Multiple companies with ties to Bowling Green were rated among the Best Places to Work in Kentucky, announced by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management.

Brokerage firm Edward Jones, with multiple locations throughout the area ranked No. 1 in large size companies, those with 500 or more employees. Hilliard Lyons, which has major offices in Bowling Green, ranked No. 12.

Independence Bank, with multiple locations in Bowling Green, received the No. 4 spot in the midsize category for companies of 150-499 employees.

Van Meter Insurance Group, with an office in Bowling Green, was No. 5 and Hosparus, with an office in Bowling Green, was No. 15. PBI Bank, with branches in Bowling Green, was No. 31.

In the small business category (under 150) Bowling Green-based Connected Nation was No. 25.

The selection process, managed by Best Companies Group, is based on an assessment of the company’s employee policies and procedures accounting for 25 percent of the total score. The other 75 percent comes from the results of an internal employee survey.

The competition is a multi-year initiative designed to motivate companies in Kentucky to focus, measure and move their workplace environments toward excellence. This year the program set new records by celebrating 100 winners for the first time in its history.

“Our goal is to provide everyday excellence not only for our customers and communities, but to our employees as well,” Independence Bank President Brad Howard said in a press release. “That is truly where it begins. We have the best individuals that not only work extremely hard to exceed our customers’ expectations, but have fun doing it. Walk into any one of our locations and you will experience a family atmosphere rather than a corporate environment. We are very fortunate to be recognized as having such a great place to have fun!”

This is the eighth year that Independence Bank has been a finalist in the Best Places to Work in Kentucky program. Independence Bank was also named one of the Best Banks to Work For in the nation, according to the American Banker’s Association in 2015, finishing first in the state and 14th in the nation.