Dacotah Bank has been named one of the “Best Banks to Work For” by American Banker for the fourth consecutive year.

American Banker cited Dacotah Bank’s dedication to charity and community. “Dacotah” means “alliance of friends” in the Lakota Sioux language, and it defines Dacotah Bank’s philosophy of staying connected to employees and the community. Management encourages employees to take breaks by going on “walking meetings,” and the bank also provides stress-management classes and ergonomic desks upon request.

Through the “Give Where We Live” employee-directed charitable giving program, each Dacotah Bank employee may direct a $200 donation from the bank to a charitable organization of their choice, which increases to $300 if the employee is a member of that nonprofit’s board.

“Balancing the needs of all the constituencies where we live and work is a challenge, but our teams remain positive and have continued to build relationships with customers and each other, while serving our communities,” said President and CEO Robert Fouberg.

The Best Banks to Work For program, which was initiated in 2013 by American Banker and Best Companies Group, identifies, recognizes and honors U.S. banks for outstanding employee satisfaction.

The program is open to commercial banks, thrifts, savings banks and other chartered retail financial institutions with at least 50 employees in the United States.

Based in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Dacotah Bank is one of the largest independent banks in the upper Midwest, with dozens of hometown locations throughout North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. Dacotah Bank employs nearly 600 people.