Hoosier Banker 15 First Savings Bank, Jeffersonville First Savings Bank, which in 2019 was headquartered in Clarksville, was voted last year as Most Generous Medium-Sized Company by Louisville Business First. In 2019 the bank gifted $445,151 to nonprofits across its footprint and volunteered over 7,200 hours to help 407 organizations. Causes ranged from teaching financial literacy, to serving on nonprofit and community development boards, to volunteering at shelters for the homeless and animals. The bank’s charitable foundation, First Savings Charitable Foundation, focuses on financial literacy in the areas of education, economic development and community vitality. The foundation gifted over $280,000 in grants in 2019 in the southern Indiana and Louisville metro areas, totaling more than $1.38 million in grants since its inception. Employee community outreach is culturally ingrained, assisted by an internal tracking system. Employees’ default log-in screens feature a thermometer graphic showing overall progress toward the bank’s annual service hour goal, creating a fun, team-like atmosphere. The bank also has an employee-led and funded charity fund. First State Bank of Middlebury First State Bank is a supporter of multiple community nonprofits, schools and local businesses. In some instances, the financial, in-kind and volunteer support that the bank provides accounts for the majority of the recipient agency’s needs. The bank has First Savings Bank staff and family members help with “Bikes or Bust,” providing bicycles to Toys for Tots and The Salvation Army. donated more than $150,000 over the last six years to 12 participating schools. It also sponsors a School Spirit Debit Card program through which it makes quarterly donations to local partnering schools based on debit card transactions. Staff is encouraged to engage in community activities in the form of committee memberships, board of director seats, private organization activities, school functions, church functions and service clubs. In 2019 the bank created ‘B Cause’ Day to give employees a full day to be exposed to agencies in need. All 120 associates chose from a menu of nine local nonprofits covering two counties and spent the day with teams of their peers completing needed tasks. German American Bank, Jasper In 2013 German American Bank initiated Clean Sweep Days to engage bank employees and nonprofit volunteers to work together in cleaning up roadside trash to instill community pride and make a positive impression on visitors. Nonprofit organizations receive donations from the bank for every full bag of trash their volunteers collect, averaging $300 earned for their work. Through 2019 the bank has donated over $100,000 to local nonprofits through the program. Clean Sweep Days have helped nonprofits achieve specific goals such as youth teams raising funds to attend Destination Imagination nationals, cheerleading or sports team fundraisers, giving circles, Tri Cap and Crisis Connection. Another benefit is that diversified cultures participating together creates opportunities for fellowship among various populations of the community. To support the bank’s culture of volunteerism, a Qualified Community Involvement program allows employees to designate their volunteer hours to qualify for gift cards. The bank also uses community volunteering for employee development. Greenfield Banking Company Greenfield Banking Company has been sponsoring Entertainment on the Plaza since 1987 as a series of 13 free live performances in downtown Greenfield. The focus is on providing live musical performances to enhance the quality of life in the Greenfield community, with the bank managing the entire series. Last Columbus Day, employees of First State Bank of Middlebury participated in B Cause Day, volunteering at nine local nonprofit organizations. German American Bank volunteers engage in community cleanup through Clean Sweep Days. The Wright Brothers Band performs at a community concert sponsored by Greenfield Banking Company.
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