Bank of Farmington Enhances the Customer Experience with NEW ITM Machine in West Peoria

August 13, 2024 – The Bank of Farmington is thrilled to announce the installation of its latest Interactive Teller Machine (ITM) at 2514 W Rohmann Ave, West Peoria, IL, effective August 2024. This new addition reflects the bank’s ongoing commitment to providing cutting-edge banking solutions and exceptional customer service.

The newly installed ITM represents a significant advancement in banking technology, offering customers an enhanced, user-friendly experience with extended service hours. The machine combines the convenience of an ATM with the personal touch of live teller assistance. Customers can perform a wide range of transactions, including deposits, withdrawals, and account inquiries, all with the option to connect in real-time with a live teller for personalized assistance.

“Installing this ITM is part of our broader strategy to make banking more accessible and convenient for our customers,” said Danielle Nelson, Vice President of Operations at the Bank of Farmington. “We understand the importance of adapting to our customers’ needs and are excited to offer this innovative technology to the West Peoria community. This machine is designed to make banking simpler and more efficient while maintaining the personal touch that our customers value.”

The ITM Live Bankers are operational during extended hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., beyond traditional banking times, providing greater flexibility for customers managing their schedules. It is equipped with the latest security features to ensure that all transactions are safe and secure.

The Bank of Farmington remains dedicated to leveraging technological advancements to enhance the banking experience. The addition of this ITM is a testament to the bank’s ongoing efforts to innovate and meet the evolving needs of its customers.

Scholarship Contest Winner Awarded to Local Student

The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) Foundation for Community Banking has selected its 2023 Annual Scholarship Program winners. Now in its 36th year, the program offers $21,000 to 23 high school seniors via an essay‑writing contest; $500 is also awarded to the first‑place winner's high school. This year, 79 CBAI member banks representing 205 students statewide, participated in the contest.

Bank of Farmington/Integrity Community Bank is very pleased to announce that Graham Wight of Williamsfield, IL has been named the first-place winner for group 5; the bank sponsored Wight for the contest. He has been awarded a one-time $1,000 to be used for higher education beginning next fall.

Congratulations Graham!!!

A Message from our President 

Recent news surrounding  Silicon Valley Bank and other large financial institutions has many individuals questioning the financial strength of the institutions they do business with.  Be assured that by doing business with Bank of Farmington, you are doing business with a conservative, strong, and well-capitalized community bank.

Bank of Farmington has navigated market downturns, recessions, the recent pandemic, and other external challenges. We have a 120-year history of professionally managing various risks to ensure that we remain well-positioned to continue serving you, our customer, no matter the economic headwind or headline.

Joseph L. Higgs, President

Congratulations 2023 Williamsfield Scholarship Winners 

We are excited to announce that Graham Wight is our 1st place winner, and Carolyn German is our 2nd place winner in our 2023 Integrity Community Bank Scholarship Program. Graham and Carolyn are both Williamsfield High School Seniors. We wish you both the BEST OF LUCK in College!! CONGRATULATIONS to you both!!

Bring in the New Year with our New Drive Thru!

Join us on Friday, January 13th at our Farmington Branch to see our NEW & IMPROVED Drive-Up and our ITM Demo!

Stop in for:

     - Live ITM Demo
     - View our NEW & IMPROVED Drive-Up
     - Visit with our Staff
     - Enjoy Refreshments, Prizes, and Giveways!

We'd love to see you Friday!!

Construction in our Farmington Branch Begins
Thursday, September 15th

The Farmington Branch is getting a NEW & IMPROVED Drive-Up area!!!  Construction will begin on Thursday, September 15th.  During construction, the drive-up will be closed. 

Please:

     - Visit us in the Lobby
     - Visit us in one of our other locations
     - Use the Bank of Yates City ATM at no charge
     - Use our Online Banking Services

*The P.O. Box in the outside lane will be removed & will return after construction.

Thank You for your patience!!

Construction is Complete at our Williamsfield Branch

Drive-up hours have resumed: Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm and Saturday 8:00am-Noon.  24-Hour ATM with depository capabilities is available too.

If you haven't experienced our new set-up, ask for a demo today!  Every time you make a transaction at the drive-up, you will be entered to win a gift card.  A winner will be drawn every Friday through September 30th.

Bank of Farmington/Integrity Community Bank is EXTREMELY EXCITED to announce that Eva is LIVE!

