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Relationships Form the Basis of Our Culture

Dr. Gleb Tsipursky
5 min readNov 5, 2024

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Image credit: Andrea Piacquadio/pexels

In the heart of Oklahoma, First United Bank stands as a beacon of community and connection, extending its reach across Oklahoma and Texas with about a hundred locations and nearly 2,000 employees. With assets amounting to approximately $16 billion, this financial institution is not just about numbers but about nurturing relationships. Melissa Perrin, who has been with First United Bank for two decades, passionately speaks about the importance of workplace culture and the bank’s dedication to its people in her interview with me..

A Commitment to Relationships

Melissa Perrin, who oversees HR, learning and development, marketing, facilities, and communications at First United Bank, emphasizes that relationships form the bedrock of the bank’s culture. “We are a purpose-driven organization centered on the values of faith, family, integrity, high performance, learning, and service. Relationships are a big piece of our business,” Perrin explains. This commitment to relationships is evident in the bank’s approach to community banking, where personal connections with customers are prioritized.

The significance of in-person interactions is a recurring theme in Perrin’s narrative. “We feel like we can build healthy relationships best when we’re in person,” she asserts. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, posed a…

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Dr. Gleb Tsipursky
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky

Written by Dr. Gleb Tsipursky

Expert in #hybridwork #remotework #cognitivebiases. CEO at Disaster Avoidance Experts. Write for Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Inc. Magazine, Time, Forbes.

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