ABA Banking Journal
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive
SUBSCRIBE
ABA Banking Journal
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home ABA Banking Journal Podcast

Podcast: How a Georgia community bank engaged employees at 3X the national rate

April 18, 2024
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Podcast: How a Georgia community bank engaged employees at 3X the national rate

Neil Stevens
President and CEO
Oconee State Bank

According to newly released Gallup figures, just 30 percent of American workers are engaged in their work. The rest are described as disengaged, with 17 percent actively disengaged, “which means they are literally trying to sabotage the organization,” notes Neil Stevens, president and CEO of Oconee State Bank in Oconee, Georgia. “Gallup also says that if you have a 70 percent or higher engagement score, you’re 23 percent more profitable than those with lower engagement scores. So engaged teams truly, in my mind, lead to healthier cultures, better customer retention.”

On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — presented by R&T Deposit Solutions — Stevens discusses his approach to cultivating a bank where engagement scores have climbed to 89 percent, triple the national average. Stevens works to build this culture through a framework called Leading Life on Life that emphasizes loving, equipping, affirming and developing (“LEAD”ing) team members. Among other topics on the show, Stevens discusses the role of love in bank management, the importance of active listening and how an environment of healthy affirmation actually allows leaders to hold their teams to higher standards.

  • If you can’t see the audio player above, click here to listen to this week’s episode.
  • Hear Stevens discuss bank culture and employee engagement at the ABA Annual Convention, Oct. 27-29 in New York City.

This episode is presented by R&T Deposit Solutions.

In this episode:

Neil Stevens
President and CEO
Oconee State Bank

Tags: ABA Banking Journal PodcastCultureEmployee engagementLeadershipTraining
ShareTweetPin

Author

Evan Sparks

Evan Sparks

Evan Sparks is editor-in-chief of the ABA Banking Journal and senior vice president for member communications at the American Bankers Association.

Related Posts

Mortgage rates fall

Podcast: Understanding the 2025 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data

ABA Banking Journal Podcast
July 8, 2026

ABA economist Dan Brown discusses the recent release of HMDA data for 2025. He examines several trends, including the varying composition of bank mortgage loans in different regions, where banks face the stiffest nonbank competition in the mortgage...

Banking young athletes in a new age

Banking young athletes in a new age

Retail and Marketing
July 8, 2026

For some banks, the value extends beyond new accounts to greater brand recognition and community connections.

Survey: Most high school students want to know more about financial management

America at 250: How banks have powered opportunity – and will shape what comes next

Community Banking
July 6, 2026

In the months ahead, the ABA Foundation will work closely with banks to support more Americans on their path to wealth-building.

ABA signs coalition letter to make NMTC program permanent

CDFI Fund launches online Opportunity Zone nomination tool

Community Banking
July 1, 2026

The CDFI Fund has launched an online tool that state governors can use to nominate communities as qualified Opportunity Zones, which provide tax incentives for investing in distressed communities. New designations occur only once every 10 years.

FFIEC reaffirms efforts to boost de novo bank formation

FFIEC reaffirms efforts to boost de novo bank formation

Community Banking
July 1, 2026

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council released a statement reaffirming its members’ commitment to promoting de novo bank formation by exploring ways to lower regulatory barriers to creating new financial institutions.

A close call with fraud

ABA Fraudcast: Defending customers from wire fraud

Compliance and Risk
July 1, 2026

'It's asking questions like: Have you been coached? Is someone telling you to do this? Is this going into an account that you opened or authorized to be opened?'

NEWSBYTES

Survey finds most U.S. adults were scammed in 2025

July 8, 2026

ABA urges lawmakers to restore limited NOL carryback option

July 8, 2026

Consumer credit was unchanged in May

July 8, 2026

SPONSORED CONTENT

Why Your Systems Keep Slowing Down — and What to Do About It

Examiners Are Now Looking at Your Non-Core Systems

June 11, 2026
Your Floorplan Audit and Your Credit Decision Are Weeks Apart. That Gap Has a Price.

Your Floorplan Audit and Your Credit Decision Are Weeks Apart. That Gap Has a Price.

June 1, 2026
A Modern Blueprint for Serving High-Net-Worth Families

A Modern Blueprint for Serving High-Net-Worth Families

May 28, 2026
Why Your Systems Keep Slowing Down — and What to Do About It

AI Is in Your Bank. Is Your Cloud Contract Governing It?

May 20, 2026

PODCASTS

Podcast: Understanding the 2025 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data

July 8, 2026

Podcast: Financing America’s independence

June 29, 2026

Podcast: Talent and innovation in community banking

June 18, 2026

American Bankers Association
1333 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
1-800-BANKERS (800-226-5377)
www.aba.com
About ABA
Privacy Policy
Contact ABA

ABA Banking Journal
About ABA Banking Journal
Media Kit
Advertising
Subscribe

© 2026 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive

© 2026 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved.