You are leaving the nbkc bank website and will be linked to an external website
You are about to link to an external website. nbkc bank is not responsible for the availability of content and does not represent either the linked website or you, should you enter into a transaction. We encourage you to review the privacy and security policies for any hyperlinked site which may differ from nbkc bank.
By nbkc bank | 09/28/2026
This summer of 2026, while Kansas City hosted matches during the biggest international soccer event ever to land in the city, nbkc bank ran a poll: of everything the city could show the world, what did people most want to show off?
The most common response: our Midwest hospitality.
It got us thinking; how does that kind of hospitality show up in different parts of life? Say, in the way a bank treats you?
For a lot of people, “hospitality” and “banking” are not two words you’d associate. The typical experience is more corporate (and even robotic).
You call a bank, you get a menu of numbers. You ask a question, you get a script from a bot. You're a ten-digit account number before you're a person.
But that's not a universal truth about banking. It's just what tends to happen once a bank gets big enough that “personal” stops being practical.
Which raises the actual question this post is here to answer: if you're looking for an alternative to a big bank — one that sees you as more than a number and truly cares about you — what should hospitality look like in banking?
How We Show Midwest Hospitality in Banking
We're headquartered right here in Kansas City, which meant we had a personal stake in how the city showed up the summer of 2026. Through Community Ambassador Graham Zusi, we got involved with soccer in Kansas City. Everything from foosball tournaments, to 3v3 soccer, to a Zusi AMA on r/MLS - we loved the way KC showed up.
But hospitality isn't seasonal for us, and it's not an every four year talking point. It's how we've built our way of doing business to stand out in the banking industry.
Here's what that looks like day to day. When you call nbkc, you talk to a real person - not a bot, and not a script that reads like one. Whether you're opening your first checking account, refinancing a home, or moving your business's banking over for the first time, there's a banker on the other end who's there to actually help you and get to know you.
“We switched to nbkc after banking with the same bank for 15 years. The whole process of not only switching personal but also my small business to a new bank was a bit overwhelming to say the least. But everyone at nbkc made the process much easier. I am so thankful!”
- Debbie’s Animal Haven
This is a story we hear a lot. You’ve been with the same bank for a long time, but there’s no relationship or personal care. So you start looking for a big bank alternative - one that can compete with the best on business banking solutions, while also giving you the customer experience you deserve. That’s how we live out Midwest hospitality in banking.
What Does “Midwest Hospitality” Look Like in Kansas City Business?
We didn't want to just tell you what Midwest hospitality means to us. So we asked a handful of Kansas City business owners who bank with nbkc what it actually looks like from where they stand.
“To me, Midwest hospitality means treating every customer who walks through our doors like family,” said Jasper Mirabile, from Jasper’s Italian Restaurant.
“That sense of hospitality comes from my family and from Kansas City. We have generations and generations of customers who have grown up coming to Jasper’s and now bring their children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. That is something I’m incredibly proud of. When people come to Jasper’s, we want them to feel recognized, welcomed and cared for, whether it’s their first visit or they’ve been coming for 50 years.
How Did Kansas City Show the World Its Hospitality This Summer of 2026?
We also asked those same business owners a more pointed question: with the whole world watching Kansas City this summer, how do they think the city did?
“I believe KC did an excellent job of showing the world who we are,” said Janez Lomshek, from Talk of the Town.
“We aren’t just fly-over country. This was noted in surveys that KC was one of the top host cities. From the Fan Feast to the actual matches it was an amazing vibe. Our Midwest Hospitality shined!”
nbkc bank had its own seat for the run-up to the tournament, too. Community Ambassador Graham Zusi helped bring some of that same championship mindset to Kansas City businesses and residents ahead of the matches.
Why Local Businesses Choose to Bank With Companies That Share Their Values
Hospitality tends to recognize itself. It's part of why so many Kansas City businesses that hold these values end up banking with companies that hold them too.
“My favorite part of working with nbkc as our business bank is the way they treat us like family from the moment we walk through the door,” said Jasper Mirabile.
“There is always a smile, a warm welcome and a genuine feeling that they know us and care about our business. They have been extremely supportive of our restaurant, and at the same time, they are very efficient and professional in everything they do. We have built a wonderful relationship with nbkc, and we are very grateful to have a banking partner that truly understands and supports our family business.”
We think it’s fair to say: That’s not very normal in banking. And that’s on purpose. From the start, nbkc was built to be bank that operates different, that really cares about you, and always offers real human support.
“I have been with NBKC for over 15 years, and I can tell you they embrace Midwest Hospitality,” said Janez Lomshek. “They help me with whatever banking needs I have or point me in the right direction. nbkc has helped my business grow through the years.”
What to Look for in a Big Bank Alternative
If “Midwest hospitality” has convinced you of anything, it's probably this: hospitality and banking don't have to be strangers. Here's what to actually check for if you're weighing an alternative to a big bank:
Can you get a real person on the phone? Not eventually, but as the default?
Does the bank know your name, or just your account number?
Are the rates and fees competitive, or are you paying for the size of the bank?
Is the bank actually rooted somewhere, or is “community” just a word on the About page?
nbkc checks those boxes because we believe that’s a better way to bank. Whether you're opening your first account or moving your business over for good, you'll work with people who embody Midwest hospitality every day.