COMMUNITY BANK BUILDS STRONG PARTNERSHIPS

By Pam Windsor

Photography by Michael Tedesco

It’s been a busy year for F&M Bank as it expands its footprint

while continuing to build on its strong offering of financial

services with a customer-friendly approach. With headquarters

in Clarksville, F&M Bank opened its first office in Nashville in

August 2021. Strategic growth lists their plans to open their first

office in Kentucky later this year.

F&M Bank builds strong community partnerships by hiring

bankers that are familiar with the local community. An interview

with Mary Lankford, VP/Market Manager of the F&M Bank office

in Franklin, demonstrates the commitment of the F&M Bank

strategy. “When F&M opens an office, they focus on someone

who is connected in the community,” Lankford explains. “It makes

a difference, I think. Not only do we work hard to be your banker

of choice, we want to be your customers, co-workers, volunteers,

and friends. The goal is to not only offer great service but to be

customer-connected.”

Lankford says that willingness to respond to a customer’s

needs is a priority in every aspect of what they do. “I would say

what makes it so special with this bank in particular is, if we run

up against a roadblock, all of the people in the back office that are

a huge part of our bank family, will go over and above to come

up with a solution. That’s our culture. And that’s what’s made us

successful, as we’ve seen so many other small banks being consumed

by larger banks through mergers and acquisitions.”

F&M Bank was originally established in 1906 as Farmers &

Merchants Bank in Bumpus Mills, Tennessee. The small bank

held its own, surviving during the 1930s when the recession

forced more than 10,000 other banks in the U.S. to close. Head  

quarters remained in the small Stewart County community until

1972 before expanding into Clarksville in 1989. In the years since

it has grown and currently has banking and mortgage facilities in

10 markets throughout middle Tennessee.

In addition to branch locations, financial and educational

news and resources may be found on its website and social media

platforms. Visitors to https://myfmbank.com/ will find blogs and

online videos on a variety of financial topics, activities for students

and teachers K-12, occasional webinars for small business owners,

and more. F&M Bank marketing reports show a definite increased

interest in online visits over the past 18 months, especially

during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown when customers

didn’t have ready access to their local bank offices.

“It was just one of the customer-centric solutions offered to

maintain a connection with customers during the pandemic. In

Franklin, when it was necessary to close the bank lobby, employees

still made sure to serve customers. We struggled not having

a drive-thru,” Lankford says. “I’d tell customers they have my cell

number, so give me a call, and I’ll run out while you circle through

historic downtown Franklin. Our commercial loan officer, Michael

Barker, would also schedule customer meetings outside the office

as needed. We joked about it, saying we needed roller skates, but

it all worked out.” She adds, “While I hope to never see another

period like last year, those circumstances keep you focused on

what’s important…and with F&M Bank, it’s always our family of

customers and employees.”

F&M Bank is a member of FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

For a list of all F&M Bank and F&M Mortgage locations, visit the

website at:  https://myfmbank.com/