Verus Bank has received the highest possible rating from two independent financial rating agencies, awards which emphasize the strength and stability of both the bank and the local community.

Veribanc, Inc. has designated Verus Bank with its Blue Ribbon Bank award. It is banking’s oldest national accolade presented by a private sector analyst and is reserved for institutions which demonstrate exceptional attention to safety, soundness and financial strength.

Veribanc bases its ratings on more than 20 tests of a bank’s financial strength. Among the areas reviewed are balance sheet, income statement, loan portfolio, compliance with federal capital requirements and off-balance sheet exposure.

Likewise, Bauer Financial has designated Verus Bank with its highest rating, five stars. That superior rating is based on most of the same factors as Veribanc uses, and also looks at historical data and the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act rating.

To access public information reports used by the rating agencies, go to www.fdic.gov.

There are many factors in Verus Bank’s formula for success, according to Kevin Chase, chairman and chief executive officer. First, and foremost, he said, is its customer base.

“We are fortunate to have the customers we serve,” Chase said. “They have acted with financial responsibility and have taken care of their finances in a very respectable manner.”

Chase is also quick to give credit to the communities they serve.

“ Derby, El Dorado, and Augusta are great places to live, and they are also great places to locate our business,” Chase said. “We are simply a refection of the customers and the communities we serve.”

Bauer Financial also reports that in the past year, the number of banks with its superior ratings dropped by about 8 percent. It was admittedly a troubling economy for some banks and the communities they serve. “The number of 5-Star rated banks is diminishing,” said Karen L. Dorway, president of Bauer Financial, “but that doesn’t mean they are extinct. Verus Bank is an excellent example of traditional, conservative banking. In this new era of ‘back to basics’ thinking, this is exactly what you should be looking for in a bank.”

At Verus Bank its ratings prove it can withstand the tougher times.

The bank’s executive leadership has made a long-standing commitment to base all decisions on how they measure up to four core values: people; performance; community; and integrity.

“Our bank leadership is strong and proven. The decision we made years ago to abide by these values is what leads us through tough economic times,” Chase said. “We will continue our focus on our customers and our communities and never take for granted the trust of financial stewardship that has been placed in us. That’s our given charge.”

Verus Bank was established in 1974 and has been serving the banking needs of its neighbors and friends for 35 years. Headquartered in Derby, Kansas, it operates through five conveniently located offices in Derby, Augusta and El Dorado and can also be found on the Internet at www.verusbank.com.