Friday, May 3, 2024
Independent Financial reached an important milestone last week, as employees and community leaders gathered on Oct. 5 to celebrate the bank’s five-year anniversary with a ribbon cutting at its Acton location, 3301 Fall Creek Highway.
Although Independent Financial hasn’t been in Hood County long, the company itself has quite an interesting history.
According to its website, Independent Financial started 35 years ago in Farmersville and has since expanded to more than 90 financial centers across both Texas and Colorado.
Independent Financial is described as being “one of the strongest and most respected banks in the region,” according to its website, with “community and company culture” remaining at the forefront of its business standard.
The website also states that through its growth over the years, Independent Financial has continued to “emphasize the importance of building meaningful connections with every customer.”
“We’re truly community-driven,” Michelle Smith, regional manager for Independent Financial, said during the ribbon cutting celebration. “We're about community. We’re a community bank. We do everything on the commercial side, and we do everything on the consumer side. If there’s anything we can do to be a positive resource for your business, or anyone you know, or here in the community, that’s what we’re all about — and that’s what I love about this company.”
Ann Towles, financial center manager for the Acton location, started her position at Independent Financial in July 2022 and said it’s an “amazing company to work for.”
“It’s very much a community bank,” she said. “We thrive on relationships.”
Employee relationships are also important to the team, as a prior employee of Northstar Bank remained with the company after the business was acquired by Independent Bank in 2018.
"Although we’ve been around for, like Michelle said, 35 years, we’ve been here in Acton for the past five years,” Towles explained. “We have Nancy, our teller. She’s been here for 40 years this year.”
What sets Independent Financial apart from other banks, Towles said, is the company’s business model of building partnerships and friendships with customers.
"We’re all about relationships, and we’re all about the community,” she said. “We’re not going to give you a 1-800 number to call whenever you have an issue with your debit card. We’re going to dive in and say, ‘You know what? Here’s my card. You call me personally, and I’m going to help you fix whatever issue you’re having.’ Even though we’ve been Independent Financial for five years here, we have kept those relationships from Northstar Bank, because we have the same caring people who work here, who have been here for years, who have taken that standard and brought it to Independent Financial.”
Towles added the team is happy to be a part of the community and looks forward to the company’s growth in Hood County.
"We hope to see everybody here for our 10-year ribbon cutting,” she added.
For more information about Independent Financial, visit independent-bank.com online or call 817-573-5905.
ashley@hcnews.com | 817-573-1243
