FFB&T Newsroom

New Huntington Branch to Open January 10th!

The Huntington branch of First Farmers Bank & Trust will be moving this weekend to its new branch location at 244 Hauenstein Rd. It is located behind the current branch and will be open for business on Monday morning.

Please note:  The old branch will be closed on Friday, January 7th to allow for our operations to switch to the new branch. If you need to make a trip to FFBT on Friday, we have a branch nearby in Wabash.  For a list of our locations and branch hours, please visit www.ffbt.com.

Thank you for your patience as we get up and running this weekend.

Greentown and Kokomo Central Participate in 2010 We Care Trim-a-Tree Festival

In November each year, We Care hosts the Trim-a-Tree Festival in the Kokomo Mall.  Groups, clubs, and businesses have an opportunity to decorate trees and wreaths that will be on display for viewer's to vote on and later are auctioned off, with proceeds going We Care.

This year, both the Greentown and Kokomo Central branch of First Farmers Bank & Trust decorated a wreath for auction.  They are now on display at the Kokomo Mall and the auction will take place on November 14th at 4:45pm.  Be sure to stop by the mall and vote for your favorites!

In addition, Greentown decorated another wreath which will be auctioned off for the Greentown Volunteer Fire Department.  Proceeds from this auction will go to The Buddy Bag Program at Eastern School Corporation.

Below are the We Care wreaths.

Greentown's Wreath, 'Angels Among Us'

Kokomo Central's Wreath

Celebration of Light at the Wabash County Courthouse Coming Soon!

This year's Celebration of Light, presented by First Farmers Bank & Trust, will take place on November 19, 2010 at the Wabash County Courthouse on the North Steps.  The event starts at 6:00pm and the following schedule has been announced:

6:00pm-Welcome by Emcee, Jennifer McConahay and a performance by the St. Bernard's Children's Choir

6:08pm-Brian Haupert's Holiday Message

6:13pm-Local Community Representatives light candles of attendees 

6:18pm-Courthouse Christmas Lights turn on

6:20pm-Santa Claus arrives to meet with children

6:25pm-Santa leaves the Courthouse via Wabash Transit Bus.  Attendees are invited to ride along with him to Modoc's where children can take a free photo and talk to Santa

The photo can be picked up at First Farmers Bank & Trust's Wabash location on or after Tuesday, November 23rd.

We enjoy presenting this ceremony to the community each year and hope you will be able to attend this year's Celebration of Light!

Employees' Photography Featured in Clark Gallery

The Honeywell Center in Wabash, IN accepted local photography on October 4th and 5th for their current exhibit: Photography Show.  This exhibit will be featured in the Clark Gallery, which is located in the main lobby of the Honeywell Center, from October 14-November 14.  There were three categories that entrants could submit work for: black and white, color, and altered.  Once the photographs were submitted for the show, a committee came through and gave awards for Best in Show as well as the best photos from each category.

Commercial Account Officer Michael Belcher and Teller Susan Reynolds, both employees at FFBT, entered photos into the show and their pieces were accepted!  Michael submitted two photos, one in the color category and one in the altered category, which won first place and was entitled Tranquility.  Susan entered one piece in the Altered category entitled The Alley.

It seems, though, that Michael isn't the only one in his family that has an eye for photos: his daughter, Lauren, also submitted two pieces into the color category, entitled JELLYFISHing I and JELLYFISHing II.  The first photo won Honorable Mention.

Both Michael's and Lauren's photographs are available for sale and can be purchased at the Honeywell Center Box Office from  8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday.  Admission is free.

If you like photography, take some time in the next two weeks to see the local talent's photography at the Honeywell Center!  Michael, Susan, and Lauren's photos are shown below.

Michael Belcher's piece, Tranquility, which won 1st place in the Altered Category.

Michael Belcher's entry in the Color Category, The Ox Cart.

Susan Reynolds' piece, The Alley.

Lauren Belcher's Honorable Mention Entry in the Color Category, JELLYFISHing I.

Lauren's other piece, JELLYFISHing II.

125th Celebration Branch Activities

As promised, here's a list of some of the activities that are happening at our branches October 4-8.  For more information, please visit your local FFBT branch and ask them! :)

In Greentown, stop by during the week for your chance to win Colts tickets!  That's right!  No purchase necessary...just stop in the branch sometime during the week and sign up.  The drawing will be held on Friday.  They'll also be having Colt's themed snacks and a cornhole tournament on Thursday.  By playing, you'll have a chance to win some great prizes!

