Dear Community Bankers of Illinois: Community banks are facing

Dear Community Bankers of Illinois:
Community banks are facing some of the biggest challenges in decades, and yet you
continue to succeed. BKD, LLP and the Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI)
want to recognize your success. For that reason, BKD and CBAI are co-sponsoring the BKD
Award for Excellence & Innovation. Now in its 14th year, this award showcases the best
ideas among Illinois’ community banks.
Nominations should show how banks demonstrate exemplary performance, community
leadership and entrepreneurial spirit in today’s banking environment. Past winners have
been honored for developing successful philanthropic efforts, targeted community improvement projects or innovative products with creative marketing support.
This is your opportunity to be recognized as a respected community leader and one of
Illinois’ top financial institutions. By sharing your success story, you also inspire others to
improve and renew their commitment to their communities. We look forward to receiving
your nomination.
Sincerely,
Paula R. Eissfeldt, Partner
BKD, LLP, co-sponsor
Robert J. Wingert, President
Community Bankers Association of Illinois (co-sponsor)
The Award
The BKD Award for Excellence & Innovation is a way to recognize CBAI member banks that have
elevated their commitment to customers, shareholders and employees by employing a creative
approach to community outreach.
This year, CBAI and BKD will honor a bank that works to build a healthy future for itself and its
community, either by finding an innovative, new way to serve customers or stepping up its corporate citizenship. Our mission is to:
• Encourage all member banks and thrifts to improve business performance and participate in the growth
and success of their communities
• Generate new ideas and programs for customers, employees, shareholders and the community
• Heighten awareness of the keys to future success
2011 Winner
The winner of the 2011 BKD Award for
Excellence & Innovation is Teutopolis State
Bank in Teutopolis, Illinois. In 2010, the
bank began a tradition of hosting a charitable community cookout in its parking lot.
The cookout is held on a Friday in May, and
donations are collected in drop buckets
over a six-hour period. Proceeds totaling more than $13,000 went to Effingham
County’s ARC Community Support Systems,
a not-for-profit agency offering employment opportunities and other services to
individuals with mental and physical disabilities that lost state funding that year. The
2011 cookout raised more than $11,000 for
Catholic Charities, which operates a food
pantry and resale shop and provides foster
care, adoption, medical prescription and
other services to area families. The bank
already is working to identify its charity of
choice for the 2012 cookout.
BKD Award for Excellence & Innovation
$13,178 check
presented to
ARC Community
Support Systems.
$11,356 check
presented to
Catholic Charities.
Two of Teutopolis
State Bank’s board
members help
with the cookout.
2012 Award Ceremony
The winner will be announced at CBAI’s Annual Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, on Saturday,
September 22, 2012. The winning bank will receive an engraved award symbolizing its innovation
and excellence.
Nomination Deadline & Judging
Nominations for the 2012 award must be received by CBAI no later than Friday, June 1. A panel of
judges chosen by CBAI will review entries and select the winner
Eligibility
Any CBAI member bank or thrift is eligible to participate. The intent of the award is to honor
institutions that have developed innovative products or services or have served the community
creatively while achieving financial success. Examples of potential nominees include:
• A new deposit product and marketing program for senior citizens that resulted in significant
deposit growth
• Helping local businesses flourish through innovation in internet banking
• A community restoration program that re-established a thriving neighborhood or
downtown district
Nominations will be judged based on the overall quality and contribution of the initiative. Any
CBAI member bank employee, shareholder or customer may nominate an institution for the award,
and banks or thrifts are encouraged to nominate themselves. Up to three different programs
demonstrating an institution’s innovation or service excellence may be submitted.
Entries must include the completed nomination form and samples of representative promotional
material, if applicable. Photographs, video or other media are encouraged, but not required.
For More Information
Andrea Cusick
Senior Vice President Communications
Community Bankers Association of Illinois
800.736.2224, cbaicom@cbai.com
cbai.com
Charlene Johnson
Sales & Marketing Specialist
BKD, LLP
314.231.5544, cjohnson@bkd.com
bkd.com
2012 Call for Nominations
Call for Nominations
Recognizing high-performance CBAI member banks that use innovative ideas to
demonstrate commitment to their employees, customers, shareholders and community.
Nomination form enclosed. Entry deadline is Friday, June 1, 2012.
Co-sponsored by
901 Community Drive
Springfield, IL 62703-9184