Dream First Bank Takes Home Six Banky Awards from The Institute for Extraordinary Banking™
Garden City, Kan., Oct. 1, 2026 — Dream First Bank, a customer-centric bank with locations across western Kansas and Oklahoma, is proud to be recognized as one of America’s Top Extraordinary Banks in the United States by taking home six Banky Awards this year. Awards received were for Thought Leadership, Culture, Service, Money Smarts, Philanthropy, as well as the Banky Award recognition
Members of Dream First Bank’s Management pictured with Roxanne Emmerich, Chair and Founder of The Institute for Extraordinary Banking™ at the Awards event in Atlanta, GA. From left to right: Chief Financial Officer Shane VerDught, Regional President Andrew German, Chief Lending Officer Matt Bennett, Roxanne Emmerich, CEO Chris Floyd, Elevate Vice President Tyler Newell, and Regional President Caleb Sekavec.
Chris Floyd, CEO of Dream First Bank, states, “First and foremost, we want to thank our customers for trusting us to be a part of their financial decisions. We understand there are so many options when it comes to banking, but our customers trust us, and we are committed to providing the best banking experience for each individual. We are truly honored to take home six awards this year and be recognized as a true industry leader.”
Banky Awards celebrate the crucial role community banks play and how they serve small businesses and individuals while growing local economies. The six awards given to Dream First Bank this year include:
- Above-and-Beyond Customer Service Banky™ Award for its systems and follow-through that create a consistent level of proven, exemplary customer service for clients.
- Banky™ Award, a national recognition reserved for the strongest community banks that consistently deliver extraordinary impact. This award helps individuals and businesses identify the very best banks committed to serving and strengthening their local communities.
- BanksGiving™ Banky™ Award for extraordinary philanthropy, recognizing its outstanding commitment to shaping the strategic direction of its community and making a lasting impact on the lives of those it serves.
- Money Smarts Banky™ Award for financial literacy education because of its extraordinary service to its customers and community through a commitment to financial literacy programs.
- Thank God It’s Monday!™ Culture Banky™ Award for demonstration of creating a culture where people bring their best selves to work to make an impact on both customers and communities.
- Thought Leadership Banky™ Award for extraordinary bank practices, raising the standards of community banking practices with excellence in unique and cutting-edge practices while achieving exemplary financial results.
“Community banks recognize the aspirations, dreams, and silent hopes of small businesses and families,” said Roxanne Emmerich, Chair and Founder of The Institute for Extraordinary Banking. “The heart and soul of an extraordinary bank is its visionary blueprint for its community’s success—and its commitment to making that vision real. This year’s honorees, our Top 5 Percenters™, embody that standard of excellence.”
About the Institute for Extraordinary Banking
The Institute for Extraordinary Banking exists to highlight and celebrate the vital role community banks play in our nation’s economy. Through its annual Extraordinary Banking Awards, the Institute shines a spotlight on the best banks that are not only financial institutions but also engines of philanthropy, innovation, and community prosperity.
About Dream First:
Dream First has been serving communities across Southwest Kansas and Oklahoma for more than 100 years, with Kansas branches in Syracuse, Johnson, Garden City, Ulysses, Hugoton, Elkhart, Attica, and Lakin; and Oklahoma branches in Alva, Cherokee, Enid, and Woodward. The bank’s roots are in agriculture, but Dream First provides a wide array of products and services to fit any dream. Visit dreamfirst.bank for additional information.
Media Contacts:
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Kirsten Brundahl
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Ashton Maxfield
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(949) 289-6493