STRONGER TOGETHER

from Bayou Business Monthly - August 2020

STANDING STRONG FOR 40 YEARS

Atrusted name in the HoumaThibodaux area since 1999, Synergy Bank has upheld its commitment to addressing the needs of the community and ensuring that customers receive personal service as they adapt to the “new normal” brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Synergy Bank team makes it a priority to get to know their customers. During such a challenging time, the bank’s commitment to offering personal customer service allowed them the ability to work with customers to address their specific financial needs. Additionally, Synergy facilitated over 700 local businesses with the Small Business Administration’s Payroll Protection Program and provided guidance on other programs and solutions to sustain

their businesses.

“We recognize that our customers have been greatly impacted by the pandemic, and we feel that it’s our responsibility to remain committed to providing the highest level of customer service that they have come to expect from Synergy,” President and CEO Jerry Ledet says. “Though we may not be able to go back to our usual routines, we were able to adjust our processes to accommodate our customers and give them the sense of comfort and normalcy that they need in this difficult time.”

Those accommodations included normal operating hours with limited lobby traffic at every Synergy Bank location, as well as enhancements to online, drive-thru and by-appointment banking processes. In addition, Synergy Bank adapted new health and sanitation protocols to protect both bankers and customers. “To ensure the safety of our employees and customers, and for business continuity, many of our processes were enhanced, including extensive cleaning and sanitation of the offices as well as the implementation of our Mask Up Synergy initiative,” Executive Vice President and CFO Ben Borne says. “Employees also worked in groups that were rotated while others worked remotely.“

Synergy’s response to the needs of their customers and employees because of the pandemic is reflective of the bank’s commitment to the Bayou Region.

“Our mission is to serve our community, and we live our motto each day: ‘Your Bank. Our Community. Stronger Together,’” Senior Vice President Marie Morris says. “As a community bank, we are meant to do the out of the ordinary. With our local management, we can make decisions that allow us to respond to the needs of our customers rapidly with the best interest of the community in mind.” •