Past Winner Stories
Heartland Community Bank
www.hcb-in.com
"The idea was to recreate banking the way it used to be."
In this era of mega-mergers and acquisitions, Steve Bechman, Jeff Goben, John Morin and Keith Fox, founders of Heartland Community Bank, based in Franklin, intuited a need for a small community bank in Johnson County. Bechman and Morin gave up secure jobs to dedicate themselves to developing a locally owned and operated bank. Their IPO, 60 percent of which was purchased by area investors, raised the necessary capital. The community liked Heartland so much, the bank opened three more branches within three years of its debut.
Because the founders are committed to keeping the bank small and personal, they have no plans to expand further. "We all live and work in this county, so we know it and care about it," says Morin.
The difference, as always, is in the details. Each branch serves coffee, soda and fresh popcorn to its patrons every -day. Employees write handwritten thank-you notes to customers for opening accounts, making referrals and doing business at the bank. And the bank sends out a newsletter so customers can keep up with company and employee news. It offers a hometown feel few others do.
The key to the bank's rapid success is told in the company motto: "Where others have branches, we have roots."
In this era of mega-mergers and acquisitions, Steve Bechman, Jeff Goben, John Morin and Keith Fox, founders of Heartland Community Bank, based in Franklin, intuited a need for a small community bank in Johnson County. Bechman and Morin gave up secure jobs to dedicate themselves to developing a locally owned and operated bank. Their IPO, 60 percent of which was purchased by area investors, raised the necessary capital. The community liked Heartland so much, the bank opened three more branches within three years of its debut.
Because the founders are committed to keeping the bank small and personal, they have no plans to expand further. "We all live and work in this county, so we know it and care about it," says Morin.
The difference, as always, is in the details. Each branch serves coffee, soda and fresh popcorn to its patrons every -day. Employees write handwritten thank-you notes to customers for opening accounts, making referrals and doing business at the bank. And the bank sends out a newsletter so customers can keep up with company and employee news. It offers a hometown feel few others do.
The key to the bank's rapid success is told in the company motto: "Where others have branches, we have roots."