KNOWLEDGE HUB

Earlier this week, Primis announced that we earned eight 2026 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence awards through a nationally recognized workplace excellence program based entirely on teammate feedback. You can read the full announcement here.

While we’re incredibly proud of the recognition itself, I’ve spent even more time reflecting on why it matters.

At Primis, culture has never been a side initiative. It’s a foundational part of how we operate, grow and lead. As we’ve expanded, we’ve worked intentionally to build a company where people feel appreciated, supported, challenged and connected to meaningful work.

That’s not always easy during periods of growth. Maintaining a strong culture takes commitment, communication and leaders who genuinely care about people. It takes teammates who show up every day wanting to make each other better. And it takes an organization willing to invest in leadership development, recognition, professional growth, flexibility and well-being.

What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it came directly from our teammates.

We had 56% participation in the survey — significantly higher than the average participation rate for these programs. To me, that says something important: our people care. They care enough to engage, share feedback and help shape what Primis becomes next.

The awards recognized strengths across multiple areas, including:

Culture Excellence Awards

• Top Workplaces for Appreciation 
• Top Workplaces for Compensation & Benefits 
• Top Workplaces for Employee Well-Being 
• Top Workplaces for Innovation
• Top Workplaces for Leadership 
• Top Workplaces for Professional Development 
• Top Workplaces for Work-Life Flexibility

Industry Awards

• Financial Services Top Workplaces

That’s something our entire team should be proud of.

Culture impacts more than the employee experience. It influences how teams collaborate, how customers are served, how leaders lead and how companies grow. It helps attract great talent, retain strong teammates and build trust in the marketplace.

And in banking especially, that matters.

In an industry that can sometimes feel transactional or overly corporate, we want Primis to feel different. We want people to feel connected to leadership, empowered to grow and proud of where they work.

We know there’s still work ahead. Great cultures are never “finished.” But this recognition is an encouraging reminder that we’re building something special together.

Most importantly, these awards belong to our teammates. They are the reason Primis continues to grow, evolve and stand apart.

Primis may be a newer name, but our story didn’t start in 2021.

Primis Bank officially launched on March 31, 2021, when Sonabank became Primis Bank and Southern National Bancorp of Virginia became Primis Financial Corp. What changed was the name. What didn’t change was the experience behind it.

Long before Primis entered the picture, our team was working to build a bank grounded in relationships, strong service, and real-world expertise. Today, we’re still guided by that same commitment—just with better tools, improved technology, and a fresh perspective on how banking should actually work.

Where It Started

Our roots trace back to Sonabank, whose first branch opened in Virginia in 2005.

From the very beginning, our goal wasn’t just to be another bank. It was to build something better—an institution that combined personal service with smart, strategic growth. As Sonabank expanded across Virginia through acquisitions and community partnerships, we deepened our expertise while growing alongside the customers and businesses we served.

Each step forward helped strengthen our foundation. Each expansion helped bring new capability to our customers. And each milestone moved us closer to becoming the modern banking partner we are today.

Building Strength Through Growth

Over the next decade, Sonabank grew its footprint through strategic acquisitions and steady expansion—adding new locations, welcoming new customers, and broadening its ability to serve both individuals and businesses throughout Virginia and the Mid‑Atlantic region.

In 2017, Sonabank entered a transformational chapter through its merger with Eastern Virginia Bankshares. The combined organization brought together the experience of two successful Virginia banking institutions—including the legacy of a bank whose history dated back more than a century.

That combination of scale, experience, and commitment to community banking created a stronger institution—one equipped to better serve customers across evolving markets and economic cycles.

Introducing Primis

By 2021, it was clear the future of banking would demand something more: better technology, simpler solutions, and a more customer‑focused experience.

That’s why Sonabank officially became Primis Bank on March 31, 2021—marking the beginning of a new brand built to reflect where we were going, not just where we had been.

Primis represents a deliberate step forward. A move toward smarter service. Better access. And a banking experience designed to meet customers where they are—whether that’s online, on the phone, or in person.

While our name may be new, the expertise behind it comes from years of real‑world banking experience.

Experience That Moves Banking Forward

Today, Primis brings together that legacy of experience with a modern approach grounded in innovation and real human support.

We combine the strength and security of an FDIC‑insured financial institution with the mindset of a technology‑driven company—giving customers simpler products, faster service, and access to real Primis representatives 24/7.

We’re proud of where we’ve come from. And even more focused on where we’re going next.

Because better banking doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens when experience meets new ideas.
When real people stay focused on real customer needs.
And when a bank is willing to challenge the status quo.

That’s the story behind Primis—and we’re just getting started.

