BANK OF BIRD-IN-HAND FEATURED IN HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL

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",

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

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

"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

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

"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

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

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.