KS Bank wins top community bank honors in Johnston County and Goldsboro

KS Bank took first place for Best Bank in two local readers’ choice awards in North Carolina, reflecting strong support from customers in Johnston County and Goldsboro. The wins underscore how relationship-driven community banking remains a differentiator for the 100-year-old lender.

Why it matters: - KS Bank’s wins signal local trust in a banking model built on face-to-face relationships and community ties. - The awards also reinforce KS Bank’s footprint across Triangle East North Carolina, where local reputation can directly influence customer loyalty.

What happened: - KS Bank won 1st place for Best Bank in both the Best of Johnston County Awards and the Goldsboro Best of the Best Readers’ Choice Awards. - The recognitions were announced Oct. 6, 2026. - Both awards are driven by community nominations and votes. - KS Bank has branches in Clayton, Four Oaks, Kenly, Selma, Smithfield and Goldsboro. - In Goldsboro, KS Bank won the Best Bank/Credit Union category for the second straight year.

The details: - Earl W. Worley, Jr., president and CEO of KS Bank, said the awards reflect the bank’s focus on being relationship-driven and committed to customers. - The Best of Johnston County Awards are run by The Johnstonian News and take place annually. - The Goldsboro News Argus Best of the Best Readers’ Choice Awards have been hosted for decades. - KS Bank says the Johnston County recognition followed a months-long campaign. - KS Bank says the Goldsboro award matters because the branch serves one of the bank’s local homes. - KS Bank was established in 1924 and has served communities across the Triangle East region for more than 100 years. - The bank offers retail and commercial lending, deposit services, mortgage products and wealth management through Kestrel Wealth Management. - KS Bank’s corporate office is in Smithfield. - The bank operates 12 financial centers in Harnett, Johnston, Nash, Wake, Wilson and Wayne counties.

Between the lines: - Community-voted awards are especially valuable for banks because they turn service quality into a public scorecard. - Winning in two separate local markets suggests KS Bank’s strategy resonates beyond a single branch or county. - The repeat Goldsboro win points to consistency, not just a one-time campaign push.

What’s next: - KS Bank said it looks forward to serving customers for years to come. - The bank is likely to continue leaning on community-based recognition as proof of its local banking approach.

The bottom line: - For KS Bank, these awards are more than trophies. They are evidence that local customers still reward banks that feel personal, visible and rooted in the community.