Bank of Bird-in-Hand Featured in Harvard Business School Special Issue Publication

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 6, 2025

Contact: Lori A. Maley, CPA

President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board

(717) 768-8811

[email protected]

Bird-in-Hand, Pa. (October 6, 2025) – Bank of Bird-in-Hand, a community bank headquartered in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has been featured in the joint publication of Harvard Business School’s Institute for Business in Global Society and the Council on Business & Society’s Special Issue. The article, titled “Authentic Purpose in Banking: The Ultimate Strategic Advantage”, highlights the Bank as a national model for integrating authentic purpose into its business strategy.

Authored by Professors Anjan V. Thakor (Washington University in St. Louis) and Robert E. Quinn (University of Michigan), the article explores how the Bank has successfully balanced regulatory compliance with a deeply rooted commitment to serving underbanked communities—particularly the Amish and Mennonite populations in rural Pennsylvania.

In 2024, Professors Thakor and Quinn attended the Bank’s annual Customer Appreciation Picnic to gather information for their case study. They interviewed customers, members of the Board of Directors, and staff. They also toured the Gelt Buses, the Bank’s innovative strategy of delivering financial services to the Bank’s rural communities through mobile branch offices.

“The Gelt Buses are an important part of the Bank’s business model of ‘relationship banking.’ I have worked with three generations of some families, and as the Bank has grown, I have tried to instill this service mindset in our lending team,” said Mr. William O’Brien, Chief Lending Officer and Chief Revenue Officer. “Understanding the customers and going the extra mile to fulfill their financial needs have been important factors in the Bank’s success.”

Founded in 2013, Bank of Bird-in-Hand was the first FDIC-insured new (“de novo”) bank to open in the U.S. following the 2007–2009 financial crisis. Since its inception, the Bank has grown to over $1.6 billion in assets while maintaining exceptional loan performance and customer satisfaction. The article credits the Bank’s success to its unwavering dedication to a higher purpose, authentic leadership, and a culture of trust and empowerment. The community reciprocates this trust. The Bank has had six successful common stock offerings funded by retail investors. This financial support has been crucial for the Bank to keep pace with the tremendous growth of the loan portfolio.

“We are honored to be recognized in this publication,” said Lori Maley, President and CEO. “This affirms our belief that banking can be both honorable and profitable when guided by a genuine commitment to community and purpose.”

The article also underscores the strategic advantage of purpose-driven leadership in banking, noting that the Bank’s culture could serve as a blueprint for institutions nationwide. In April 2025, Ms. Maley and Mr. O’Brien flew to St. Louis, Missouri, to share the Bank’s story with Professor Thakor’s Executive MBA class. Even though they were a long way from Lancaster County, the Bank’s story still resonated.

Although no formal stock offering is expected this year, there are shares of Gelt Bancorp, Inc., the holding company of Bank of Bird-in-Hand, available for sale from private shareholders. Those interested in purchasing stock in the secondary market should contact the Investor Relations team at [email protected] or 717-929-2389.

To read the full article, visit https://www.council-business-society.org/_files/ugd/52492b_9311edc84d564bff8644204bb7e41980.pdf.

About Bank of Bird-in-Hand

Bank of Bird-in-Hand, a subsidiary of GELT Bancorp, Inc., is a community-owned bank with a strong focus on agricultural, small business, and consumer lending. The Bank’s main office is located at 309 North Ronks Road, Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505, and it operates six additional brick-and-mortar branches, as well as four mobile bank branches known as Gelt Buses with a scheduled series of stops at nineteen locations. For more information, including a full list of branch locations and Gelt Bus stops, visit www.bihbank.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.