Kathy Luria of Webster Bank today received the highest individual honor bestowed by the American Bankers Association: the ABA Foundation’s George Bailey Distinguished Service Award. As SVP for community affairs and philanthropy at the Waterbury, Conn.-based Webster Bank, Luria has led the bank to a record $1.55 million United Way campaign in 2018, with gifts totaling $17 million since 2006. She also pioneered deep partnerships between Webster Bank and Junior Achievement and developed a food security initiative to support Feeding America food banks.
Eight banks won Community Commitment Awards during the Convention: FNBO, Omaha, Neb., and Wells Fargo, for for affordable housing; Midwest BankCentre, St. Louis, for community and economic development; Devon Bank, Chicago, for economic inclusion; Union Savings Bank, Cincinnati, for financial education; IncredibleBank, Wausau, Wis., for protecting older Americans; Citi for supporting military families; and First Financial Northwest Bank, Renton, Wash., for volunteerism. An upcoming episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast will feature each winner.