At Kokomo Central (on the corner of Lincoln and Webster), you'll have a chance to sign up all week for a $125 giveaway, which will take place on Thursday as well as other non-monetary prizes. 

In Amboy, stop by all week to see the museum that they've put together.  You'll be surprised at some of the historical pieces they've been able to collect.  While you're looking, answer the trivia questions they provide and if you get them right, you'll be entered to win a prize!  They'll also have daily door prize drawings, and on Friday at 5:00pm, they'll have a drawing for a $125 cash prize! 

In Galveston, stop by on Thursday to get your car windows cleaned while taking care of your banking business!  They'll also have breakfast in the morning and lunch in the afternoon while it lasts!

In Logansport, Elwood, Kokomo South, and Russiaville, stop by throughout the week for your chance to win gift cards from local businesses and other prizes! 

At Kokomo North (on US 31 N), stop by throughout the week for Dirty Dan's donuts in the morning and on Thursday for cake! 

At Tipton, stop by on Thursday for breakfast in the morning and lunch in the afternoon.  They'll also have drawings throughout the day.

In North Judson, stop by daily for snacks and door prizes and on Thursday, stop by from 11-2 for hot dogs!  On Friday, they'll be raffling off a Fall Helper basket!

In Wabash, stop by on Thursday or in Sheridan and Kokomo South (on US 31 S), stop by on Friday afternoon and have lunch with us! They'll be grilling hot dogs.

Finally, in Converse, stop by on Thursday and see how bankers in the 1800s dressed for work.  They'll also be serving cake and punch on Thursday and a piano player will be playing songs throughout the day.

These are just a few of the activities happening throughout the week. We look forward to seeing you at our 125th Anniversary Celebration this year!

Amboy Fall Festival a Success!

 First Farmers Bank & Trust's Amboy branch puts a lot of effort into the Amboy Fall Festival each year.  This year, they chose to go a different route by partnering with the K-ID's BMV Program to offer free ID card to kids.  Overall, they had approximately 100 kids sign up for an ID card and were busy for the entire 3 hours that the BMV Program was there. 

First Farmers also participated in the parade, the dunk tank, and helped out at the car show.  The parade started on Saturday morning and had 36 entries.  The Parade Marshal this year was Kori Brown, from the IROK Foundation.  This year's car show, the 3rd annual, was a huge success-with more entries than they've had in the past two years.  Pam Camden, branch manager of the Amboy branch, watched her granddaughters, Braeleigh, Mariah, and Katy Jo participate in the Little Miss Amboy contest in each age group.  Mariah won in the 5-7 year old age group.  Melody Ringeisen, FFBT employee from Amboy, participated in the dunk tank.

In addition to these activities, First Farmers and Norris Insurance put on a contest between the two to see who could raise the most money from a quilt raffle.  Norris Insurance just edged out FFBT by around $30, but together, they raised almost $1200 for the American Cancer Society.  After the fair, the quilt was raffled off and the winner was Sharon Etchison, Owner of Sharon's Beauty Salon. She is pictured below with Cathy Stewart who created the quilt. 

First Farmers Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Branch in Huntington

Pictured from left: Russ Felderman, John Hacker, Keith Eller, Erv Ebersole, Steve Kimmel, David Eikenberry, Steve Updike, Kathy Jones, Dan Eads, Shari Spahr, Doug Wilcox, Mark Wolf, Joe Blomeke, Jeff Souder, Mark Wickersham
 

First Farmers Bank & Trust held a public ground breaking ceremony for their newest location in Huntington at 244 Hauenstein Road at 9:00 a.m. today.  The Huntington County Chamber of Commerce, Huntington County United Economic Development Council, First Farmers Bank & Trust staff and officers, Felderman Design Build employees, the Huntington Mayor Steve Updike, City Council members, and others were present at the ceremony.

The branch location is scheduled to be completed during the first quarter of 2011 and is being constructed by Felderman Design Build from Ft. Wayne.  The building will be approximately 2,600 square feet with two drive-up lanes, an ATM, and will house five to six employees.  Similar to the other First Farmers locations, the newly constructed Huntington office will offer full service banking for Huntington area residents.

“We’re excited to be able to offer new FFBT services to our customers and Huntington residents.  We hope it shows that we plan to become a bigger part of this community,” states Mark Wolf, Senior Vice President.

