It takes more than good numbers to excel in the financial services sector. That’s why it’s so important to recognize the the individuals and institutions earning Excellence in Banking recognition for 2025.
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For a bank or credit union to excel in its industry, it must focus on delivering exceptional customer service, maintain financial stability, and demonstrate an ability to adapt to market changes. Building a solid relationship with customers is essential, as it fosters trust and loyalty. Providing personalized experiences, understanding customer needs, and offering tailored financial solutions helps create a competitive advantage. Excellence in customer service involves efficient problem resolution, accessibility, and a seamless user experience across all channels, including digital and in-branch services.
Az Business will be highlighting one Excellence in Banking category each day. Here are the individuals and institutions earning banks of the year recognition for 2025.
Banks of the year for 2025
Alerus is a commercial wealth bank and national retirement provider that provides comprehensive financial solutions to clients, including business and consumer banking, private banking, mortgage, retirement and benefit services and wealth management. Alerus’ core values — Passion for Excellence, Success is Never Final, Do the Right Thing, One Alerus — guide its mission to deliver holistic advice and exceptional service to our clients to help them achieve their financial goals. Alerus believes that when its clients do well, Alerus does well.
Community Difference Makers was created by Bankers Trust to help lift up local nonprofits and their leaders and connect customers, team members and community members with volunteer opportunities. Each week, Bankers Trust Chief Consumer Banking and Marketing Officer Emily Abbas leads a fast-paced discussion with leaders of nonprofits that the bank supports as they discuss the organizations they lead, the missions they work to fulfill and the difference they’re making in the community.
BOK Financial Corporation is a $50 billion regional financial services company with $106 billion in assets under management or administration. “With operations throughout the Southwest and Midwest, we provide sophisticated financial solutions to businesses, institutions and individuals across the country,” says Chet Samuelson, the Arizona market president and CEO for BOK Financial. “Still, we do business one client at a time, focused on delivering thoughtful expertise and tailored advice. Because we know that when our clients succeed, we succeed.”
Enterprise Bank makes an impact in its communities by engaging with small and midsize businesses in banking relationships and by providing no-cost training resources including Enterprise University, while also giving back to local causes through contributions and volunteerism. Employees are encouraged to utilize paid volunteer time off and contribution matching to support causes they care about. Enterprise consistently invests resources to ensure a positive economic impact on employees and the communities it serves.
FirstBank, one of the nation’s largest privately held banks with a focus on “banking for good,” began providing banking services in 1963. It has grown to be a top-performing bank, maintaining 100 branches across Arizona, Colorado, and California. FirstBank’s emphasis on doing what’s right for customers, communities, and employees, or what it refers to as “banking for good,” has helped the bank reach record growth while making a substantial impact on the communities it serves.
Founded in Tucson in 1984, National Bank of Arizona has grown to serve more than 44 communities across the state with 56 full-service branches. National Bank of Arizona has more than $5.3 billion in assets and is a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A., backed by the strength of Zions Bancorporation, a member of the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ Financial 100 index.
Northern Trust is a world leader in financial services and a pillar of the industry. Its mission is “To be our clients’ most trusted financial partner, delivering market-leading capabilities through exceptional people and technology.” Northern Trust serves the world’s most successful individuals, families and institutions through deep expertise, a culture of unwavering values and operational precision. Northern opened its Phoenix office in 1974, with expansion to Tempe in 2015 and boasts more than 680 employees.
With portions of Arizona’s population having limited or nonexistent access to banking services, PNC Bank has partnered with local organizations to bring its bank on wheels to their locations on a regular basis. In Phoenix, the Foundation for Senior Living’s Village on Roeser began hosting the banks on wheels in December of 2023, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul began hosting in January.
Stearns Financial Services Inc. is a well-capitalized, $2.4 billion independent financial holding company that was founded in 1912. Through decades of growth, Stearns Bank has never forgotten its roots. Stearns Bank remains anchored in its friendliness, fairness and financial excellence. Stearns delights in making every customer’s life a little easier. Stearns Bank is driven by a passion to help others achieve their greatest ambitions.
Western Alliance Bank is a diversified commercial bank with seasoned, expert bankers who put customers first. As President and CEO Ken Vecchione stated in late July 2024, “In Q2, Western Alliance continued to deliver outstanding support to clients to help them achieve their ambitions. We’re pleased to be their trusted advisors.” The bank’s total deposits for the second quarter of 2024 were $66.2 billion, up $4 billion or 6.5% for the quarter and a whopping $15.2 billion or 29.8% increase year over year.
