NEW LEBANON — A Preble County business held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its first branch in Montgomery County on Thursday, Feb. 20.
Somerville National Bank, founded in 1910 in the southern Preble County community that gave it its name, maintained only a single location until 1990, according to New Lebanon branch Marketing Manager Lacey Aikman. In fact, until 1989 it was the smallest nationally-chartered bank in the United States. Additional offices began opening in 1990.
The company now operates two branches in Eaton, one in Camden, and one each in Somerville, Oxford, and Hamilton. An eighth location in Richmond serves as a mortgage lender.
The New Lebanon branch is the company’s latest, according to Aikman.
“New Lebanon and surrounding areas were being underserved after larger banks vacated in recent years,” Aikman said. “The location fits perfectly into the Somerville Bank footprint due to the numerous small businesses, surrounding agriculture, and wonderful community. We have already begun to integrate with the community through working with these various organizations!”
Thursday’s ribbon-cutting event featured free food and tours of the company’s new facility.
“We are very pleased by the turnout!” Aikman said of the event. “We hosted representatives from the New Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, the Preble County Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County Small Business Development, several of our wonderful construction partners, local citizens, business owners, as well as a few of our employees from other branches and board members!”
The New Lebanon Branch officially opened to the public on Feb. 3. Two of the location’s employees, Erica Davidson and Angie Mears, live in West Alexandria, while the rest (including Aikman) all live in New Lebanon. The community has been welcoming to the new business, according to Aikman.
“We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the reception from people who have stopped in to the new branch to say hello and wish us well,” Aikman said.
