Bright Partnerships have a vision. When you are partnering with people on a shared mission, you are looking ahead and strategizing a bright future. You are imagining good things and how you will attain them. You are continually striving, knowing there is always a way to innovate and improve. Let's be visionary in what we hope to achieve together.

A vision statement is an inspirational dream. It is who we want to be when we grow up. What is our vision? Where are we heading? This is our vision statement, and who we envision ourselves becoming: To elevate the financial well-being of customers, employees, shareholders, and our communities through a bright partnership.

Enjoy the Rising Stars employee newsletter. We promise to make this a stellar and newsworthy email. We hope this newsletter is filled with brilliant information you can use and work into your everyday lives. Remember, if you do have questions, first talk to your supervisor. Enjoy!

As we have discussed in our Stakeholder meetings, this improved performance is related to our improving margins and loan growth. While our margins are improving, we also need to focus on deposit growth. We use our deposits to fund new loan growth. Continue to look for both loan and deposit opportunities to pass on to our retail bankers and loan officers.  

I would like to give a little detail on what we’ve been up to on the Employer of Choice portion of the Strategic Plan and what this means to you. First off, what does an “Employer of Choice” mean? To me, it is an employer that provides a strong workplace culture and a great workplace environment that enables us to attract and retain superior employees. With that in mind, we have been working on several items to evaluate your needs as an employee. You recently took the “Best Banks to Work For” survey. We expect to receive the results from this survey in Q3. We will share a summary of survey results with you and detail any action plans that we intend to implement based on information noted in the survey. 

As you all know, we recently completed the Bridge Community Bank acquisition. This acquisition aligns with our strategy for growth to expand further into Iowa. We are excited about the opportunities for growth that Bridge Community Bank provides our organization. BankORION and Bridge Community Bank will operate as two separate banks under Orion Bancorporation, Inc. Both banks have total combined assets of approximately $800 million, approximately 110 employees and 10 branch locations. We are fortunate to acquire such a great community bank that shares our values. Both BankORION and Bridge Community Bank are very like-minded community banks with shared philosophies that prioritize the financial well-being of customers, employees, shareholders and the communities we serve. 

We are also moving along on our new branch build in Aledo. Plans are finalized and the demolition of existing buildings is proceeding. We hope to start building in September with a grand opening in late Q2 of 2026!

We are having the FDIC on site in August and September to complete both a Compliance exam and CRA (Community Reinvestment Act) exam. We also plan on having the FDIC come back in late Q4 of 2025 or early Q1 of 2026 to complete a Safety & Soundness exam. If there are any items within your departments and/or areas of responsibility that are behind or are not operating according to policy/procedure, now is the time to let your supervisor know. We want to make sure nothing is behind schedule, and everything is operating as intended. So, we are here to help if you or your department has a need. Obtaining good results from our exams are essential and I appreciate your efforts to prepare us for these exams. When they are on-site, please reach out to your supervisor if an examiner would like to discuss something with you.

A little over two years ago, we rolled out our new Mission, Vision, Action Steps and Values. I encourage each one of you to let our mission statement be a driving force in all that you do here at BankORION. Our Mission Statement captures the essence of our purpose at BankORION: "To provide a bright partnership that enhances the financial well-being of our customers, employees, shareholders, and the communities we serve by offering flexibility, reliability, compassion, and commitment." Let it remind you that we exist not only to provide exceptional financial services and solutions, but also to create positive, lasting impacts on the lives of our customers, our employees, our shareholders and the communities we serve.

I would like you to take some time to meet our new employees and take a look at all the anniversaries we are celebrating this quarter as you scroll down. 

We have all S.T.A.R.s here at BankORION and I feel very lucky to be a part of this team. With your continued dedication and efforts, I know the remainder of 2025 will be filled with growth, fun and excitement! It is your commitment that drives us forward and ensures our continued success. Together, we have forged A Bright Partnership!

Thank you,

Matt

Did you know that you can check and even set up your voicemail remotely as well as from your local phone?



Locally

To check your voicemail from your phone you simply need to hit the voicemail key on your phone. Depending on the phone this button may look like either option below.

After clicking on this button, you will then receive a prompt to enter a passcode. The IT help desk can assist in resetting this if needed.

Setting up your voicemail is as easy as putting in your passcode and following the prompts to make a new message.

Remotely

Listening to or changing your voicemail greeting from another phone is as easy as calling your extension, waiting for it to go to voicemail and while listening to the greeting pressing the * button to access the same menu as you would have locally.

Voicemail Suggested Script

Unsure of what to say on your recording? You can use the script below provided by marketing.

Hi, you’ve reached [Employee Name] at BankORION. I’m currently building bright partnerships, and I am unable to pick up the phone at this time. Please leave your name, number, and a brief message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. If you need immediate assistance, please reach out to your nearest branch. Thanks for calling, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Our IT and Fraud departments wanted to let you know about an increase in phishing tactics through our bankorion.com email. 

