#United States #community support #Armed Forces Bank #Leavenworth #military bank

Armed Forces Bank Achieves an 'Outstanding' CRA Rating

Armed Forces Bank, a dedicated institution serving military personnel since 1907, has recently received an exceptional rating of 'Outstanding' from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance evaluation. This prestigious evaluation recognizes the bank's commitment over the past decade to meet the needs of low and moderate-income communities, including military families. In fact, fewer than 10% of banks nationwide have achieved this top rating.

Tom McLean, the Senior Vice President and Military Regional Executive at Armed Forces Bank, stated, "This 'Outstanding' rating from the OCC validates our deep commitment to serving military families and the communities in which they live and work. At Armed Forces Bank, community reinvestment is not merely a regulatory obligation; it is an integral part of our mission."

Commitment to Community Development

The CRA, established in 1977, mandates banks to assist in fulfilling the credit needs of their communities, particularly focusing on low- and moderate-income individuals, neighborhoods, and small businesses. The OCC assesses banks based on their effectiveness in meeting these community obligations.

In their evaluation, OCC specifically praised Armed Forces Bank for its "excellent responsiveness" to community development needs. The evaluation period revealed significant accomplishments, including:

• - $15.7 million allocated for community development loans aimed at enhancing housing and services for elderly and disabled residents and revitalizing moderate-income neighborhoods.
• - $17.1 million invested in affordable housing through community impact bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and funds from Small Business Investment Companies.
• - Contributions amounting to $94,600 made to organizations that offer free legal services for veterans seeking disability compensation, as well as to outreach programs for the homeless and services that enable seniors to age in place.
• - A remarkable 2,313 volunteer hours logged by the bank's staff across 17 various organizations, which included providing financial literacy education during Newcomer Briefings for incoming soldiers.

Fostering Military Community Resilience

Armed Forces Bank has consistently demonstrated a strong dedication to addressing the unique needs of military service members and their families. Such dedication has garnered national accolades, including being honored as the "Distinguished Bank of the Year" by the U.S. Military for its exceptional efforts in promoting the financial well-being of military families and veterans. Moreover, the bank uniquely earned the Veterans Saves "Community Impact Award" and was among only four banks in the nation to receive the "Designation of Savings Excellence," an accolade it has achieved ten times over the last twelve years. Furthermore, Armed Forces Bank was acknowledged as one of the top five strongest banks in Kansas City.

Launch of Heroes Round Up Initiative

In May 2025, in alignment with its strong commitment to the military community, Armed Forces Bank introduced the Heroes Round Up program. This initiative allows both military and civilian patrons to round up their debit card purchases to provide support for the Veterans Community Project, a non-profit organization targeting the eradication of veteran homelessness through innovative housing and support services.

Tom McLean emphasized, "Our mission revolves around simplifying and improving the lives of service members, veterans, and their families, regardless of their location. We believe our staff—with approximately 75% having military affiliations—are uniquely positioned to achieve this."

About Armed Forces Bank

Founded and headquartered in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Armed Forces Bank is committed to offering personal and affordable banking services to both active and retired military personnel, as well as civilians across all 50 states and internationally. With $1.4 billion in assets, the bank operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dickinson Financial Corporation, a bank holding company worth $4.3 billion, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Approximately 75% of staff at Armed Forces Bank share a military affiliation, either personally or through family.

As a part of its commitment to transparency and community service, Armed Forces Bank continually seeks to engage with clients and the community to foster a stronger financial future for military families and their communities overall. For further information, visit Armed Forces Bank online and connect on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.