Since 2017, we’ve been recognizing the best banks and bankers across the country and throughout the world with our Purposeful Banker Awards. This year, we did things a little differently. Going back to our roots and the reason why we started BankOnPurpose, we wanted to highlight a bank that has gone to great lengths to support its community – to be a cornerstone, a resource, and a philanthropic leader.
So we created the Most Philanthropic Bank of the Year Award and we were blown away by the entries we received! This award received the most entries out of any category, a testament to the great work banks are doing to support their customers and their communities.
While each entry impressed us, one bank stood out from the rest.
Alpine Bank’s Story
This year’s Most Philanthropic Bank of the Year Award winner is Alpine Bank, headquartered in Glenwood Springs, CO. Alpine Bank has gone above and beyond to serve its community since its start back in 1973. Bob Young, Alpine Bank’s founder, instilled a philosophy within the bank that giving back to the community isn’t just good for Alpine Bank’s bottom line, it IS their bottom line. During the bank’s grand opening, instead of a typical ribbon cutting, Alpine Bank had a ribbon of silver dollars, each of which was given back to local non-profits, thus establishing the philanthropic nature of the bank from the onset.
Since then, Alpine Bank has put its community first and foremost, with “community” serving as one of their core values.
How They Give Back
Alpine Bank had an outstanding year in 2019. They donated a record $4.7 million to Colorado communities and their employees volunteered more than 14,000 hours with local nonprofits – another new record for the bank. Employees are paid for three full days of volunteering each year, and it is totally up to them to decide where in the community they want to give their time.
While the bank’s employees are fully invested in giving back to the community and local nonprofits, Alpine also gives its customers the opportunity to take part. With the bank’s unique Loyalty Debit Card program, each time a customer uses their debit card, Alpine donates 10 cents to support local nonprofits and community organizations, and those dimes really add up. This popular program generated a record $1.6 million in local donations by Alpine Bank in 2019.
It’s no wonder then, that Alpine was the number one-ranked Colorado-based business for philanthropic giving, according to a recent Denver Business Journal ranking.
Thank You
For Alpine Bank, creating that emotional connection with their community takes time and effort. They’re intentional about it, and because of their dedication, they’ve been able to create long-term connections with their customers and in their communities.
Congratulations, Alpine Bank, on this award! We’re grateful for the work you do to serve your communities and are proud to give you the recognition you deserve.
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