Marquette Bank Wins Excellence & Innovation BKD Award
Release date: 9/28/2021
Excellence and Innovation BKD Award Presented by CBAI
Community Bankers Association of Illinois & BKD co-sponsor award recognizing high-performing member banks
CHICAGO, IL – Kraig Lounsberry, president of the Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI), and Bob Swartz, partner at BKD National Financial Services Group’s Illinois office, announced that Marquette Bank, Orland Park, won for its entry: “We’re in this Together: Pandemic Response – Supporting Local Restaurants & Recognizing Essential Workers.” The award was presented at the Recognition Luncheon at CBAI’s 47th Annual Convention & Expo on Saturday, September 25, at the Marriott Marquis in Chicago.
Marquette Bank realized that local restaurants were hurting due to pandemic closures and essential workers were risking themselves to serve their communities. The bank purchased meals from local restaurant customers to deliver to area hospitals and police and fire stations. The bank regularly ordered meals for employees, as well, and gift cards were given to employees to celebrate anniversaries, for “lunch on the bank” days, and around the holidays in lieu of a holiday party. Local restaurant gift cards were also given to “Hometown Heroes,” including healthcare workers, police/fire/first responders, and teachers. Restaurant gift cards were awarded as customer prizes for contests and a branch opening, to customers participating in the bank’s survey, and to the bank’s 60 scholarship recipients. In all, the bank purchased more than $98,000 in meals and gift cards from local restaurants. Marquette also coordinated emergency pandemic funds for community partners and hosted six mobile drive-through food pantries at their branch locations, which resulted in more than 6,000 30-pound boxes of food to feed local families in need.
Co-sponsored by CBAI and BKD, one of the 10 largest CPA and advisory firms in the United States, the award, now in its 23rd year, recognizes high-performing CBAI members that implement innovative ideas demonstrating a commitment to their employees, customers, shareholders and communities through exceptional programming.
Judges for the award included: Ray Altmix, First Southern Bank, Marion; Chuck Deters, Dieterich Bank, Effingham; Monica Dyson, Bank of Springfield; Marsha Johnston, Legence Bank, Eldorado; Jerry Runde, Teutopolis State Bank; Tim Schoon, Morton Community Bank; Jon Spitz, Washington Savings Bank, Effingham; Jeff Hammes, Peoples Bank of Kankakee County, Bourbonnais, Katie Ashworth, CNB Bank & Trust, N.A., Carlinville, and Bill Wubben, Apple River State Bank.
Caption: Manny Jimenez (left), First Vice President of CRA accepts the Excellence and Innovation BKD Award Presented by CBAI
About BKD, LLP
BKD is the top-tier U.S. CPA and advisory firm that delivers its experience and service with a deep understanding of your business, your needs and what it takes to improve your business performance. BKD’s approximately 2,000 personnel, including approximately 250 partners, serve clients in all 50 states and internationally. To learn more, visit bkd.com.
About CBAI
One of the largest state banking associations in the nation, CBAI is a professional trade association representing 300 Illinois commercial banks and thrifts, and their 880 Illinois bank branches. Its members have nearly $80 billion in assets and employ approximately 17,000 individuals. CBAI, headquartered in Springfield, was founded in 1974 to exclusively represent and serve the community-banking profession. For more information, visit cbai.com.
Marquette Bank, Orland Park, Wins
About Marquette Bank:
Marquette Bank is one of Chicagoland’s largest remaining independent neighborhood banks. The bank has helped neighbors, families and businesses since 1945. Marquette Bank offers a full range of digital and in-person banking services including: consumer banking, business banking, home financing, commercial lending, trust services, student loans, investment, insurance and wealth management services. Marquette Bank is a subsidiary of Marquette National Corporation (MNAT), a diversified financial holding company, and has $2 billion in assets along with a local lending portfolio of $1 billion. Marquette Bank is a national leader in community development receiving eleven consecutive ‘Outstanding’ Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance ratings from its bank regulator the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The bank has been recognized with two Excellence and Innovation Awards from the Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) and the Community Commitment Award for Volunteerism by the American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation.
Marquette Bank has banking centers in Chicago, Bolingbrook, Bridgeview, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Lemont, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Oak Forest, Orland Park, Summit and Tinley Park Illinois. Marquette Bank is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. For more information visit: emarquettebank.com or call 1-888-254-9500.