Washington, D.C. (April 3, 2006) – As part of Community Banking Month held annually in April, the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) recognized Thurston First Bank for its exemplary community service program providing Seminars on Embezzlement, Fraud and Identity Theft. Thurston First Bank is one of 33 community banks recognized with an Honorable Mention out of nearly 5,000 eligible for ICBA’s National Community Bank Service Awards.
“Thurston First Bank’s volunteer efforts convey the true meaning of community spirit,” said Camden R. Fine, ICBA president and CEO. “The dedication and commitment of the volunteers in this program strengthen the communities they serve and exemplify how community banks nationwide are working to make their communities a better place to live and work.”
Thurston First Bank provides a seminar series for business owners and professionals on how to protect against embezzlement, fraud and identify theft in response to large criminal cases. The seminars are provided by the bank at no charge to members of the Thurston County business community. “The size and significance of recent embezzlement cases in the county has prompted Thurston First Bank to take extra measures to safeguard business clients against crimes. As a business and professional bank in the community, we are extending these prevention seminars to all businesses county-wide,” stated Mike Edwards, president & CEO of Thurston First Bank. Future seminar dates and subjects will be posted on the bank’s website: www.thurstonfirstbank.com.
ICBA founded the National Community Bank Service Awards program five years ago as part of Community Banking Month to recognize the many outstanding volunteer service efforts of community banks across the country. Every April is Community Banking Month, a time when ICBA, community bank state associations, and banks across the country celebrate the things that make community banking great and the unique spirit that makes independent community banks so special.
For more information on Community Banking Month and on the National Community Bank Service Awards, please visit www.icba.org.
About ICBA
The Independent Community Bankers of America, the nation’s voice for community banks, represents the largest constituency of community banks of all sizes and charter types in the nation, and is dedicated exclusively to representing the interest of the community banking industry.