our "Best Banks" list this year, takes a broad view of wellness by providing employees with free healthy snacks and classes on time management.

Inspired by the book "How Fargo of You," Bell Bank has an awards program that recognizes employees with a talent for the little touches that matter to customers.

See the perks employees get at the 85 financial institutions that made our sixth annual Best Banks to Work For list.

Employees at First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Pascagoula-Moss Point love to eat, so much so that they started raising money for charity by selling lunches.

Many of the companies in our inaugural Best Fintechs to Work For ranking share a willingness — even an eagerness — to involve rank-and-file staff in decisions about how the company is run.

With the U.S. military in mind, the Texas banking product provider's CEO, Gabe Krajicek, created a corporate culture where employees name themselves after the legendary warriors and operate under a mission to "win the war."

The online lending platform takes corporate culture seriously but encourages employees not to take themselves too seriously.

The fintech industry has some cool workplace quirks, but behind the fun factor is a serious mission to build an enthusiastic, satisfied workforce.

Life is “ruff.” Pets can make it easier. Here is how some of the Best Banks to Work For accommodate their employees’ furry pals.

“You can’t serve the public if your employees are shell-shocked,” said one executive, comments echoed by other institutions dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

“You can’t serve the public if your employees are shellshocked,” said one top banker, comments echoed by other institutions dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

The new owner of this Miami bank might be from Chile, but it sure knew how to create warm feelings with the employees it acquired. Instead of cutting back on benefits, it added some new ones — including a cash bonus paid for life events like having a child.