Community Banking: Guided by the Golden Rule

After working together for several years in the financial sector, Bill Jones and Wes Strange decided they wanted to branch out to create something special. Founded with the Golden Rule as the guiding principle and with the intention of being a truly local community bank staffed with associates who feel like family, Branson Bank first opened its doors in March 2000. Branson Bank is still going strong 23 years later with branches in Branson, Branson West and Forsyth.

 

New hires don’t necessarily have to have banking experience, but they do have to have one thing: a commitment to the long-established culture at Branson Bank. “We live by the Golden Rule in everything we do,” said Jamie Hunt, human resource officer with Branson Bank. “When someone comes to work with us, we prioritize their growth and well-being because we really want them to prosper at the bank and in the community.” 

 

“There always must be innovation when it comes to business, but we don’t want to lose our foundation of why Bill and Wes founded the company to begin with,” said Hunt. “They wanted to focus on the community and its people through servant leadership, and the rest of us hold that same motivation.” 

 

With Branson Bank being locally owned and operated, there are multiple opportunities for employees to grow and advance within the ranks. Hunt, who has been with the company 15 years, has held multiple positions throughout her tenure with the bank, gaining more experience and expanding her skill set while doing so. Several employees share similar experiences of moving through the ranks and learning all the different facets of the banking industry. 

 

“We encourage and support training and growth of our associates to advance their careers within the organization,” said Hunt. “When a promotion comes up, we want them to be ready to go for it if that’s something they want.” 

 

Many new hires at Branson Bank are onboarded as a result of current associates referring people who they believe will fit with the culture of the bank. This can be seen as a testament to employee satisfaction and their belief in that culture and the mission of the company. 

 

“We use the word family a lot, and it can be kind of a buzzword,” said Hunt. “But I’ve been here 15 years and feel that they’ve always seen me as a person. We want the next generation to feel that same drive to focus on the traditions and our community and our faith.”