07.18.2024 | First Farmers Financial Corp.
First Farmers Bank & Trust to Open First Branch in Lebanon, Indiana
“Lebanon is growing and thriving, so we saw a real need for a local, trusted community bank in the area. We look forward to fostering longstanding relationships with new and current customers alike, while serving the community through our continued commitment to heart and grit banking,” said Rick Isenhower, Vice President, Senior Commercial and Ag Lender. Rick is also on the Board of Directors for the Boone County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and its former president.
The new branch will be located inside of the Lebanon Gateway Shops complex at the intersection of State Road 32 and I-65. The full retail center totals nearly 25 acres and opened in 2021 with a variety of storefronts. The architect of the bank branch, K4 Architecture, is also the same architect designing the new First Farmers Bank & Trust branch opening in Carmel, Indiana later this year.
“Expanding our newest bank branch into Lebanon and the surrounding Boone County area was an easy choice for our team,” said Mark “Doc” Holt, President and CEO. “We are eager for this new opportunity to provide our services to local Lebanon customers – as well as those in Montgomery and Hendricks County – while remaining true to our agricultural roots as a community bank.”
First Farmers Bank & Trust expects to open its Lebanon branch in late Q4 2024. It will be the bank’s 38th location across Indiana and Eastern Illinois.
“Lebanon and the surrounding area fall directly in line with our goal and strategic vision of growing the bank,” said Tade Powell, Senior Vice President and Director of Communications and Public Relations. “We recognize the massive economic development underway across Central Indiana and being a part of this growth is very exciting as 2025 will mark our 140th year in business.”
First Farmers Bank & Trust has been growing rapidly this past year. Recently, the bank’s first quarter dividend of $0.48 represented a 4.3% increase over the dividend declared in March 2023. In 2023, earnings per share increased 11.8% to a record $6.57 per share, the sixteenth consecutive year of record earnings for the bank. Overall in 2023, the Bank saw continued asset growth as its assets surpassed the $3 billion mark for the first time.
To learn more about First Farmers Bank & Trust, visit www.ffbt.com or find First Farmers on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
About First Farmers Bank & Trust | First Farmers Financial Corp.
First Farmers Financial Corp. is a $3 billion financial holding company headquartered in Converse, Indiana. First Farmers Bank & Trust has offices throughout Carroll, Cass, Clay, Grant, Hamilton, Howard, Huntington, Madison, Marshall, Miami, Starke, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vigo and Wabash counties in Indiana and offices in Coles, Edgar, and Vermilion counties in Illinois. Since 1885, First Farmers Bank & Trust has been honored to serve local businesses, families and farms with banking built on heart and grit. First Farmers Financial Corp is traded on the OTC Markets Group, Inc. "OTCQX" exchange under the ticker symbol: FFMR. Member FDIC.