The Power of Reinvesting in Our Community

The Power of Reinvesting in Our Community

Reinvesting in your community sounds great, but how does one really put that into action?

If you’ve ever wondered if it matters where you deposit your hard-earned money, let me assure you it does. Not only does banking locally support small businesses (community banks fund more than 60% of small business loans and more than 80% of ag loans), but as locally owned and operated businesses themselves, they are part of the economic engines that create 62 percent of new jobs annually. That’s powerful.    

Community banks like F & M Community Bank take in deposits and distribute loans that fuel a self-sustaining local economy. It is all part of a well-rounded relationship that community banks have with their communities.

If you need more proof, consider the community banks impact on local communities:

• Community banks outpace large banks in their average number of banks operating in both rural and urban markets by a 3:1 ratio.
• Community banks are preferred small business lenders, with an 81 percent net satisfaction score compared to 68 percent for large banks and just 43 percent for online lenders.
• Community banks operate in areas abandoned by others—serving as the only physical banking presence in nearly one in three U.S. counties.

But it is not just about stats. When customers call or come to F & M Community Bank they are greeted by a talented team member who pays attention to their unique needs and works with the customer to provide the best experience possible.

F & M Community Bank and our employees also support our communities through donations and volunteer time.  In 2022, F & M Community Bank donated more than $150,000 back to our community non-profit organizations.   Our employees serve on boards and volunteer their time to more than 40 area organizations.  We are invested in making our communities great places to call home.

April is Community Banking Month, and I want to thank our customers for putting their trust in us for their banking needs. For our neighbors who may be considering a switch, I encourage you to take a closer look at F & M Community Bank to discover how we can partner with you on your banking goals.

At F & M Community Bank we pledge to never lose sight of the all-important “relationship” and the personalized service our customers expect.

Remember, we are all in this together. Community banks like us are only successful if our customers and communities are, too. That is why community banks and our relationship business model have thrived for more than 150 years. We know what it takes to create successful local economies. Join us in helping to build a more sustainable, vibrant economy here at home.