The dividend growth investing strategy involves investing in companies that have increased their dividend payments year after year for many years in a row.  The most dreaded event by dividend growth investors is the dividend cut.  Back in 2008, the financial crisis hurt many dividend growth investors as they were forced to rid their portfolios of many bank stocks.  Banks such as Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo and JP Morgan were forced to cut their dividend payments in an effort to save their own companies.  This event has scared off many dividend investors from the banking industry.

However, there were quite a few banks whose dividends went unaffected during the crisis and in fact continued to rise.   Below you will find a list of 37 bank stocks that have increased their dividend payments annually for at least 10 years in a row.  Dividend growth investors interested in diversifying their portfolios with some exposure to the banking industry should start with this list.

1. Commerce Bancshares (CBSH) 45 years of consecutive dividend growth.
2. United Bankshares (UBSI) 39 years of dividend increases.
3. Community Trust Bancorp (CBTI) 32 years worth of annual dividend raises.
4. Eagle Financial Services (EFSI) Increasing dividends for 26 years in a row.
5. Tompkins Financial Corp (TMP 26 years of dividend increases.
6. 1st Source Corporation (SRCE) 25 years of consecutive dividend growth.
7. First Financial Corporation (THFF) 24 years of annual dividend growth.
8. Juniata Valley Financial Corp. (JUVF) 22 years of consecutive dividend increases.
9. UMB Financial Corp. (UMBF) 21 years of rising dividends.
10. Westamerica Bancorp (WABC) 21 years of dividend growth.
11. Community Bank System (CBU) Increasing dividends for 20 consecutive years.
12. Peoples United Financial (PBCT) 20 years of dividend increases.
13. Arrow Financial Corp. (AROW) 19 years of annual dividend growth.
14. BancFirst Corp. (BANF) 19 years of rising dividends.
15. Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR) 19 years of annual dividend raises.
16. Enterprise Bancorp (EBTC) 19 years of growing dividend rates.
17. Northeast Indiana Bancorp. (NIDB) 18 consecutive years of dividend growth.
18. Southside Bancshares (SBSI) 18 years of dividend increases.
19. First of Long Island Corp. (FLIC) 17 years of rising dividends.
20. Bank of Ozarks ( OZRK) 15 years of annually increasing dividends.
21. CCFNB Bancorp. (CCFN) 15 years of dividend growth.
22. Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (FMCB) 15 years of rising dividend payments.
23. Norwood Financial Corp. (NWFL) 15 years of dividend raises.
24. CCO Investment Services Corp. (CZFS) 14 years of dividend growth.
25. Prosperity Bancshares (PB) 14 years of annually increasing dividends.
26. Republic Bancorp (RBCAA) 14 years of growing dividend rates.
27. Eagle Bancorp Montana (EBMT) 13 years of dividend growth.
28. National Bankshares (NKSH) 13 years of growing dividends.
29. Thomasville Bancshares (THVB) 13 years of increasing dividend payments.
30. Auburn National Bancorporation (AUBN) 12 years of dividend increases.
31. First Keystone Corp. (FKYS) 12 years of annually increasing dividends.
32. First Robinson Financial Corp. (FRFC) 12 years of growing dividends.
33. Landmark Bancorp (LARK) 12 years of raising dividend payments.
34. Muncy Bank Financial (MYBF) 12 years of dividend growth.
35. Minden Bancorp (MDNB) 11 years of growing dividends.
36. Teche Holding Co. (TSH) 11 years of dividend increases.
37. Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB) 10 years of increasing dividend payments.

Dividend growth investors wanting some banking exposure may do well combing through this list of banking stocks that have increased their dividends for at least 10 years in a row.  These arent your big national banks that got in trouble during the financial crisis.  These are smaller local regional bank holding companies that continued doing what they do best which is the normal banking operations of savings and loans.  They continued to serve their customers and increase dividend payments to shareholders right on through the financial crisis.  Dividend growth investors may want to check some of them out.

What do you think?  Are you scared off from banking stocks?  Are you interested in any of these companies or possibly some of the fallen heroes such as Wells Fargo, J.P. Morgan or U.S. Bank?

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