Beecher, IL (April 1, 2020)—In honor of ICBA Community Banking Month in April, First Community Bank and Trust and the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) are shining a spotlight on community banks’ role in fostering economic prosperity and meeting the needs of consumers and local communities through expansion and innovation.

“As a local small business invested in building a legacy of prosperity for our customers, First Community Bank and Trust invites our local residents to give us a call and see how we can help them on their journey to financial independence as part of our mission to create stronger, more vibrant communities—one loan at a time,” says Greg Ohlendorf, President and CEO of First Community Bank and Trust

Community banks take in local deposits and redistribute them back into the community—making more than 60 percent of small-business loans and more than 80 percent of agriculture loans. They also contribute tax dollars that help maintain local municipalities and keep local neighborhoods viable and vibrant because serving the best interests of their customers is fundamental to their business philosophy. Community banks: 

• Are robust lenders with loan growth that has outpaced non-community banks for the past seven years.
•  Demonstrate safety and soundness with higher capital ratios and better loan quality than the largest institutions.
• Offer high-touch, high-tech service. This gives consumers access to modern-day conveniences while maintaining the high-quality customer service for which community banks are known. 
• Have a strong underserved presence and focus a relatively large share of their resources in low- and moderate-income tracts.
• Understand and embrace local businesses. Small businesses that apply for loans with community banks are the most successful and most satisfied, according to a study from the 12 Federal Reserve Banks.
• Give back to their communities. Civic service is second nature to community banks as reflected in ICBA’s National Community Bank Service Awards. 

“Local market knowledge, relationship-based lending, and civic-minded service are community banking hallmarks and the cornerstone to our industry’s success and longevity,” ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said. “ICBA is proud to represent community banks nationwide and support their efforts to build better communities through a strengthened local economy.” 

For more facts about community banks, click here. Follow the ICBA Community Banking Month conversation on social media with the #BankLocally hashtag.

About First Community Bank and Trust
First Community Bank and Trust is a privately-owned bank. Established in 1916 First Community Bank and Trust has been serving Beecher, IL, Peotone, IL and the surrounding communities for over 100 years. Our commitment to providing the best banking products and services is matched only by our outstanding customer service. We offer traditional community banking services, including mortgage, consumer, and commercial lending, as well as state of the art electronic banking services.
 

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America® creates and promotes an environment where community banks flourish. With more than 50,000 locations nationwide, community banks constitute 99 percent of all banks, employ nearly 750,000 Americans and are the only physical banking presence in one in three U.S. counties. Holding more than $5 trillion in assets, nearly $4 trillion in deposits, and more than $3.4 trillion in loans to consumers, small businesses and the agricultural community, community banks channel local deposits into the Main Streets and neighborhoods they serve, spurring job creation, fostering innovation and fueling their customers’ dreams in communities throughout America. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at www.icba.org.

Press Contact:
Bridget Goedke, Marketing Assistant
First Community Bank and Trust
(708) 946-2246 • bgoedke@firstcbt.com