CBAO & BKD Spotlight Winner of BKD Award for Excellence & Innovation
10th annual award recognizes high-performing, pacesetting CBAO member banks & thrifts
Cincinnati, OH – Robert L. Palmer, president and CEO of the Community Bankers Association of Ohio (CBAO), and Craig D. Liechty, partner with the Cincinnati office of BKD, LLP, announce Citizens Bank of Sandusky is the recipient of the 2008 BKD Award for Excellence & Innovation. Co-sponsored by CBAO and BKD, LLP, one of the 10 largest CPA and advisory firms in the country, the annual award recognizes high-performing CBAO members that proactively ensure a healthy future for their bank and community.
Bob Cox, Senior Vice President, commented, “Our Citizens in Action program was a formalized approach to volunteer efforts of Citizens Bank employees. The program was particularly helpful in responding to the Shelby community during the terrible flooding that affected us in August 2007. Our Citizens in Action volunteers helped clean up schools, homes and businesses in the community and we developed a low interest loan program to help residents make needed repairs and get back on their feet.”
The award, presented at the recent 34th annual CBAO convention, held this year in Chicago, recognized Citizens Bank for its demonstration of commitment, leadership and financial support to the communities it serves.
BKD Partner Craig Liechty comments, “Citizens Bank takes its place in the community seriously and demonstrates this through business and volunteer activities. It’s clear the Citizens in Action program makes a positive impact on the communities where the bank operates. We were inspired by the action of employees who contributed to where help is needed the most, particularly in the days following this summer’s flooding. The example set by the bank’s leadership and its employees make it a deserving winner of the 2008 BKD Award for Excellence & Innovation and we are pleased to acknowledge them.”
Past recipients of the BKD Award for Excellence and Innovation are: The Metamora State Bank, The Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Archbold; 1st National Community Bank, East Liverpool; North Valley Bank-Zanesville; ShoreBank, Cleveland; Hicksville Building, Loan & Savings Bank; Farmers Citizens Bank of Bucyrus; New Richmond National Bank and Heartland Bank, Gahanna.
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