It's Community Banking Month

Here are 6 reasons to bank on Main Street instead of Wall Street

April is Community Banking Month. It's time to review some of the best reasons to love community banks – from local reinvestment of funds to local community involvement. But what exactly makes a community bank different from a “big bank”?

Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) has put together this list of the most popular reasons to choose Main Street over Wall Street.

1. Focused, Personal Attention
Community bankers focus attention on the needs of local families, businesses and farmers. Community bankers are your neighbors – working and living right next door. They are invested in the success of their local communities – just like you are.

2. Community Banks Promote Community Growth
Unlike banks that may take deposits in one state and lend in others, community banks channel most of their loans to the neighborhoods where their depositors live and work, helping to keep local communities vibrant and growing.

3. Emotional & Physical Community Attachment
Community bankers are typically deeply involved in local community affairs. At Horicon Bank, for example, bankers coach Little League, they serve on the United Way board and build homes for Habitat for Humanity. We are involved in our communities because we are committed to our communities.

4. Personal Qualification
Many community banks are willing to consider character, family history and discretionary spending in making loans. Big banks are often tied to a stricter loan policy, applying impersonal qualification criteria to all loan decisions without regard to individual circumstances.

5. Local Decision Making
Community bankers offer nimble decision-making on business loans because decisions are made locally.

6. Small Business Savvy
Because community banks are themselves small businesses, they understand the needs of small-business owners. Their core concern is lending to small businesses.

How does BAC Community Bank support the local economy?

BAC helps fuel the economies of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Contra Costa County through donations, sponsorships, and by simply doing the right thing. We are proud to have donated over $349,000 to more than 80 organizations in San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Contra Costa counties since 2020. In addition, we provided almost 400 PPP loans to small businesses during the Covid crisis to help preserve payroll for countless employees.

What are the benefits of banking with BAC?

BAC is proud to provide value as a trusted partner and friend. We want to help you achieve your goals, and support you as you navigate your financial journey.

We offer a powerful combination of personal, hands-on service, coupled with sophisticated digital products to provide the best experience for customers from all walks of life. The ability to "know your banker" on a first name basis is invaluable. This means that at any moment, a helpful professional is just a phone call away.

Read the experiences of some of our customers below. If you are not already banking with BAC, contact us to get started. We would love to help you experience a level of banking only available through BAC... where Community Makes the Difference.