2021 CSBS Community Bank Case Study Competition Journal

2021 COMMUNITY BANK CASE STUDY COMPETITION

includes a diversity and inclusion course, as well as courses that focus on topics of team building, bank security, and harassment (B. Ragan, Zoom, February 24, 2021). All TriStar employees are required to take a Regulatory University course titled “Diversity in the Workplace.” This course gives each employee an overview of workplace diversity concepts and a better understanding of the meaning and benefits of diversity (A. Murphy and B. Ragan, E-mail, March 22, 2021). This training course is designed to address prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination while also encouraging employees to work effectively with all members of society. The training promotes striving for diversity in the hiring of managers and employees in an effort “to provide a work environment, which provides job satisfaction and opportunity for personal development that will attract, develop, and reward the best bankers” (“About TriStar,” Statement of Values ).

According to Becky Ragan, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at TriStar, diversity is comprised of traits and characteristics that make people unique, and inclusion means making all people feel welcome. TriStar has always operated on this notion of acceptance of everyone by hiring employees who have a welcoming and accepting attitude. TriStar’s personnel policy covers various topics related to diversity and inclusion throughout its Statement of Values, Staffing Goals section, and Code of Conduct (A. Murphy and B. Ragan, E-mail, March 22, 2021). Bank officers explained that TriStar would quickly address any issues that occurred involving an employee and that this past year has brought more awareness in relation to diversity and inclusion at TriStar. As a step toward positive inclusion, TriStar has hired several Spanish-speaking employees in the past and recently hired a manager who is fluent in Spanish. These hires have allowed TriStar to communicate more effectively with its Spanish-speaking customers. As demographics and markets have changed through population growth in the counties in which the Bank operates, TriStar seeks to hire diverse and talented individuals who can assist in reaching and interacting with people in the community. Demographics for TriStar’s Market Throughout the last decade, TriStar’s market has experienced population and geographic growth through branch acquisitions. In 2012, TriStar acquired two new branch locations and expanded into Maury and Williamson Counties.

TriStar has always operated on this notion of acceptance of everyone by hiring employees who have a welcoming and accepting attitude.

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