More pictures will be added soon.  Check back in the next few months to see the progress on the new building in our photo albums.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: First Farmers Bank & Trust Announces 125th Anniversary Celebration

First Farmers Bank & Trust announces a 125th Anniversary celebration at all bank locations during the week of Oct 4th through October 8th, 2010.  Branch office events will feature customer gifts, giveaways, themed contests, and refreshments. The week will be highlighted by a customer appreciation day on Thursday, October 7th.   Founded in 1885, First Farmers Bank & Trust is a community bank based in Converse , IN with 20 locations in Northern and Central Indiana and over $800 million in assets.  Visit the newsroom later this month to find out some specifics of what each branch is doing.

Amboy Branch to Sponsor K-ID's BMV Program at This Year's Amboy Festival

Every 40 seconds a child goes missing in the United States. Fortunately, you can help reduce your child’s risk, and First Farmers Bank & Trust can help.

Join us Saturday , September 18th  at Community  Park  for the Amboy Fall Festival where K-ID’s BMV will provide parents with free identification cards for children. 

“K-ID’s BMV is dedicated to promoting awareness to better equip parents for a quicker response if their child is abducted or missing,” explained Wendy Runyon-Ricker, founder of K-ID’s BMV and mother of four. “The Child ID Cards include a photo, height, weight and digital fingerprint and are free of charge.”

Here are six abduction safety tips that Runyon-Ricker recommends:

• Give your child a whistle to wear around his or her neck when outdoors.
• Role-play with your child. Perform out different scenarios where your child may encounter a stranger and teach them how to react.
• Teach your child his or her full name, address and phone number.
• Instruct your child not only to scream when something is wrong, but to scream what is wrong, such as, “This is not my mom or dad.”
• Teach your child that, if grabbed by a stranger, he or she should 1. “Grip the stranger” 2. “Dip to the ground” 3. “Spin and hold on.”
• Update your child’s identification annually.

First Farmers Bank & Trust will be assisting the K-ID's BMV Program from 12:00-3:00pm on Saturday.  Bring your children and get them this free ID.  It's a great opportunity to keep your children prepared and safe.  The Amboy Fall Festival will also have vendors, food, games, a car show, and many other activities, so make plans to attend this year's Amboy Fall Festival!

For more information about K-ID’s BMV, visit their Web site at www.kidsbmv.com.

August Events and News

Just like June and July, August was a busy month for the branches at First Farmers.  Here are just a few of the things we were doing!

FFBT Places 4th in Miami County Corporate Challenge!

In August, several employees at First Farmers participated in the YMCA's Corporate Challenge.  In the golf event, Paul Maish, Ken Perkins, Kent Glassburn, and Mark Jones teamed up to earn 3rd place!  In the fishing event, Pam Camden and her family placed 2nd, catching 38 fish!  In the bowling challenge, we had two teams.  Team 1 included Amy Million and her husband Greg, Paul Maish, and Jordan Foland.  Team 2 included Amanda Frey and her husband Zach, and Kris Heirs and her husband Justin.  They scored 3rd and 6th.  Amy Million and Amanda Frey participate in the run and finished 2nd and 3rd with a time of 14:21 and 14:22.  In the cornhole event, Amy Million and Dick Schaffhausen teamed up to earn 5th place.  In the bike ride and the walk, we had 52 employees complete the task, giving the FFBT team a point for each person.  Overall, FFBT earned 200 points, landing them in 4th place.  Here are the official standings:

1) Peru Utilities

2) Orion Safety Products

3) Western Reman

4) FFBT

5) Doane Keyes & Associates

6) American Stationary

Congratulations to all who participated in the challenge!

Greentown Attends Annual Eastern School Corporation Benefits Fair

As in years past, Joyce Flick and Jodi Cecil attended the annual Eastern Benefits Fair.  This fair is held by the school corporation and local businesses are invited to share information with teachers that may be new to the area or looking for great deals.  This year, FFBT decided to hold a drawing.  Throughout the school day, the office drew tickets and the teachers with the winning ticket numbers were able to take home a prize.  FFBT enjoys attending this event each year because they are able to meet with teachers one on one and talk about banking with FFBT or banking in general.  They appreciate the willingness of Eastern's School Corporation to invite them in order to help the teachers in the Greentown community.

Converse Homecoming Days a Success

For the past few weeks, the Converse branch of First Farmers had been planning their float to correspond with this year's "Under the Big Top" parade.  Lori Wilson, Becky Campbell, Carrie Minns, and Patty Garvin stayed up late the night before the parade to finish decorating their float.  Their work paid off as they were awarded best float in the parade!  During the parade, they passed out pencils and candy to the kids on the sides and passed out popcorn after the parade.  For pictures of the event, please see our "Converse Homecoming Days" album on our Facebook Business Page.