First Farmers Bank & Trust (FFBT) recently announced plans to establish its first branch office in Grant County with a commitment for an Executive Branch Office at 828 North Baldwin Avenue in Marion, which is expected to open by the first quarter of 2009. The branch office, which will be located in the Baldwin Place retail development, is the second FFBT office to be a non-traditional retail space rather than a stand-alone facility.
“The Executive Branch Office model is one that has worked very well for us in Huntington and allows us to be operational in Grant County in a very short period of time,” say Michael Belcher, Vice President and Commercial Accounts Officer. “Traditional stand-alone buildings can be excellent facilities but the central point of establishing a presence in a market is to provide what best suits the community in both the short and long term. This operation gives us an immediate presence and allows time to establish a more comprehensive plan for future operations in the area,” he added.
“Marion and Grant County have been on our radar for the better part of 20 years,” says Gene Miles “But you always want to make sure you have the best personnel and product delivery in place before you start entering a new market.”
“With our corporate offices in nearby Converse, we’re confident we can provide a community banking model for the area that clients will appreciate. This community is very loyal and respects organizations that place a high value on customer service. We feel that our style of operation fits well in that area, and we’re fortunate to have people working for us that are dedicated to the local community,” adds Miles.