Using Eva is easy!!  Click here to watch our demo video!!

Bank of Farmington/Integrity Community Bank  Recognized for Exceptional Community Service
http://www.bankoffarmington.com/Exit.url

Bank of Farmington/Integrity Community Bank was excited to accept the Exceptional Community Service Award from Illinois Bankers Association (IBA) during the IBA’s virtual Annual Conference on August 12, 2021.  This was the 19^th year for the Community Service Awards, which honor Illinois financial institutions that demonstrate a high level of service in their communities.  Bank of Farmington was one of the three recipients of the award.

Like most community banks, Bank of Farmington is involved in many civic, charitable and community initiatives. Not only do they serve as a sponsor, but they also provide time for employees to volunteer and serve in leadership roles in civic organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and St. Jude’s. In addition to offering in-classroom instruction and participating in Real World Job Day, one new initiative is their partnership with BANZAI to provide an online, financial literacy program to the school districts in which their branches are located. The bank is sponsoring five high schools making the program available to over 1,700 students beginning this fall.

Joseph L. Higgs, President & CEO of Bank of Farmington/Integrity Community Bank said “It was my honor and privilege to accept the IBA Exceptional Community Service Award on behalf of our staff.  I’m so very fortunate to work with such a great team of bankers.  They work hard every day to connect, contribute, and meet the needs of our communities.  It’s especially rewarding for me to see the bank recognized for this award during the most challenging period of Covid-19.  That speaks volumes about the strength and resiliency of this team.”

Bank of Farmington/Integrity Community Bank Opens
an IT & Operations Center in Farmington, Illinois

As the Bank of Farmington continues to grow, expand, and add new banking technologies, exciting and customer focused projects are in the works!  Our need for extra space with this growth has become a necessity.  We are happy to announce that we have opened an IT & Operations Center located at 50 E. Fort Street in Farmington, IL, which is in the Downtown Farmington Business District.  This location is a few steps away from our Administration and Investment Office and just a few more steps from our Main Office Location.  The IT & Operations Center will house our Operations and Digital Banking staff, as well as our Credit Analyst Staff. 

We are proud of the Farmington community and happy we are able to make improvements to a building in the downtown business district while accommodating the growth of the bank.  The 50 E. Fort Street location comes with additional unfinished space on the lower level as well as the second floor.  The bank will work in concert with the City of Farmington to identify the best use for this additional space in order to maximize the benefit to the Farmington community in the future.

“Investing in our community is so important to all of us here at the Bank of Farmington.  The staff and I are excited for the growth that allows us to expand into a building downtown and allows us to focus on new technology while continuing to offer and support our current Digital Banking products to our customers.”  said Danielle Nelson, VP, Ops Manager, ESS.

Bank of Farmington/Integrity Community Bank Targeted Impact Fund Provides $15,000 in Grants

Bank of Farmington / Integrity Community Bank is committed to supporting our communities, now more than ever. Through our partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago we are providing $5,000 each to Black Business Alliance – Peoria Chapter, Peoria Elite, and Dream Center Peoria. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago’s (FHLBank Chicago) Targeted Impact Fund was launched in August in order to provide members with grants to support relief efforts for populations hardest-hit by COVID-19 as well as to promote equity and opportunity for communities of color.

"We work hard each day to exceed the needs of our customers and it's especially rewarding to be in position to help our business customers and communities during this extreme time of need", said Joseph L. Higgs, President. "The FHLB Targeted Impact Fund was created to address racial equity disparities and support communities hardest hit by Covid-19.”  We’re proud of our partnership with FHLB and proud as well to direct these grant funds to impactful organizations within our communities.”

In addition to the Targeted Impact Fund Grant, Bank of Farmington/Integrity Community Bank obtained $20,000.00 in grants from its strategic partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago earlier this year (June of 2020). This grant money was distributed to 33 local organizations and churches within the banks' market area to further provide assistance to the communities Bank of Farmington/Integrity Community Bank serves.  Bank of Farmington/Integrity Community Bank also processed 106 loans totaling $10.8 million under the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This effort has helped small business customers with their payroll related costs and other qualified expenses, saving countless jobs and sustaining small businesses and local communities.

Our Peoria Branch is Relocating!!

