Academy Bank Recognized as One of America's Most Innovative Companies by FORTUNE for 2025

Academy Bank: A Beacon of Innovation

Academy Bank, a comprehensive community banking institution owned by Dickinson Financial Corp., is making headlines once again by being named one of America’s Most Innovative Companies by FORTUNE for 2025. This marks the second recognition within three years, having been previously honored in 2023.

Celebrating Innovation in Banking

The accolade from FORTUNE highlights the bank's unwavering commitment to evolving and improving financial services. FORTUNE's annual list selects 300 American companies that are spearheading industry transformation and setting avant-garde trends. Among them, Academy Bank stands out as one of only 10 institutions from Kansas and Missouri included in the 2025 rankings.

Paul Holewinski, CEO of Academy Bank, expressed immense pride in this recognition, stating, “We’re incredibly proud to be recognized once again by FORTUNE as an innovation leader. This award affirms our belief that forward-thinking solutions, both for our clients and within our internal operations, are key to long-term success.”

Comprehensive Evaluation Criteria

The selection process for FORTUNE's list was rigorous and multifaceted, focusing on three critical areas of evaluation:

1. Product Innovation: This assesses the design and usability of a company’s products and services.
2. Process Innovation: This category encompasses various processes within the organization, such as procurement, sales, and marketing strategies.
3. Innovation Culture: This metric gauges the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit prevalent within the company, largely based on employee assessments.

According to FORTUNE, these 300 nominated companies collectively generated over $12.6 trillion in revenue, underlining their substantial impact on the economy with a median revenue of $22 billion.

Commitment to Community and Efficiency

Academy Bank's recent accolade reflects its team's steadfast commitment to innovation, continuously exploring better ways to serve its community. Holewinski added, “This recognition is a direct reflection of our associates' unwavering commitment to fresh thinking and finding better ways of serving our communities.”

Joining this elite group of innovators reinforces Academy Bank's commitment to providing exceptional banking experiences driven by speed, convenience, and personal service. Their innovative approach emphasizes convenience, security, and offering seamless solutions tailored to individual customer needs.

Technological Advancements

Academy Bank's emphasis on modernization and adaptation includes significant investments in artificial intelligence and automation technologies. By implementing robotic process automation (RPA), the bank is paving the way for advanced banking solutions that are not only efficient but also secure and user-friendly. This forward-thinking strategy positions Academy Bank as a crucial player in the future landscape of banking.

In addition to the current recognition, Academy Bank has received praise from multiple local and national organizations. Their recent awards include the 2025 HCM Distinction Award for Talent at Work from ADP, and recognitions from FORTUNE for being among the Best Business CDs. They also landed a Silver Stevie Award for the redesigned Academy Bank website in the 2024 American Business Awards.

About Academy Bank

With a focus on serving communities effectively, Academy Bank operates with assets totaling approximately $2.9 billion and boasts over 75 banking centers across Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri. Offering a wide array of financial solutions tailored for both businesses and individuals, including business banking, treasury management, and mortgages, Academy Bank underlines its commitment to the communities it serves.

Additionally, it is noteworthy that Academy Bank’s sister branch, Armed Forces Bank, headquartered in Leavenworth, Kansas, extends its services to active and retired military clients worldwide, becoming one of the country’s leading military banks.

For more details, visit www.academybank.com to explore the various services provided by Academy Bank.

Of note, Academy Bank is an FDIC member.