“Selected as a Top Choice Community Bank, Local Bank (Formerly: "The Bank of Cherokee County") is a highly rated bank that was founded by a group of prominent members of the Cherokee Nation in 1907."
By: Allan R Kirby
We review Community Banks:
Mysmallbank.com feels compelled to find the best credit unions and community banks in order to write a small review. These reviews are to help you learn more about community banking, possibly one that's in your area that you might be interested in. In this review we are choosing the following local Community Bank:
Headquartered: 110 E. Main Hulbert, OK 74441
Branches: 3
Year Established: 1907
Review:
Local Bank (formerly Bank of Cherokee County) has a long history of providing high quality financial services to the town of Hulbert, Oklahoma with branches in Tahlequah and Park Hill as well. We made the decision to take a closer look at this community bank after doing research on customers reviews, services offered as well as their commitment to their customers and community. What did stand out was the fact that Local Bank has one of the highest ratings we have encountered when looking at google reviews for banks. This in our opinion bolds well for the bank and we think potential customers will not be disappointed by banking at Local Bank.
Local Bank currently has close to $134 million in assets, three branches and about 50 employees ibanknet. Additionally they have a history of providing services to their members since the banks founding in 1907.
Mysmallbank.com loves to focus on credit unions and community banks because they take local deposits and invest that money back into the communities they serve. Local Bank does not disappoint as they state on their website, the bank invests 95% of their deposits back into Cherokee County. However the bank's support does not stop with financial support, they are also involved with helping local schools, for example: Local Bank conducts local school supply drives, and will match each dollar donated at the bank. The bank also sponsors events such as the Wagoner Chamber of Commerce Kids' Fishing Derby.
Finally we found Local Bank is popular with locals, which is highlighted by the bank winning the Best Bank in Tahlequah for 2019 as a result of the Tahlequah Daily Press for conducting a "best of" contest for the best bank.
Local Banks's branches include one located in Tahlequah, the capital of the two Cherokee tribes; the modern Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians.
We would have liked to have found more online reviews however what we did find on google for example highlights the fact customers and staff alike are very happy with the bank. Additionally we only found a small number of employee reviews on Indeed, which is not enough to get a true picture of working at the bank, but overall we did not see anything that concerned us.
In terms of financial services, this bank has a wide selection of services available to customers, for both deposits and loans. We would have liked to have seen an account for youth, under 18 to help them get involved with banking at little or no cost however this is only a suggestion. We particularly found the bank's support for local businesses and farmers encouraging; with small business, equipment as well as farming loans which help provide the capital required for sustainable growth for farmers and businesses alike.
Top Choice Community Bank
There is simply nothing we could find wrong with this great native american bank. They have exceptionally high reviews and a history of providing not only great service but also giving back to the community. Overall Mysmallbank.com believes the Local Bank is well deserved to receive the designation of Top Choice, Community Bank. (Note 1). So if you're looking for a great community based bank and you live or plan to live in the areas Local Bank operates this could be a great financial institution for you.
Services Offered:
Local Bank
Routing Number: 103107839
Banking:
Basic Checking
Scholar Checking
Direct Checking
Balance Checking
Classic 55 Account
NOW Account
PATRIOT Account
Super T Account
Money Market Account
Statement Savings
Commercial Checking
Community Banking Loans:
Automobile Loans
Consumer Loans
Farm Loans
Motorcycle & Boat Loans
Home Equity Loans
Permanent Home Financing Loans
Real Estate Loans
Equipment Loans
Interim Construction Loans
Small Business Loans
Debt Consolidation Loans
Lines of Credit
Local Bank Online
Online and Mobile Banking: Yes
Local Bank Branch Locations:
Main Office and Bank, Hulbert
110 E. Main
Hulbert, OK 74441
(918) 772-2572
Lobby Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Tahlequah Branch, Plaza
125 E. 1st Street
Tahlequah, OK 74464
(918) 456-3900
Lobby Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Drive-Up Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Park Hill Branch, Park Hill
4715 S. Muskogee Avenue
Tahlequah, OK 74464
(918) 458-1223
Lobby Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Drive-Up Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
What is Native American banking?
Native American Banking is defined as the business activity of a financial institution such as a bank or credit union to provide financial services to help support individuals, families and businesses of Native Americans across the USA. Specifically Native American owned or Native American focused financial institutions accept and lend out money in order to help facilitate economic activities in the regions Native Americans live and work.
Are community banks better?
Community banks are local banks that provide financial services to smaller communities and tend to be better than major banks for a number of reason which include:
Better rates on savings accounts and certificates of deposits.
Competitive mortgage rates.
Fees tend to be lower at community banks.
Local deposits are used to make loans to local businesses.
Community banks tend to have a better understanding of the communities they serve.
Community banks tend to have a more personalized customer service experience and have higher customer satisfaction rates.
Community banks provide local jobs and support local charities.
Notes:
1. Periodically Mysmallbank.com will name a Community Bank as a top choice (Top Community Bank) based on a number of criteria such as customer and employee reviews, complaints, satisfaction, growth, locations, brand and social responsibility. We only select the best community banks, so they must meet minimum standards of excellences (Excellent Choice) in order to be reviewed by Mysmallbank.com
Note: We take care when looking at reviews, especially emotional charged negative reviews based on unique circumstances. These reviews may not accurately reflect the true experience you will receive when visiting a community bank.
In Review is a segment of the MySmallBank.com blog written by Allan R Kirby, who writes and produces Personal Finance articles and videos.
Disclosure: mysmallbank.com nor the author received any compensation from the mentioned community bank (Local Bank) for this article. The article is our opinion only and is written to help readers learn more about local community Banks.