Exciting things are happening at our Peoria Integrity Community Bank location!!!! We are delighted to announce that we will be moving into our permanent location just a mile and half from our current location at 6824 N. Frostwood Parkway. On Friday, December 11, 2020, the Frostwood location will close. The following Monday, December 14, our doors will open to our new office at 7810 N. Route 91, Peoria, IL 61615 located near Grand Prairie Shopping Mall. Our new Full-Service office will have Drive-Up lanes, an ATM, Safe Deposit Boxes, Saturday hours and more!! The best part is that you will be meeting with the same friendly staff you have been accustomed to seeing!

 
We look forward to serving you at the new office offering expanded services!
Beginning December 14th, 2020, visit us at: 7810 N. Route 91, Peoria, IL 61515
Our telephone and facsimile numbers will remain the same.  Tel: (309) 306-8939 | Fax: (309) 245-2161

Should you have any questions on the relocation, please feel free to contact us by telephone at
(309) 306-8939, or by e-mail at info@bankoffarmington.com

PPP Loan Effort Nears $11 Million

Bank of Farmington processed 106 loans totaling $10.8 million under the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This effort has helped small business customers with their payroll related costs and other qualified expenses, saving countless jobs and sustaining small businesses and local communities.

PPP was launched through the SBA in early April as a government response to the economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and provides a government loan guarantee along with a component of complete loan forgiveness when certain criteria are met.

"We work hard each day to exceed the needs of our customers and it's especially rewarding to be in position to help our business customers and communities during this extreme time of need", said Joseph L. Higgs, President. "Like many community banks, Bank of Farmington was able to get out in front of this program, quickly submit applications through the SBA website, and put loan proceeds to work immediately for our customers." In my 30-year career, I cannot think of a more rewarding time to be a community banker."

In addition to PPP, Bank of Farmington obtained $20,000.00 in grants from its strategic partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. This grant money will be distributed to 33 local organizations and churches within the banks' market area to further provide assistance to the communities Bank of Farmington serves.

Bank of Farmington was established in 1903 and has a long and rich history of service to West Central Illinois. Currently, Bank of Farmington has $193 million in assets and maintains offices in Farmington, Canton, Williamsfield, and Peoria. 

Bank of Farmington, Ipava State Bank, Mid-America National Bank Partner to Provide Financing to Group Purchasing Golf Course

Three local banks have joined forces for the good of the community. Bank of Farmington, Ipava State Bank, and MidAmerica National Bank have agreed to equally split the loan for Wee-Ma-Tuk Hills Country Club, which has been purchased by a group of shareholders.

"We see this as a project for the entire county," said Lewis Pigg, President of lpava State Bank. "The golf course at Wee-Ma-Tuk plays a critical role in economic development. Across all three banks, we felt we needed to work together and do whatever we could to help save the golf course. It's an investment in our community, quite honestly."

"Besides the obvious economic impacts, the golf course serves as a venue for many local fundraisers. Then there's the matter of homes located in Wee-Ma-Tuk," said Joe Higgs, President, Bank of Farmington. "Saving the course is critical to preserving property values. Overall, the loss of the golf course could have a ripple effect on numerous businesses and individuals in the area, not just golfers."

"Wee-Ma-Tuk golf course is such an important part of entertainment and recreation," said Rick Klinedinst, President & CEO, MidAmerica National Bank. "Golfing is something you can do throughout your life, at any age. It's a great way for businesses to network, it's a social outlet, and it's a form of exercise. I personally have so many great memories of good times on this course, and I want future generations to have a chance at making memories as well."

The group of shareholders had hoped to open the course in early spring, but COVID-19 shut-downs meant postponing all plans. When Governor Pritzker gave the green light for golf courses to open May 1, the project quickly got back on track. Much work has been done over the past couple of weeks to prepare the course to open.

Said Pigg, "They will need support in the form of membership, and all involved in this project hope to see the residents of our community take advantage of the golf course."

"We knew that working cooperatively to find a solution would be a win for all involved. The last thing we wanted was to have a recreational void in our community," said Joe Dietz, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ipava State Bank.

Click here to download the Full Press Release

Bank of Farmington / Legacy Partnership

Bank of Farmington is excited to announce a new partnership with Legacy Investment Services, Inc. Click here to read the Press Release.

Bank of Farmington and Ipava State Bank Agree to Share ATMs, Yet Remain Two Separate Banks

Visit our New Location at 7810 State Route 91, Peoria, IL 61615 Today!