BEST BANKS TO WORK FOR

1

LIVE OAK BANK

Assets: $1.2 billion

Employees: 341

Chairman and CEO: James "Chip" Mahan

* Make it three in a row for Live Oak Bank.

Initiatives like "Live Oak U" help explain why this bank has topped our list of the best places to work for three years running.

The bank started the continuing education program for employees and directors in 2013. Today, more than 20 courses are offered on topics such as managerial effectiveness, credit underwriting and banking fundamentals. More than 75% of Live Oak employees have taken at least one class.

"Live Oak Bank is committed to the goal of becoming a teaching organization and a learning organization," said its chairman and chief executive, James "Chip" Mahan.

Live Oak partners with the nearby University of North Carolina at Wilmington to offer courses, but Mahan teaches one of the most popular ones: "Live Oak Culture 101," which provides an overview of the bank's history, tradition, work life and values.

All courses are taught in a classroom by an instructor, but they are often available online as well. The courses are free and most are open to all Live Oak employees. While several courses can earn university credit, employees do not have to be working toward a degree to take one.

"The ultimate goal is that all employees at the bank have access to any career path they choose," Mahan said.

2

HOMEBANC

Tampa, Fla.

Assets: $1 billion

Employees: 99

Chairman and CEO: Jerry Campbell

EG HomeBanc's chairman and chief executive, Jerry Campbell, prefers not to be addressed as "Mr. Campbell." If an employee of any rank has a question, "Hey, Jerry" suffices.

"All employees are on a first-name basis," said Debra Hanses Novakoski, an executive vice president at HomeBanc and a member of its board of directors. "Our phone list and intranet directories are alphabetical by first name."

That's just one way HomeBanc tries to make workers feel like they're family. Employees also get treated to a meal of their choice on their birthdays. Whether it's pizza, salad, sandwiches or another favorite, the food is delivered to the office and colleagues join the celebration.

"On my birthday, we had breakfast burritos, fruit and smoothies for the office at headquarters - about 25...