Serving, giving back to area: Synergy Bank lives up to namesake 15 years running

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Formed in 1998 by a group of business leaders who shared a common vision of a new type of financial institution for the Bayou Region, Synergy Bank celebrates local values with a true sense of local identity.

Now 15 years and five locations later, Synergy has continued its commitment to the growth and prosperity of the area’s community and citizens.


“South Louisiana is rich in its diversity, warm in its compassion, grounded in its history and alive with the promise of its future. Synergy is proud to be part of this vibrant and dynamic community,” said Synergy Bank President and CEO Jerry Ledet.

Providing its customers with innovative financial products and services such as upgraded online banking services including a mobile app where customers can view transitions, pay their bills or pay person-to-person with PopMoney and even deposit a check through a mobile deposit service, Synergy gives its customers what they’re looking for in the digital age all the while taking a personal approach to serving personal and business accounts.

“At Synergy Bank, you will find a group of people and a corporate philosophy firmly committed to customer service,” Ledet said. “You will find seasoned banking professionals. You’ll find a host of innovating financial products and services tailored to the needs of our customers.”


But Ledet said just providing customers with great financial products and services aren’t enough. On top of listening to customers and getting to know their needs, Synergy prides itself on being a positive part of the community that it serves. After all, that is what its namesake means.

“The word ‘Synergy’ means two parts working together to produced a combined effect greater than each part would make on its own,” Ledet explained. “The two parts in our namesake are us as a bank and the community. It is only together that we can make a difference in our areas. We believe in giving back to the communities we serve.”

With more than 100 employees donating “countless” hours at events such as the Semi-Annual Southdown Marketplace Arts and Crafts Festival, the Lady Bug Ball, Kids Day and Bayou Country Children Museum’s Night at the Boo-seum, Best of the Bayou Festival, Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence 5K Run, Rougarou Festival and many other events, if there’s fun to be had in the Bayou Region, Synergy Bank will probably be there. Synergy is a local sponsor of Lemonade Day, a platform for young entrepreneurs to showcase their lemonade stands and drinks while learning to run a business, and the bank also sponsors several small local events such as 5Ks and high school sports teams.


Using its mascot, Penny D. Pelican, Synergy Bank can connect to children on a fun and laid-back level both in person through appearances at local events and schools as well as in print as a part of three bank publications: a coloring book, an illustrated children’s book and the Penny Newsletter, a semi-annual newsletter that focuses on financial literacy, money facts and includes games.

“Penny D. Pelican was born in 2005. She helps us encourage young people to save and teach financial literacy,” said the president and CEO. “Each month, we go to five different elementary schools to teach children lessons on money and the importance of saving. We bring Penny at the beginning of each year to get the students excited about what they are going to learn throughout the year and the kids love her. We also bring Penny to the local events geared towards children, such as Night at the Boo-seum, Kids Day and the Ladybug Ball, so other children have the opportunity to meet her as well.”

For residents at the other end of the age spectrum, Synergy Bank’s 50+ Club invites customers 50 years of age and older to participate in events such as trips to the Saenger Theatre, plantations and museums as well as local events like crawfish boils and the Ring in the Holidays event.


In 2014, Synergy donated $25,000 to the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government Department of Housing and Human Services program to provide wheelchair ramps and grab bars to several low-income residents, and with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas Partnership Grant program, it donated $17,000 to Home Extreme, a non-profit in Houma dedicated to helping at-risk youth break the cycle of poverty, violence and crime.

“Our motto is ‘Your Bank. Our Community. Stronger Together’ and we truly believe that together we can help each other grow and prosper,” Ledet said.

Visit Synergy Bank in Houma at 210 Synergy Center Blvd., 1036 West Tunnel Blvd., 919 Grand Caillou Road., in Gray at 3855 West Park Ave. or in Thibodaux at 209 East Bayou Road.


Fifteen years after its grand opening ribbon cutting, Synergy Bank is going strong with five locations in the Bayou Region. The bank touts that it treats its customers fairly, which has allowed the bank to grow in its existence. 

 

COURTESY PHOTO