With five sites throughout Central Illinois, the First State Bank of Forrest has brought its family-friendly atmosphere to its sixth location in Mahomet.
“Mahomet kind of ticked off what (the owners) were looking for,” Brancher Manager Nick Schneider said. “They were looking for a community that was very family-oriented like the bank is. Have a little bit of customer base already in this area, Mahomet is growing, family town with a growing community.”
When the First State Bank of Forrest building is completed behind McDonalds on Purnell Drive, the bank will service checking and savings accounts, CD savings, IRAs, the full array of lending products: commercial, mortgages, agricultural, operating loans, consumer lending.
Currently, Schneider’s team operates out of an office in the Eastwood Shopping Center where they can set up accounts or service loans. He said the group plans for their permanent home to be ready mid-October.
But, not having a storefront has not stopped the First State Bank of Forrest employees from getting involved in the Mahomet community. Right off the bat, the group supported events like the Mahomet Half-Marathon/10K/5K run by helping to sponsor the run and stuffing runner goodie bags.
“Plan to have a presence and be a part of the community,” Schneider said. “As we develop a full staff, we will do more of that.”
A family-owned back with active family owners, First State Bank of Forrest planted its roots in Forrest, IL in 1914. Since then, the bank has kept its focus on families, businesses, and people of the local communities.
“We just want to come in and become part of the Mahomet community,” Schneider said. “We’d like to be an enhancement to the services that are here and already offered.”
