For Dan Glenn, Pastor of Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, Surety Bank has become much more than the place where the church did its banking. Over the years, the initial banking relationship has grown into a partnership centered around a shared commitment to the community.
That partnership took on new meaning in 2018 when Stetson Baptist Church launched Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom experience for people with special needs held in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Creating an experience like Night to Shine requires significant support, and Surety Bank was one of the event's earliest sponsors.
“Surety was one that came on very early saying, ‘Hey, we want to support that. We want to be a part of it.’”
For Dan, that moment marked a shift in the relationship. It became much more personal and community focused.
Surety continued supporting Night to Shine year after year, but one experience in particular showed Dan what that partnership truly meant.
After the first Night to Shine, Dan realized the church had never properly thanked Surety for its sponsorship. When it came time to plan the event again, he felt hesitant approaching Surety for another year of support.
The response surprised him.
There was no hesitation. Surety wanted to be involved again.
Years later, that commitment went even further when Surety reached out to the church without being asked and offered to increase its support.
“They have an intention to be generous, even when generosity may or may not be expected or requested.”
For Dan, that willingness to look for opportunities to make a greater impact is part of what distinguishes Surety Bank as a community organization.
Instead of simply waiting for someone to present a sponsorship request, Surety has been willing to ask a different question: How can we do more?
That philosophy extends beyond a single event.
Dan describes Surety not simply as a community bank, but as a “community-centered organization” that genuinely cares about DeLand and the relationships it has built throughout the city.
That personal connection is something Dan has experienced firsthand. His relationship with Surety isn't limited to the organization itself. It's also built through relationships with the people behind it.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years, Dan believes that commitment to people and community helps explain why the bank has remained part of DeLand for generations.
Over the past century, both the bank and the city have grown and changed. Yet Surety has continued to serve the community throughout that growth.
For Dan, that's exactly why Surety's 100th anniversary message, “How we've always done it is how we'll always do it,” resonates.
“The way they've always done things has been people centered, relationships centered, community centered.”
Those values create something that goes beyond banking. They create trust. They allow organizations like Stetson Baptist Church to know what to expect from a partner that has consistently shown up before and intends to continue showing up in the future.
After years of partnership, Dan hopes that part of Surety never changes.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