Bad actors are increasingly using the body of an email to lay the groundwork for their pretext (or justification for their request).

This is done using the names of actual Bank employees in a fabricated back and forth email thread prior to it being forwarded to you. This allows them to have an air of legitimacy.

When in doubt you can always phish these emails or ask the bank employee who has reportedly directed them to you.

How many junk emails do you get a day? What do you do with them? Some people delete the emails; some people open the emails and hit unsubscribe. Which do you think is the safest? According to a new fraud trend, fraudsters are putting malware in the unsubscribed link of junk emails.

What are the best practices for these emails?

It’s recommended that if you originally requested the email, for example you signed up to get the email to get a discount, or you used the product in the past, but you don’t want to get the emails anymore, go ahead and use the unsubscribe link in the email. 

If it is a true junk/spam email that you have never had any type of relationship with the company or have never requested to have contact with them, here are a few steps you can take: mark as spam or junk, block the sender, or delete the email completely. It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting the integrity of your device, and clicking any unexpected email or link, can compromise that device.

For more information on this, please talk to your supervisor or reach out to our fraud department.

Our Fraud Department is hosting a special Blowing the Whistle on Fraud session in the next few weeks. A Teams meeting invite will be sent out bank-wide, and the Fraud Department would love for you to join them!

Donation Requests

If someone comes into the branch or calls asking for a donation, please listen to them and respond accordingly. First, thank them for thinking of us and ask if they have filled out our online donation request form. If they have not, then refer them to our donation requests form located on our community impact page. This form is the only way marketing tracks and processes all donation requests.

Alternatively, you can fill out this form on the community impact or employee hub pages for the individual or organization to save them time. If you are unsure how to fill this request form out, please ask your supervisor for assistance.

As a reminder, the employee hub is not public and the link to the employee hub should not be shared with any customer or organization. If the individual would like to fill out the request form themselves, please refer them to the community impact page.

The image below shows where to find the donations request form on our employee hub.

The image below shows where to find the donations request form on our community impact page. To get here, click 'About' in the menu bar > select 'Community Impact' > scroll and open the 'Donations and Sponsorship' drop down.

Did you know using an Investment Advisor can help you navigate complex financial markets to ensure you receive the most return on your investment? Investment advisors create personalized strategies to grow and protect your wealth. Investing is a great way to build long-term financial security, and a trusted advisor brings experience, objectivity, and insight to help you make informed decisions that align with your goals.

Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.

InvestORION has fully transitioned with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., (Cambridge) member FINRA/SIPC effective immediately. Cambridge is a registered broker-dealer in all 50 states with clearing through Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions FCCS. If you or our InvestORION clients have any questions, please forward those inquiries to Mark Robbins or Brittney Hopkins.

Being a part of the Iowa Bankers Association comes with some great perks like discounted Adventureland tickets. Visit the link below and follow the steps to redeem this great deal! This offer can be redeemed more than once and is only available for the 2025 season.

We are a Bright Partner for our Community! You volunteer, you participate, you donate... you are the reason we are here! Without you, there would be no us.

The Real World: On May 15, BankORION AVP and Agricultural & Commercial Loan Officer, Hannah R attended the Real-World Simulation at the Mercer County Junior High School. This event helps teach students how to make thoughtful decisions at each station using the correct form of payment and record their expenses on a worksheet. Hannah helped the students make the right decisions at her station.

QC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: On June 3rd, BankORION employees Dean K, Brad B and Grant R presented at the Small Business Seminar hosted at the Ops Center in partnership with the GQCHCC. Pictured from the left: Brad B, Dean K, and Grant R.

Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce: On June 5, BankORION employees attended the annual Chamber Golf Outing where they connected with various customers, community members, and small local businesses. Pictured from the left: Aleshia C, Lisa D, Megan C, and Ivan H.

Annawan Fun Days: On June 8, BankORION participated in the annual Fun Days Parade. We always have a great time. Shout out to Lisa for preparing us! Pictured from the left: Kylie V, Becky C, Gracie C, Ashley C, Lisa M, Bonnie M, Autumn S and some family.

Orion Lighted Parade: On July 3, BankORION sponsored the Orion Fireworks Show and participated in the Lighted Parade. We had a record turnout from our employees this year! Pictured from the left: Sammi C, Luke G, Cheryl B, Nicole M, Marty M, Robert L, Marni B, Elizabeth B, Ron A, Erin H, Elissa B, Cara W, Jayne R, Nichole S, Adam M, Melissa C, Autumn S, Chris B, Ivan H, Matt B, and lots of family.

Backwater Gamblers: On August 4, BankORION employees participated in the Sponsor Ski Show at the Backwater Gamblers event. Each employee received a 1/4 T-shirt call for attending the event. See the video of employees below.

