Harrington marks 40 years at local bank

LAUREL — A Laurel woman is celebrating a monumental work anniversary.

Karen Harrington began her career Aug. 22, 1983, at Security National Bank and is now celebrating 40 years of service with the local branch.

Harrington currently serves as a vice president in the Laurel office.

She entered her banking career as a teller. She continuously progressed through the bank to her current position, which includes managing the daily deposit operations for all five bank locations. Her banking knowledge and ability to problem-solve has earned her the respect of the bank, her co-workers and customers.

She is a true asset to the bank and the community, said Security Bank President/ CEO Keith Knudsen.

“Karen has been a vital member of our Security Bank team and the Laurel community throughout the years,” he said. “We wish Karen a very happy 40th work anniversary and continued future success with Security Bank.”

Harrington has been an active member of the Laurel community throughout her years at the bank. She served 12 years as a Laurel City Council member and 12 years as a Laurel EMT.

Her devotion to this community didn’t stop there.

She served as a Laurel Chamber Community Club officer, volunteered her time as the Laurel Q125 finance chairman and was a member of the Laurel Community Center fundraising and design committees.

She has been in banking long enough to have seen massive changes within the bank and banking industry. She was an integral part in implementing the Fiserv core platform in 1985 and assisted in the merger of accounts of Osmond State Bank in 1998, along with computer and account conversion for the Coleridge National Bank merger in 2005.

In 2012, Harrington helped navigate the name change from Security National Bank to Security Bank. She says of all of her years in banking, the most revolutionary change has been consumers receiving real-time information on their accounts electronically. Also, the paperwork, much less actual paperwork, makes her recycling heart happy. Harrington says she’s most thankful for the great friendships she has formed with co-workers and customers.

She appreciates the bank’s treatment of employees as family, not only caring about their families, but also allowing time away for family needs and their children’s activities.