Isn't That Rich Podcast

Pop the champagne and cue the confetti—our Isn’t That Rich podcast just hit 100 episodes! From hilarious marketing experiments to heartfelt community events, 2024 was nothing short of amazing. This milestone calls for a fun and detailed recap of the year, so let’s dive into how we spent 2024 creating memories, building connections, and maybe breaking a few sweatbands along the way. Here’s a closer look at our favorite moments.

Blog: The Backbone of Our Content Empire

We’ve been dreaming of launching a blog for years, and in 2024, we finally made it happen! Imagine a one-stop shop where you can read recaps of every podcast episode, revisit nuggets of wisdom, or quickly grab tips on topics like financial literacy, home buying, and fraud prevention. It wasn’t easy—turns out transcribing and writing 50+ past episodes is a herculean task—but the payoff has been worth every late-night coffee. Not only has it made our podcast more accessible, but it’s also become a powerhouse for helping customers find exactly what they need on our website. Whether you’re navigating mortgages or just want to laugh at our post about beauty expenses, the blog is where it’s at. (P.S. Check it out under the About Us section of our website!)

A Million Pennies for St. Jude: Teamwork at Its Best

What do wagons, enthusiastic kids, and coin wrappers have in common? Our Quest for a Million Pennies for St. Jude fundraiser! This initiative wasn’t just about collecting pennies—it was about uniting schools, families, and communities to make a difference. Spoiler alert: we didn’t just hit a million pennies; we smashed it, raising over $114,000 for St. Jude. Watching parents fiercely defend their kids’ classrooms with actual suitcases of coins was both hilarious and heartwarming. And yes, every penny was rolled by hand. Shoutout to our tellers for surviving this coin-counting marathon!

Herrin Festa Italiana: Cornhole Pros & Movie Fiascos

When it comes to local traditions, nothing beats Herrin Festa Italiana. This year, we proudly sponsored the free entertainment tent, packed with live bands, community events, and, of course, a few Farmers State Bank twists.

Night one? A cornhole (or bags, depending on where you’re from) tournament that drew actual professional players. Who knew people traveled the country for cornhole competitions? We quickly realized this wasn’t your average backyard BBQ—people brought custom bags, knew all the official rules, and played with a precision that left us slack-jawed. The event sold out, and the competition was fierce.

Night two? A movie night under the stars… or so we thought. Picture this: a summer evening, a giant outdoor screen, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Sounds perfect, right? Well, we forgot one crucial detail—sunlight. As the sun refused to set, and the screen remained faintly visible, we laughed through the chaos (while trucks noisily dismantled the festival in the background). Lesson learned: movie nights need darkness.

Despite the hiccups, Herrin Festa was an absolute blast, and we’re already planning how to make next year even better.

Thrillville Suite Giveaways: A Home Run for Summer Fun

Baseball fans, this one’s for you! We took our Thrillville Mountain Dew Park suite and turned it into the ultimate VIP experience for our customers. From employee appreciation nights to family outings, it was packed all season long. Each game brought its own theme, concert, or activity, making it the perfect summer escape. If you haven’t been to a Thrillville game yet, add it to your bucket list—trust us, you won’t regret it.

Fraud Defense Seminars: Protecting Our Community

Fraud is on the rise, and we weren’t about to sit idly by. This year, we hosted three Fraud Defense Seminars in Williamson, Union, and Saline Counties to educate our community on how to spot and prevent scams. These weren’t your average dry seminars, though—we brought the energy with interactive skits, engaging speakers, and even a little humor.

The result? Packed rooms, glowing feedback, and real-life stories of attendees using what they learned to avoid being scammed. Hearing a customer say, “This seminar saved me from falling victim to fraud” made every ounce of effort worthwhile. Mission accomplished!

Glow Bingo & Casino Night: Work Celebrations, Done Right

When it comes to celebrating our team, we don’t hold back. This year’s quarterly work events were nothing short of legendary.

First up, Glow Bingo, complete with neon lights, loud music, and enough glow sticks to light up the entire town of Herrin. Then came Casino Night, where employees played with fake money for real prizes (and we mean good prizes—think Hatch alarm clocks and Ninja ice cream makers). These events weren’t just about fun; they were about recognizing the incredible work our team does all year long. We firmly believe in celebrating the people who make our bank great, and these events are a testament to that.

Run the Pines & Teacher Coffee Morning: Supporting Local Heroes

From cross-country races to fueling educators, we love celebrating the people who make our community great. The Run the Pines event brought together thousands of young athletes for a day of fun, competition, and community spirit. Meanwhile, our Teacher Coffee Morning served 1,200 educators in just 45 minutes. (Yes, it was as wild as it sounds.) Both events reminded us of the power of coming together to make a difference.

Very Merry Igloo Experience: Christmas Magic

Imagine stepping into a cozy igloo, surrounded by twinkling lights, sipping mulled wine with your friends. Sound dreamy? That’s exactly what we created with our Very Merry Marion Igloo Experience. Hosted on the patio of Seasoning’s Bistro, this event sold out in just two days. It wasn’t just about creating a magical holiday experience; it was about giving our community something truly special to remember.

Viral Moments: Making Banking Fun

Who says banking can’t go viral? From a TikTok video about election cycles and the stock market that hit 100,000 views to posts about our rising star Taylor Shanks, we found creative ways to connect with our audience. (Fun fact: Taylor basically breaks the internet every time we post about her. #MayorTaylor) These moments prove that a little creativity and humor go a long way in making finances approachable.

Christmas Caroling & Community Spotlights: Heartfelt Connections

This Christmas, we turned up the holiday cheer with caroling at local assisted living facilities. The smiles, tears, and heartfelt hugs we received made it clear just how much this small gesture meant. We also spotlighted local businesses through video features, helping places like Dapper Dog, Good Life Nutrition, and Cakes by Aly reach new audiences. It’s all about celebrating the incredible people and businesses that make Southern Illinois special.

A Year to Remember

2024 was a year of growth, connection, and community. From breaking records to breaking into song, every project we tackled was driven by our passion for making a difference. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re more excited than ever to keep innovating, connecting, and having a little fun along the way. Here’s to another amazing year—and another 100 episodes!

Be sure to check out our blog for even more behind-the-scenes fun, follow us on social media, and subscribe to our newsletter. Until next time—stay rich, friends! (Figuratively speaking, of course.)