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POMEROY — Farmers Bank recently announced the addition of Patrick Saunders of Gallipolis to its team as bank vice president and Gallipolis Branch manager.

Saunders will be responsible for Farmers Bank’s Gallia County market and serve as the bank’s primary agricultural lender.

He joins the Farmers Bank team with experience as a financial services officer specializing in residential real estate lending and agricultural lending. In addition to his practical experience in banking and agriculture, he has a degree in Agribusiness and Applied Economics from The Ohio State University.

“I’m thrilled to join the team at Farmers Bank,” said Saunders. “I believe very strongly in using my education and experience to help my community, specifically my neighbors in Gallia County. I am excited to be able to do that while representing Farmers Bank — a strong community bank with a reputation for taking care of those it serves.”

Saunders currently serves as vice-president of the Gallia County Cattlemen’s Association and was recognized as Ohio’s 2011 Young Cattleman of the Year by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association. He is a lifelong resident of Gallia County and resides in Gallipolis with his wife, Abby.

A charter was granted in the name of The Farmers Bank and Trust Company on August 6, 1904 by the superintendent of banks of the State of Ohio. The Bank was organized on Court Street, and it was opened to the public for business on December 4, 1904. In 1921, the name “Trust” was replaced by the word “Savings” in the name of the Bank. The Bank had steady growth from the beginning and reached the first million in deposits in 1943.

In 1963, plans were made for the construction of a new facility. In 1965 the property between Second Street to Main Street was purchased and seven buildings were torn down; in 1967, plans for the new facility were approved, and in 1968, construction began on what was to become the future “home” of the Farmers Bank. The location of the bank remained on Court Street until it moved to its present location at 211 West Second Street, Pomeroy, Ohio, on April 1, 1969.

On August 30, 1985, a one-bank holding company was formed known as Farmers Bancshares, Inc.

In May, 1987, the Farmers Bank acquired, through purchase, the Tuppers Plains Branch of BankOne. This purchase represented the first branch of the Farmers Bank and enabled us to better serve the needs of Meigs County. In 1995, the Farmers Bank purchased a lot on Upper River Road, Gallipolis, built an office and began serving Gallia County.

On March 25, 2003, the Mason, West Virginia, branch was opened which was the first branch of the West Virginia Division. On May 11, 2006, the Point Pleasant Branch was opened for business which, to date, completes the West Virginia Division of Farmers Bank.

In October of 2011, Farmers Bank started building its newest addition at 640 East Main Street in Pomeroy. On July 16, 2012, the two-story building opened for business. The 211 West Second Street location, which previously housed the Pomeroy retail business, is scheduled to undergo renovations beginning in September. Renovations are expected to last one year. After its completion, it will house the Operations Support Center.

During the history of the bank, it has had five presidents, namely, W. F. Reed, founder, Theodore T. Reed, his son, Theodore T. Reed, Jr., his grandson, Paul E. Kloes, interim president at the death of Theodore T. Reed, Jr., and Paul M. Reed, the great-grandson of the founder.

Farmers Bank has become the oldest independently owned financial institution in Meigs County since opening its doors 107 years ago. To date, the bank has a total of 89 employees at all six locations and currently has 21 ATMs to serve the bank’s customers.