Dream First Bank: Celebrating a Legacy of Extraordinary Banking
Dream First Bank has spent years building a reputation rooted in leadership, community impact, financial education, and a genuine commitment to helping people chase their dreams. That commitment has been recognized time and time again, earning national honors from The Institute for Extraordinary Banking™.
The story started with early recognition for industry excellence and has grown into a multi-year journey of awards that highlight not just what Dream First Bank does, but how it does it: with heart, innovation, and a deep belief in the power of community.
The bank’s leadership, including CEO Chris Floyd, continues to emphasize the mission behind every accolade. As Chris puts it, dreams come in all shapes and sizes. Maybe it’s a first home or a next home. Maybe it’s the start of a business or scaling something big enough to feel like “taking over the world like Pinky and the Brain.” Whatever the dream, Dream First Bank’s role is simple and steady: figure it out together and make progress possible.
That approach has helped customers expand aviation businesses, continue family farming legacies, open storefronts, pursue community projects, and take bold steps forward. Dreams evolve, businesses grow, life changes. Dream First Bank is built to grow and change with the people it serves.
Choose Dream First Bank when you’re reaching for something meaningful. If you’re big enough for your dreams, your dreams are too small for you.
Our Award-Winning Journey
2019
Extraordinary Bank of the Year
Dream First Bank received national recognition for standout performance, leadership, and community impact, earning the prestigious title of Extraordinary Bank of the Year.
2022
Inducted Into the Extraordinary Bank Hall of Fame
Dream First Bank joined elite company in the Extraordinary Banking Hall of Fame, a milestone following its 2019 national win.
Additional 2022 Honors:
- Banky™ Award
- Overall Money Smarts Banky™ Award category winner
- Thought Leadership Banky™ Award (300 to 500 million asset class)
- Culture Banky™ Award (300 to 500 million asset class)
- Money Smarts Banky™ Award (300 to 500 million asset class
These awards highlighted Dream First Bank’s ongoing commitment to financial literacy, culture, innovation, and customer success.
2023
Banky™ Award Winner
On the heels of its Hall of Fame induction, Dream First Bank earned another Banky Award, adding to its growing legacy. It represented yet another moment where the bank’s passion for people, purpose, and community showed through. The win reinforced what customers already knew: Dream First Bank leads with heart and delivers results.
2025
One of America’s Most Extraordinary Banks - Six Banky Awards
The 2025 Extraordinary Banking Awards brought a record-setting year of recognition. Dream First Bank earned six Banky Awards across multiple categories, including:
- Thought Leadership Banky™ Award for cutting-edge practices and results
- BanksGiving™ Banky™ Award for extraordinary philanthropy and community leadership
- Above-and-Beyond Customer Service Banky™ Award for consistent, proven service excellence
- Money Smarts Banky™ Award for commitment to financial education
- Thank God It’s Monday!™ Culture Banky™ Award for building a culture where people bring their best
- Banky™ Award, recognizing the bank as one of the strongest community banks in the country
2026
Dream First Bank Takes Home Six Banky Awards from The Institute for Extraordinary Banking™
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.
As CEO, Chris Floyd shared, “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.”
Choose Dream First Bank when you want to reach for goals that seem beyond your grasp. We firmly believe that if you are big enough for your dreams, your dreams are too small for you.
Speak with one of our banking experts today to find a way forward.