Why Every Community Needs “Its Bank”: Legends Bank’s Commitment to Middle Tennessee
Article originally appeared on the Profit Resources, Inc website.
Community banks have always played an outsized role in strengthening local economies, and during Community Banking Month, that impact deserves recognition. According to the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), community banks provide nearly 60% of the nation’s small-business loans and more than 80% of agricultural loans, while serving as the only physical banking presence in one in five U.S. counties.
But for many institutions, their impact extends far beyond lending. At Legends Bank, community involvement isn’t a side initiative. Rather, it’s embedded in the bank’s culture. From supporting veterans and fighting food insecurity to investing in higher education and developing future banking talent, Legends Bank is proving that community banking is about showing up where it matters most.
Community Involvement is Part of the DNA
Legends Bank’s commitment to community service didn’t begin recently. It’s been part of the institution since its founding in 1998. Chartered in Clarksville, Tenn., Legends has a long history of involvement in civic organizations and nonprofits. As the bank has grown across Middle Tennessee, its community engagement expanded as well. They now invite employee input to identify initiatives that are close to their hearts, with a strong focus on veterans, children and people experiencing homelessness.
“We’ve always been active in the community. It’s just who we are,” said Tommy Bates, President & CEO of Legends Bank.
That long-standing commitment has evolved into more intentional, larger-scale efforts.
#LegendsLift: A Unified Mission
In 2024, Legends Bank launched #LegendsLift to bring all its charitable efforts under one recognizable umbrella. The hashtag and program ensure that Legends community partners receive recognition, and it provides a rallying point for employees to engage, which they do in large numbers. It also acts as a mobilization infrastructure that helps the bank respond quickly during urgent needs such as disaster response or family support and food insecurity initiatives.
“#LegendsLift encompasses all the things we do,” said Charlie Koon, Senior Vice President and Community & Business/Military Development Manager. “We have a lot of great partnerships and employees who are always willing to help. We want everyone involved to get credit for doing good.”
Community is at the Center
Legends Bank has become known in Middle Tennessee for its meaningful support of the communities it serves. Some examples of the initiatives important to the Legends team include:
Turkeys for Troops
Entering its ninth year in 2026, Turkeys for Troops provides 1,500 frozen turkeys to veterans and military families the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The event is held near Fort Campbell, the US Army base close to Clarksville.
“Anyone with a military ID is eligible, and people stay for hours. It’s become a major community celebration,” Koon said.
Operation Hauling Hope
Legends Bank participates in Operation Hauling Hope to send essential supplies to active-duty soldiers, military families, and veterans. Earlier this month, the initiative delivered three tractor-trailers to Fort Campbell filled with 35 pallets of water (over 2,000 bottles per pallet!) and 20 pallets of food, hygiene products, and other necessities.
YAIPAK Outreach
Legends also partners with YAIPAK, an organization “dedicated to meeting the needs of those who are neglected, hurting or affected, wherever they are.” Like Legends, YAIPAK strongly focuses on veterans, children, homelessness and disaster relief. Bank employees recently donated two tractor trailer loads of pillows, blankets and household goods to help veterans transition into housing and to support families in need across Middle Tennessee.
Employees Make the Difference
Bates and Koon emphasize that community service at Legends isn’t top-down—it’s employee-driven. They have a designated Human Resources contact within the bank who shares volunteer opportunities regularly, and employees frequently exceed volunteer sign-up goals. Volunteerism is introduced to new hires during the onboarding process, and employees are encouraged to vote on which organizations and causes the bank supports. They also bring their own ideas for initiatives to the bank, ensuring that Legends is meaningfully touching issues that truly affect the community.
Some examples of Legends employee-driven initiatives include:
- Sponsoring a full Habitat for Humanity house
- Supporting local children’s initiatives
- Helping with church renovations
- Book distribution programs
- Sponsorship of the Cheatham County Kiwanis Rodeo
Investing in the Next Generation of Banking Leaders
According to Bates, one of the bank’s most strategic partnerships is with Austin Peay State University. The first CEO of Legends was a big supporter of Austin Peay and involved the bank first in school athletics, which has evolved into a deeper academic partnership. Legends has endowed a finance and economics professorship, created a speaker series, supported business school accreditation efforts and helped fund student attendance at banking conferences. For the first time this year, Austin Peay students are participating in the prestigious Community Bank Case Study Competition. This demonstrates how community investment can directly support workforce development.
“I couldn’t open my doors if all my Austin Peay alums left. I want to know the best kids coming out of that business school so I can start recruiting them,” Bates said.
When Communities Thrive, Community Banks Thrive
For Legends Bank, community investment is also smart business strategy. Legends leaders recognize that stronger, better communities attract growth, and well-managed nonprofits can play an important role in strengthening local quality of life. Deeper relationships, with roots sunk down into the community, create a longtime loyalty to one another.
“If the city grows and the quality of life grows, then the bank grows. Every city, every community needs ‘its’ bank to thrive,” Bates said.
Community Banking at its Best
Legends Bank’s story reflects what community banking does best: build relationships that extend beyond transactions. Whether it’s helping veterans, feeding families, investing in students or empowering employees to serve, the bank continues to prove that community impact and business growth can go hand in hand.
To learn more about the Legends Lift community program, check out More Than a Hashtag: The Story Behind #LegendsLift.
About Legends Bank
Legends Bank, founded in 1998, is a trusted community bank serving Middle Tennessee with branch locations across Montgomery, Davidson, Williamson and Cheatham Counties. Committed to providing personalized financial services, Legends Bank offers a wide range of banking products, including personal and business banking, mortgage services, and financial planning solutions as well.
About PRI
Profit Resources, Inc is proud to partner with community banks that understand that growth starts with strong relationships. Contact PRI to learn how they help financial institutions improve profitability while staying focused on what matters most—the communities they serve.