Local Strength and National Recognition

Community Banks Still Matter

April is Community Banking Month, a time to recognize the vital role community banks play in supporting local economies, building relationships, and delivering personalized financial solutions. In an era where national banks often dominate headlines, community-focused institutions like First Bank and Trust Company continue to prove that local ownership, flexibility, and customer-first thinking make a meaningful difference.

This year, First Bank and Trust Company is marking Community Banking Month with a series of impressive national and regional recognitions that reflect not only strong performance, but a fundamentally different approach to banking.

Strong Rankings Backed by Trusted, Independent Evaluators

First Bank and Trust Company has earned a 5-Star Superior rating from BauerFinancial, the nation’s leading independent bank rating firm. This designation is reserved for banks that demonstrate exceptional financial strength, stability, and reliability, giving customers confidence that their financial partner is built to last.

On a national level, the bank was ranked #28 in S&P Global Market Intelligence’s 2025 Top 50 Best Performing U.S. Community Banks within the $3 billion to $10 billion asset category. This ranking is based on rigorous performance metrics such as return on assets, efficiency, and asset quality, further reinforcing the bank’s disciplined approach to growth and operations.

The bank’s impact is especially notable in agriculture, where it ranks as the 3rd largest agricultural bank in the United States and the 17th largest agricultural lender among all U.S. commercial banks by dollar volume, according to the American Bankers Association. These distinctions highlight a deep, ongoing commitment to farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities; relationships that are often overlooked by larger, national institutions.

Closer to home, First Bank and Trust Company was ranked 5th among the Top 10 Performing Banks in Virginia by Bank Performance Report, demonstrating consistent results at both the state and national levels.

The Community Banking Difference

While these rankings are significant, what truly sets First Bank and Trust Company apart is how it operates.

As a privately-held institution, the bank is not controlled by out-of-state shareholders or driven by the pressures of quarterly earnings expectations. This independence allows for something many national banks struggle to offer flexibility.

Decisions are made locally. Solutions are tailored, not templated. Customers are treated as individuals, not account numbers.

This structure empowers First Bank and Trust Company to be creative and responsive, whether it’s working with a small business owner on a unique financing solution, supporting a multi-generational farm, or helping a family navigate a major life milestone.

A Better Alternative to National Banks

National banks often bring scale, but that scale can come at the cost of personalization. Layers of bureaucracy can slow decision-making, and standardized products may not always meet the specific needs of local customers.

Community banks offer a different path.

At First Bank and Trust Company, customers benefit from:

• Being able to reach their banker by phone and email
• Local decision-making and faster response times
• Free checking and no fees for most basic banking services that other National Banks have detailed and costly fee structures for.
• Customized financial solutions designed around real needs
• Deep community involvement and reinvestment
• A long-term relationship focus rather than short-term gains

Combined with nationally recognized financial strength and performance, this approach offers the best of both worlds: the reliability customers expect and the personal touch they deserve.

Celebrating Community, Commitment, and Confidence

The recognitions earned this year are more than accolades—they are a reflection of a consistent commitment to doing banking differently.

During Community Banking Month, First Bank and Trust Company celebrates not just these achievements, but the customers, communities, and relationships that make them possible. By remaining privately held and community-focused, the bank continues to deliver a level of service, flexibility, and trust that stands apart in today’s financial landscape.

Because when it comes to your financial future, where you bank—and who makes the decisions—matters.