At OlyFed, They’re Committed to Employee Growth and Regional Growth

Deidre Michie, Senior Human Resources Generalist with OlyFed, is proud of the bank’s recent award. She was originally drawn to the organization for those very reasons. Michie credits OlyFed’s well-known reputation and role within the community as a deciding factor in joining the team more than a decade ago.

The recognition began over the summer, when ICBA issued a national request for proposals to community banks across America. OlyFed was nominated and selected as a finalist, putting the bank among a small group of top workplaces nationwide.

Then came the most important part of the process. Employees were invited to take a voluntary, anonymous satisfaction survey issued by the ICBA. The survey included 46 scaled questions designed to measure everything from leadership and teamwork to compensation, growth opportunities and workplace culture.

Responses were then reviewed by Avannis, a third-party independent research agency and winner selection was based on such topics as commitment to leadership, teamwork and innovation; professional development opportunities; performance recognition; skills advancement options and chances to give back to the community through volunteerism.

In reviewing the responses from OlyFed employees, Avannis quickly discovered the local bank thrives in each of these categories. In fact, annually, employees give more than 1,500 volunteer hours to their chosen causes and serve on more than 40 nonprofit boards.

Giving Back and Celebrating Teamwork are at the Heart of OlyFed

Inside OlyFed, the recognition felt less like a surprise and more like confirmation.

“People are what make OlyFed such an amazing place,” says Michie. “OlyFedders and the culture built here are second to none. We have people from all walks of life, and everyone brings their own knowledge, skill, humor and heart to what they do.”

That culture shows up in small, everyday ways. She says that employees love to celebrate each other with thanks, cheers, recognition and awards. Leaders make time to recognize employees in person with branch visits and Employee Appreciation Celebrations. Coworkers celebrate each other through internal posts to cheer each other on. “Hard work, dedication, teamwork and going above and beyond do not go unnoticed at OlyFed,” says Michie.

Michie is not alone in her enjoyment of this atmosphere. VP and Director of Business Development Casey Kilborn loves attending each morning’s team huddle. All branches and departments start their day this way with teambuilding games, shout-outs and quick updates on new products and services.

Fostering a Healthy Workplace is Win/Win at OlyFed

Building a healthy corporate atmosphere starts at the top and OlyFed is no different. Michie says management both listens to and appreciates internal feedback. “There are regular bi-weekly surveys sent out to all employees, which are reviewed by the bank’s senior leadership team and members of our Better Fedder culture committee,” Michie explains. “As you can tell from this latest award, employee happiness scores at OlyFed are high.”

At every level of the organization, leaders embrace and follow the simple ideology that outward facing service is only as amazing as the internal employee culture. “When employees feel supported and valued, the overflow is exceptional service wrapped in genuine care for our customers and community,” says Michie.

“Our goal is to foster an environment where employees look forward to coming to work, thrive in their positions, continue to learn and grow and are empowered to help our customers reach their financial goals.”

Giving Back for More than a Century While Looking Towards the Future

For 120 years, OlyFed has been a strong partner throughout the communities it serves. More than that, every team member receives 16 paid volunteer hours to give back to causes that matter most to them.

In 2026, OlyFed will roll out a new employee financial wellness program. This is alongside other educational, professional development and morale boosting activities. New hires are welcomed through programs like Chart the Course, which pairs them with experienced staff guides. The Trailblazer Track offers employees mentorship opportunities with members of the senior leadership team, and New Horizons lets team members observe and participate in committees across the organization.

The bank frequently provides financial education in local schools and nonprofit organizations. Michie says that numerous OlyFedders have enjoyed teaching students about financial literacy and banking. Because at the end of the day, their mission is still the same: To be a staple of good, by advancing the wellbeing of our neighbors.