First State Bank has been your community bank since 1884. Presently, there are eight locations: Manchester, Peebles, Seaman, West Union, Winchester, Ripley, Georgetown, and Mt. Orab.

In 1884, Lucien Jerome Fenton formed the Winchester Bank Company (presently First State Bank, Winchester Branch) with capital of $50,000. At that time, the bank was a two-story building and was shared by a dry goods store. The new bank was built in 1976, and remodeled in 1990, in the same location as the original Winchester Bank Company.

In 1959, the Winchester Bank Company acquired The Seaman Bank. Today, after renovations in 1977, and 2004, First State Bank’s Seaman Branch stands in the same location as the original Seaman Bank.

The Bank of Manchester (presently First State Bank, Manchester Branch) was formed in the late 1800’s and was originally located on Second Street in Manchester. The Manchester branch then moved to 210 Pike Street in 1976, where it is still located today.

On May 1, 1969, First State Bank was formed as the result of a merger between the Bank of Manchester and the Winchester Bank Company. At the time of the merger, the bank had offices in Manchester, Seaman, and Winchester.

In July of 1989, First State Bank saw a need for an office centralized in its market area. A branch was built in the Adams County seat of West Union on the property that was originally known as the Old Shell Property.

In October of 1996, First State Bank expanded by building a branch in Peebles on the corner of Main and Church Street. Years ago, the property was occupied by an old church which was later converted into a large home. The property is best known for the McFarland Ford Dealership that once occupied the lot until the bank’s construction in 1996.

In April of 2008, First State Bank acquired three branch locations in Brown County that had previously been owned and operated by Oak Hill Banks (Jackson, OH). These branches are located in Ripley, Georgetown, and Mt. Orab. The Ripley and Georgetown locations were, at one time, the Ripley National Bank that was acquired by Oak Hill Financial, Inc. in 2004. The Mt. Orab location was built by Oak Hill Financial, Inc. in 2006.

First State Bank now has eight locations to better serve Adams, Brown, and the surrounding counties. First State Bank provides full service with the latest technology to help serve all of your banking needs.

First State Bank employs over seventy full time and part-time employees. Officers and managers of the bank are the following: Michael Pell, President/CEO; Patty Wilmoth, SVP of Lending; David Richey, VP/CFO; Judd Johnson, VP/Branch Administrator; Jo Hanson, VP/Human Resources; Sue Hord, AVP Operations; Lois Richendollar, AVP Marketing; Timothy Grooms, Compliance Officer/ Internal Auditor; Philip Reed, VP/Business Development Loan Officer; Daniel Ferguson, Information Technology Manager; Karen Tomlin, Call Center Manager; Amy Howard, Loan Operations Manager; Heather Roush, Network Analyst; Debbie Carrington, System Analyst; Brad Jones, Credit Manger; Linda Bihl, Credit Analyst; and Mike Davis, Collections Manager.

Branch managers of the bank are: Pamela Douglas, Manchester; Adam Poole, Mt. Orab; Leslie Downing-Jones, Winchester; Norine Behm, AVP Seaman; Chad Wilson, West Union; Shirley Moran, AVP Ripley; Gerry Schumacher, AVP Georgetown; and Brenda Brown, Peebles. Branch managers are assisted by the following office managers: Elizabeth Nesbitt, West Union; Melissa Reese, Manchester; Dee Fitzpatrick, Winchester; Ann Downs, Seaman; Jody Sanders, Ripley; Lorie Layne, Georgetown; Amiee Havens, Mt. Orab; and Amanda Hopkins, Peebles.

First State Bank is owned by dedicated stockholders and directed by a board of eight directors. First State Bank’s staff and directors are active business owners and citizens in and around the area. The board members include: Chris H. Baxla, Chairman; Alan W. Foster, Vice Chairman; Matthew Greene; Barry L. McFarland; Daniel R. Naylor; Michael P. Pell; Bill Shelby, and Ben White.

Being locally owned and operated, the goal of First State Bank is to enhance community and individual financial prosperity in surrounding neighborhoods. The bank has the unique ability to make decisions locally and within guidelines that benefit customer needs. An in-house processing system makes us unique from any other bank in the area. All of our bank documents are kept at our Main office in Winchester. This simply means that if you need any research done on your accounts, it can be done efficiently within minutes. First State Bank holds honesty, integrity, ethics, and customer service as top priorities.

The employees of First State Bank take great pride in participating in civic activities that are held in the area throughout the year, including festivals and many local community functions. First State Bank is involved in the Adams County Chamber of Commerce, Brown County Chamber of Commerce, local school activities, and social events. The bank is proud to be a part of Southern Ohio and its communities.