Annawan Teacher's Breakfast: On August 11, BankORION presented at the Annawan School District and sponsored their breakfast. It is important to show up for our communities as Bright Partners! Pictured from the left: Lisa M, Kylie V, and Brittney H.

Aledo Teacher's Breakfast: On August 12, BankORION sponsored and served lunch to the 241 teachers and staff of the Mercer County School District. First day of school is Thursday, Aug 14. Pictured from the left: Hannah R, Beth J, Brittney H, Amanda B, Rex J, Brittany B, Aleshia C, and Cara W.

Cambridge Ag Building: On August 13, the BankORION team showed support for the newly completed Agriculture Complex in Cambridge. BankORION provided financial assistance for this project with a $5,000.00 donation last fall. Pictured from the left: Sue H, Rex J, Becky C, Kylie V, and Luke G.

Freedom Run: On August 14, the BankORION team showed support for American Heros in the Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Air Force, and Navy by holding flags along the 5k Freedom Run course. This run is hosted by the Quad Cities Running Club. Pictured from the left: Marty M, Cheryl B, Michelle C, Nicole M, Erin H, Nicole S, Megan C, and Lisa D. Special Guests: Elvis 1, Elvis 2, Elvis 3, and Elvis 4 were there to snap a photo with them.

New Windsor Parade: On August 14, the BankORION team showed support for New Windsor by walking in their parade. This is the first time we have had two events on the same day! Pictured from the left: Amanada B, Deb C, Sammi C, Cara W, Alexis R, Marni B, Aleshia C., and Luke G.

Pictured below: BankORION Sponsorship Flag in the New Windsor Rodeo

O'mazing Race: On August 15, BankORION hosted one of the O'mazing race games at our location in Orion. Our volunteers helped teach teams how play Yardzee, AKA giant Yahtzee, to win points. We also had the O'riginals and the Deposit Divas representing BankORION in the games. Pictured from the left: Marty M, Dawn J, Deena M, Brenda M, Carol S, Deb C, Nicole M, Bonnie M, Marni B, Valerie J, and Alexis R.

We want to wish our STARs a happy anniversary! Think about all the BRIGHT ideas you've had over the years! Thank you for showing your dedication and loyalty to BankORION - year over year.

Hannah R Awarded Peace Prize Winners

As part of the Aledo Rotary club, Hannah R. had the opportunity to award the peace prize award winners for kindness, fairness, truth, and friendship on May 22nd.

Master of Science in Cyber Security Graduate

Join us in congratulating Chris B on his amazing accomplishment! Chris graduated with a Master of Science in Cyber Security and Information Assurance on June 6th. Him and his wife took the day to drive down to Kentucky so he could walk in the ceremony. Way to go, Chris!

Amanda Biddle's 1st Grandbaby!

We are thrilled to introduce to you the newest member of the Biddle family! Amanda's first grandbaby, Finnegan Reed Schaechter, was born on June 20th. The picture below shows Finnegan the day he was born! Congratulations, Amanda!

Cambridge's Fourth of July Celebration

Our Cambridge branch celebrated the Fourth of July with their red, white, and blue attire. We love the festive colors! Becky supplied the branch employees with doughnuts in celebration! Pictured from the left: Becky C, Elizabeth B, Autumn S, Nicole S, and Sue W.

Chris B's Wife Naturalized Citizen Status

Join us in celebrating Chris B.'s wife as she was sworn in as a naturalized citizen on July 23rd at Principal Park in Des Moines, a little more than 10 years after having moved to the US. Afterwards, they had what she describes as the most American meal, Texas Roadhouse.

IT Certifications

Congratulations to Chris B and Logan C on receiving their CompTIA Certifications in the area of IT security. This is Logan's 2nd certificate since he onboarded a year ago!

CompTIA Security+ is a globally recognized, foundational certification for cybersecurity professionals. It validates the skills needed to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career. The certification emphasizes hands-on practical skills, preparing individuals to handle real-world security challenges. 

SecurityX is an advanced cybersecurity certification for security architects and senior security engineers. It proves you have the skills to design, build, and implement secure solutions across complex environments.

We truly appreciate you for being in the BankORION family! You are our shining stars, our bright partners. For a STAR to be the most brilliant, we hope to provide you with timely and relevant information about the bank.

We love hearing from you! If you've recently celebrated a life milestone, we'd love to feature it in an upcoming newsletter. Have a question or an idea for a future newsletter? We're all ears! Share your stories, suggestions, or questions with us through this link:

This is an official email from BankORION. BankORION is committed to keeping you up to date on banking news, cyber security concerns and our new products through email marketing. BankORION will never ask you for your personal information via email. Please contact us with any concerns or comments. Information is subject to change without notice. Please consult with a professional tax adviser on your taxes. When you unsubscribe from this email from BankORION, you are not unsubscribing to all BankORION emails. Please contact a Customer Service Rep to unsubscribe to Digital Banking messages and emails. If you would like to refer a friend or family member, please forward this message to them or have them connect with us by clicking here.

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