NODB North Dallas Bank and Trust Co (PK)

One dedicated North Dallas Bank (OTCBB: NODB) employee has witnessed everything from manual phones and typewriters to the latest computer technology, all the while maintaining a focus on personal relationships: 50-year employee Barbara Bates.

The Seminole, Oklahoma native is a key part of North Dallas Bank's Golden Anniversary Celebration this month, which marks a 50-year milestone as the oldest bank native to Dallas, Texas.

"I feel really blessed to have been here for so long," said Bates, who was there the first day the bank opened its doors in March 1961, with just a handful of customers and less than $1 million dollars in assets.

She has seen North Dallas Bank grow to five locations in the Dallas area, with thousands of customers and over $1.1 billion dollars in total assets.

Bates had a very simple answer when asked about the continued growth of North Dallas Bank while other local banks have been forced to merge or fail during the last five decades.

"People appreciate the fact that the tenure of our officers and staff is high. The average tenure of our officers exceeds 20 years. It doesn't matter whether you are an individual or a business, having a bank and banker you know and trust is important."

The community banker began her career in her hometown, working at First National Bank in Seminole, OK.

She moved to Dallas in the 1950s and went to work at Dallas County Bank in Carrollton, assisting the bank executives. When one of the shareholders left to help form North Dallas Bank in 1961, Bates was asked to join the new team.

"It doesn't seem possible that it's been 50 years," said Bates, who is planning on retiring later this month.

Bates has seen tremendous changes over her five decades at North Dallas Bank. "When I first started out, almost everything was done by hand," she said. "We even had manual typewriters back then. But when technology changed, we led the way. When all the other banks were offering dial-up home banking, we were offering high-speed Internet Banking."

When asked to summarize her career, Bates said, "Banking has been the greatest career. I didn't want to be one of those people who changed jobs every year. I found something I loved."

Dallas President Larry Miller said, "We are the ones that have been blessed by having Barbara for 50 years. She has always been a leader in providing excellent service to our customers. Bates' example is typical of the community-minded employees who stand ready to lead the locally owned and operated bank into the next 50 years."

North Dallas Bank & Trust Co., established in 1961, has more than $1 billion in assets and is a locally owned bank with five locations in the Dallas area.

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