The Bank of Cave City has received the Exceptional Community Bank Service Award from the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) for its efforts following a destructive EF3 tornado in March 2025. The bank’s recognition was announced in the September issue of ICBA’s *Independent Banker* magazine, which highlights outstanding service and volunteer initiatives from community banks across the nation.
The tornado caused extensive damage in Cave City, leaving residents without power or communication for weeks. Bank of Cave City employees responded immediately, ensuring banking services remained operational while also mobilizing to assist with community recovery.
Staff members worked to distribute food, check on neighbors, and deliver essential supplies. Using equipment salvaged from a damaged storage building, the bank cooked and served meals to meet urgent needs, with a focus on supporting residents without electricity. The response effort was organized in part through the bank’s *We Live Here Too* initiative, which channels employee volunteerism into impactful local projects.
“After the tornado, our team — many of whom were personally affected — stepped forward because this is our home too,” said John Beller, the bank’s president and CEO. “Helping our community in its hour of need is how we supported our community’s recovery, and it deepened our resolve to carry out our mission to empower our neighbors to flourish.”
Photos provided by the bank show employees preparing meals for rural areas affected by the storm, helping ensure basic needs were met throughout the two-week power outage.
Rebeca Romero Rainey, ICBA president and CEO, commended the bank’s actions: “Bank of Cave City’s response reflects the very best of community banking: neighbors helping neighbors when it truly matters. Through its *We Live Here Too* initiative, the bank built a culture of care and connection that made a meaningful difference in Cave City’s recovery.”
The ICBA National Community Bank Service Awards were established in 2002 to highlight the contributions of community banks to their local areas. This year’s awards were sponsored by FIS, a financial technology services provider based in Jacksonville, Florida.
Bank of Cave City, a $190 million-asset institution, was recognized alongside other honorees for their dedication to serving their communities in times of need.