Silver Lake Bank Partners with Kasasa and Charlie Rocket’s Dream Machine for Topeka’s Best Day Ever Event

Topeka’s Best Day Ever is part of a collective of events taking place across the country to generate 100,000 acts of kindness. This is the first-time community banks and credit unions have come together for a nationwide event, demonstrating their local impact and the scale of their network.

Silver Lake Bank, in partnership with Kasasa and the Dream Machine, are hosting Topeka’s local Best Day Ever on November 3rd, at 9 a.m.  at the Topeka Zoo. Kasasa, which offers free reward checking accounts exclusively at community banks and credit unions, and the Dream Machine founded by Charlie Rocket, have joined with community financial institutions across the country with the goal of performing 100,000 acts kindness for the Best Day Ever event, which kicks off November 3 and continues throughout the weekend.

Silver Lake Bank’s local event is its contribution to the nationwide effort aimed at showcasing the significance of community banks and credit unions. It demonstrates how these institutions are integral to the communities they serve and emphasizes their role in preserving the vital human connection that is progressively disappearing from financial institutions. This event also underscores the scale of the Kasasa network of community banks and credit unions, which combined represents the fourth largest branch banking network in the country.

"We are excited to be a part of the Best Day Ever to show how we make a difference in our communities," said Pat Gideon, Silver Lake Bank’s president and CEO. "We believe in the power of community and the importance of human connection in banking. Through this event, we hope to inspire more to join us and in making a meaningful impact in other people’s lives."

Silver Lake Bank will start the day with a 9 a.m. presentation by Silver Lake Bank President Pat Gideon of nearly $8,000 to Topeka Zoo CEO Brendan Wiley and Friends of the Zoo President, Fred Patton at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center. The funds were earned from customer usage of the Zoo’s loyalty debit card – featuring either the tiger or giraffe.  The Zoo, as well as three other organization’s loyalty debit cards, receive .05 cents for each qualifying debit card purchase. Silver Lake Bank also has loyalty cards for Seaman, Auburn-Washburn and Silver Lake school districts. Other presentations and notes of gratitude will be made throughout the day to members of the public by Silver Lake Bank staff members as well as to 3 other Topeka and Lawrence non-profit organizations.

We go the extra mile for our customers, said Pat Gideon, and we demonstrate that each day with excellent customer service and reinvestment into our community. Our banking and beyond perspective make us competitive on interest rates, technology, and common-sense local decision making in both commercial and retail products and solutions. Founded in 1909, SLB is a recognizable name in the region for its strong and safe financial institution with the best in client-oriented solutions, he said.

“Community Financial Institutions may lack the multi-billion-dollar marketing budgets of giants like Bank of America and Chase,” said Gabe Krajicek, CEO of Kasasa. “But they do have incredibly generous hearts and commitment to serve their communities. Showing up for this event to tell people they matter demonstrates the incalculable ways they show up in their communities every single day. Their personal service paired with Kasasa’s world-class products beat the mega bank offerings and help individuals prosper and their local economy stronger.”

“A random act of kindness changed my life when I was in a dark moment and diagnosed with a brain tumor,” said Rocket. “That’s when I learned the power of something so simple: being seen by a stranger. I’m excited for November 3rd because when community financial institutions kick off this event, it will have a ripple effect across the country.”