More than a century ago, Maggie L. Walker—the trailblazing businesswoman and the first Black woman in the United States to charter a bank—believed that financial confidence begins with even the smallest act of saving. At the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in Richmond, she gave children their own penny banks and taught them how setting aside just a little at a time could build security, independence and opportunity. Her message is as meaningful today as it was in 1903. 

Primis is proud to carry her legacy forward. 

This year, Primis teammates brought Walker’s timeless lesson to Heavenly Playhouse Childcare Center in Henrico County, Virginia, hosting a fun and engaging financial literacy event designed especially for young learners. Primis representatives Amanda Gravely, director of in-market banking, along with market center managers Becky Ring and Kristine Allen, led students through interactive activities focused on two foundational concepts: the difference between needs and wants, and the importance of saving. 

Students participated in a lively grab‑bag game, pulling out everyday items and deciding whether each one was a need or a want—a simple exercise that sparked thoughtful conversations and lots of smiles. To build on the lesson, the group read a children’s book about saving money and talked about what the kids hoped to save for in their own lives. 

Every child received a piggy bank to decorate, transforming the lesson into a hands-on creativity session. As they personalized their banks, the Primis team shared the story of Maggie L. Walker and why teaching children to save has remained such a powerful tradition for more than 100 years. 

After decorating, Primis judges selected three standout designs. The first-place winner received $100, second place received $50 and third place received $25.And to help each child begin a habit that could last a lifetime, Primis sent every child home with a crisp $5 bill to start their savings journey. 

In recognition of the partnership and Heavenly Playhouse’s commitment to local families, Primis also presented the childcare center with a $1,000 gift. 

“Getting out into the communities we serve isn’t just part of our work—it’s something we’re truly proud to do,” Gravely said. “Maggie Walker showed us that financial empowerment can start small. That lesson still holds so much value today, and we’re honored to help children build confidence and smart saving habits early in life.” 

For Primis, supporting young learners isn’t just a moment; it’s a continuation of a legacy rooted in access, empowerment and community. A simple piggy bank may not seem like much, but for many children, it’s the first step toward understanding their own financial future. 

To learn more about Primis community initiatives, visit primisbank.com/community. 

As we head into 2026, many consumers are taking a closer look at how—and where—they bank. With most traditional checking accounts offering little to no interest, choosing an account that helps your money grow can make a real difference over time.

That’s why Primis Premium Checking was recently recognized by Yahoo Finance as one of the best high-yield online checking accounts to start the new year.

Why High-Yield Checking Matters

The national average interest rate for interest-bearing checking accounts remains low, hovering around 0.07% APY, according to the FDIC. But some online banks are changing the equation by offering high-yield checking options that allow customers to earn significantly more—without sacrificing access to their everyday funds.

High-yield checking accounts can help your money work harder while still offering the flexibility you expect from a checking account, including debit card access, bill pay, ATM withdrawals, and direct deposit.

Why Yahoo Finance Recognized Primis Premium Checking

In its list of the 10 Best Online Checking Accounts for January 2026, Yahoo Finance ranked Primis Premium Checking among the top options for its combination of competitive interest, simple requirements, and customer-friendly features.

With Primis Premium Checking, you get:

• A premium annual percentage yield (*APY) with no minimums
• NO overdraft fees, ever
• FREE cashier’s checks and stop payments
• FREE ATM* use—nationwide
• $1 minimum deposit to open account and earn interest
• Early direct deposit, up to two days early.
• Cutting-edge digital account tools

Together, these features create a checking account designed to help customers earn more—without jumping through hoops or paying unnecessary fees.

Designed for Everyday Banking

Primis Premium Checking is built for real life. Whether you’re managing daily expenses, setting aside funds for upcoming goals, or simply want a smarter place to keep your money, this account delivers flexibility, transparency, and strong earning potential.

With no monthly fees and no balance requirements, it’s an account that works just as hard for customers with modest balances as it does for those keeping more in checking.

Start 2026 with a Smarter Checking Account

Recognition from a trusted financial publication like Yahoo Finance reinforces what Primis customers already know: Premium Checking offers a better way to bank.

If you’re ready to earn more on your everyday money —without hidden fees or complicated requirements — Primis Premium Checking is a strong place to start.

Open your Primis Premium Checking account today and start the new year with confidence.

"A tech-first financial institution with all of a big bank’s security and insurance and a tech company’s digital-first, online banking approach."

The Fortune Recommends team independently reviewed all of our online account offerings, praising the high rates, low fees and around-the-clock customer service. Comparing Primis to industry giants like Ally and SoFi, it's easy to see that our account offerings can go head-to-head with anyone.

Read the full review on Fortune's website: CLICK HERE