THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 7, 1994 TAG: 9412060158
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Rushing to beat nightfall, the brickmason quickly and carefully bricked around the new automatic teller machine just installed outside Farmers Bank.
On the opposite side of the building stood the landscaper, after shoveling dirt around the final crape myrtle to be planted.
``It's hard work getting a bank open,'' said N.H. ``Pete'' Carr Jr., assistant vice president of Smithfield's newest bank.
But for Carr, the real work begins at 9 a.m. next Monday when Farmers Bank opens at 1119 S. Church St. The move into Smithfield is the bank's first expansion since opening in Windsor 75 years ago.
Smithfield's chief drawing card for Farmers Bank was location, Carr said. For the last five years, the bank has looked at both Smithfield and Franklin as possible sites for opening a new office.
``We are an Isle of Wight County bank and it makes sense that that we are opening our first branch in Smithfield,'' Carr said. ``The main reason we chose Smithfield is . . . because we feel the northern end of Isle of Wight County is where the major residential and commercial growth is occurring right now.''
According to Carr, Farmers Bank already has an established a customer base in the Smithfield area.
``Many of them strongly recommended that we establish a branch here,'' he said.
The bank has spent the last nine months preparing for next week's grand opening, said Carr. In addition to redecorating the building, formerly occupied by Dominion Bank, other changes necessary for banking in today's high-tech world have been made.
Despite having the most modern technology, Farmers Bank prides itself on offering customers old-fashioned service.
``Farmers Bank is able to give customers a level of service that is unmatched,'' Carr said. ``From a service aspect, this bank's success comes from treating people like banks treated them in the 1950s.
``We take a genuine interest in our customers. Before we offer our customers any financial advice, we sit down and listen to their financial goals and needs.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Pete Carr, assistant vice president of Farmer's Bank, is overseeing
the bank's first expansion since opening in Windsor 75 years ago. by CNB