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Forbes has placed Gate City Bank at #4 on its 2021 list of World’s Best Banks due to the bank’s success in earning customer trust, delivering innovative services, providing exceptional financial advice and other factors. The publication also voted Gate City Bank as the best bank in North Dakota.
“This is truly an incredible honor, and it’s all because of the amazing team members at Gate City Bank,” says Kevin Hanson, President & CEO. “Their hard work, philanthropic spirit and dedication to upholding our mission and Principles of High Standards make a difference every day.”
Whether it’s providing company time to volunteer with a charity of choice, fostering a workplace culture that’s based around having fun, constantly giving back to communities or promoting diversity and innovation, Gate City Bank truly provides a better way of life, and it comes from empowering people to make a difference.
Plus, everything Gate City Bank team members do is shaped by the bank’s Principles of High Standards:
Give back to communities by making an impactful difference through volunteerism and philanthropic giving.
Exceed expectations by going above and beyond. Listen, delight, enhance and personalize experiences from beginning to end across all channels for customers, communities and team members.
Lead with integrity, honesty and innovation to maintain financial leadership with competitive products, services and experiences.
Explore and be curious about new possibilities to create and foster innovation to support strategic goals.
Act with a sense of urgency to proactively initiate positive change, allowing Gate City Bank to remain the financial leader.
Ensure accountability to high standards of compliance and risk mitigation through successful execution of policies, procedures, processes and applicable laws and regulations.
Forbes also recognized Gate City Bank’s innovative products and services. The bank is changing the industry through innovation that creates a better way of life for customers, communities and team members. Some examples include:
Forbes also recognized Gate City Bank’s heavy focus on community giving:
The bank also promotes team member empowerment, leadership diversity and an amazing workplace culture where one-third of referrals for new team members come from existing team members.
In addition to recognizing these unique aspects of Gate City Bank’s culture, Forbes especially lauded the bank’s robust and timely response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to solid business practices deployed as part of its normal day-to-day operations, Gate City Bank’s community response to the COVID-19 pandemic was significant in Forbes’ ranking decision.
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan that was established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. It provides small businesses with the resources they need to maintain payroll, hire back employees who may have been laid off and cover applicable overhead.
During the past year of the pandemic, Gate City Bank has helped over 2,100 businesses with more than 2,600 PPP loans, benefiting 252 industries and resulting in a $74 million overall impact.
“Local businesses and entrepreneurs help keep communities strong,” says Kevin Warner, Senior Vice President of Business Banking. “Gate City Bank has been proud to stand with them throughout the pandemic, creating a better way of life for our communities by delivering an innovative and seamless PPP loan process.”
This unique program has been incredibly successful in North Dakota, which had the highest concentration of PPP funds per private sector worker compared to any other state during the first round of loans in 2020. During that same period, Gate City Bank processed more loans under $150,000 than any other bank in North Dakota.
In the wake of the pandemic, the bank’s BetterLife Loan, for example, provided access to emergency funds for customers who suffered a job loss or a significant income-related event. The bank helped over 400 people with this program alone, making a $1.3 million impact overall throughout the year.
Gate City Bank’s commitment to helping customers has set it apart, especially during times of emergency such as government shutdowns, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank’s pandemic-related personal loans* came with a very low interest rate and no fees, helping people create a better way of life in difficult circumstances.
The bank also offered loan deferrals for those whose livelihood was heavily impacted by COVID-19. It processed more than 6,700 loan extensions for customers.
“While the pandemic presented many hurdles, Gate City Bank never lost hope,” Warner says. “Instead, our team members saw an opportunity to increase community giving for those who needed it most.”
Forbes has recognized that, for nearly a century, Gate City Bank has been committed to helping customers, communities and team members create a better way of life. According to the bank’s leadership, that vision will never change, and Gate City Bank looks forward to making a difference through giving and innovation for years to come, while continuing to be one of the World’s Best Banks.
At Gate City Bank, we have a wonderful story to tell. It's aligned with our core purpose, focusing on investing in our customers, communities and team members. Learn more about us!
At Gate City Bank, our customers, communities and team members inspire everything that we are – they’re our people. Learn more about them through heartwarming stories and testimonials!
At Gate City Bank, giving back to the communities where we live and work is at the core of who we are. Learn about all the innovative ways we’re making a difference throughout North Dakota and central Minnesota.
