Strategic Connections: From Good to Great — How Our Community Bank Transformed Its Culture Overnight

By Sarah Meyer

A strong workplace culture isn’t just a perk — it’s the foundation of an engaged, high-performing team. At our community bank, we always believed we had a good culture. Our employees were dedicated, our customer service was strong, and our values were clear. But we wanted more than just a good culture — we wanted a great one.

That transformation happened almost overnight when we partnered with CultureWise, an organization that helps businesses define and strengthen their workplace culture. What started as an all-employee training day quickly became a game-changing shift in how we work, interact, and recognize each other’s successes.

The Defining Moment
Before our training, our senior leadership team worked with CultureWise to assess our strengths and pinpoint areas where we could grow. The goal wasn’t to fix anything broken — it was to amplify what made us great and make it part of our daily work.

During the training, every employee received a Way Card — a compact booklet listing 30 Principles that would serve as our cultural foundation. These Principles weren’t abstract ideas; they were clear, actionable behaviors designed to guide how we collaborate, serve customers, and support one another.

One of my personal favorites is Celebrate Success — a reminder that recognizing wins, big or small, fosters motivation and engagement. Other Principles like Lead by Example, Invest in Relationships, and Pay Attention to the Details quickly became ingrained in our daily conversations.

Bringing Culture to Life
What set this initiative apart was its interactive approach. It wasn’t just about listing values — it was about living them every day.
•  Each week, we focus on a new Principle, discussing it before meetings and sharing insights on social media.
•  Employees log onto the CultureWise platform to give “kudos” to colleagues who exemplify these values.
•  A leaderboard adds a fun, competitive element that keeps engagement high.
•  Employees create short videos sharing what these Principles mean to them.
•  What seemed like small actions at first quickly led to a positive cultural shift. Morale improved, teamwork strengthened, and employees felt more valued and motivated.

The Impact
The results were undeniable. Employees who once saw culture as a vague concept became actively involved in shaping it. Customer service improved because employees felt empowered and engaged. And as our internal culture grew stronger, we found it easier to attract and retain top talent.

Why Culture Matters
This experience reinforced a simple truth: a great culture doesn’t happen by chance — it happens by choice. If you’re reading this, ask yourself:
•  Does my organization take culture seriously?
•  Are employees recognized for their contributions?
•  Are we intentional about fostering engagement and morale?

If the answer is unclear, it may be time to rethink and refine your culture. The good news? Change can happen faster than you think.

For us, the investment in culture has transformed our bank, and the results speak for themselves. The question is — is your organization ready to do the same?

Sarah Meyer, marketing coordinator, Pillar Bank, is a member of the WBA Marketing Committee.