For the fifth consecutive year, Bank of Hays, 1000 West 27th, has been listed among Seifried & Brew (S&B) LLC’s 2014 Top 15th Percentile of Community Banks.

S&B is a community bank risk management firm located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Selection was based on Bank of Hays’ exemplary performance in balancing risk and reward based on the bank’s S&B Total Risk/Return Composite Ranking.

Bank of Hays Chief Executive Officer Randy Walker said banks listed as Top 15th Performers were chosen for thriving despite the recent financial turmoil. “This supports S&B’s belief – and ours – that conservative, traditional community banking is the strength of the financial system,” he said in a news release.

A total of 620 banks nationwide were included in the ranking. Only 23 of those were from Kansas and Bank of Hays was the only Hays bank listed.

Bank of Hays also has branches in Hanston (Hanston State Bank), Jetmore (The Farmers State Bank of Jetmore) and Lewis (Bank of Lewis).