Farm Credit Bank of Texas Named a Top Place to Work

AUSTIN, Texas – Farm Credit Bank of Texas (FCBT) recently was named to the 2011 list of 100 Best Companies to Work for in Texas.

With 195 employees, the Austin-based bank ranked in the medium-size category, which was defined as companies having 100 to 499 employees.

This was the first year that Farm Credit Bank of Texas participated the Best Companies program, which was designed to recognize companies that have the best employer practices in the state. The program is sponsored by the Texas Association of Business, the Texas State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Best Companies Group.

“We are proud to receive this recognition, especially because it is based primarily on employee feedback. Farm Credit strives to maintain a working environment that encourages new ideas and rewards hard work,” said Larry Doyle, FCBT chief executive officer.

Companies were selected based on a two-part survey of employees and management. Employee feedback represented 75 percent of the evaluation, while the employer’s response concerning policies, practices and benefits accounted for 25 percent of the overall score.

More than 84 percent of Farm Credit Bank employees participated in the survey, which polled staff on eight categories: leadership, corporate communication, role satisfaction, work environment, relationship with supervisor, training and development, pay and benefits, and overall engagement.

“The honor speaks to a level of job satisfaction that goes beyond perks — our employees have a clear understanding that the work they do every day matters and that, indirectly, they are making a difference in rural America,” Doyle said. “It’s important to us to be a good corporate citizen, and we recognize that this starts with our people.”

The bank will have use of the “Best Companies to Work for in Texas 2011” logo and distinction in its promotional items for one year.

Becoming a great place to work is not just about a plaque or award, according to Peter Burke, president of the Best Companies Group. “It is about a management strategy — a way of running your business that benefits not only the employees, but the stakeholders, shareholders and owners alike,” Burke said.

Established in 1916, Farm Credit Bank of Texas is a $14.1 billion wholesale bank that provides funding to rural lending cooperatives in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. It is part of the Farm Credit System, the oldest and largest source of financing for rural America.