HR0017 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0017 LRB097 05769 GRL 45834 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the owners and employees of The Farmers State Bank and Trust Company in Jacksonville on the occasion of the bank's 100th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, The Farmers State Bank and Trust Company officially opened for business on January 4, 1911; organizers of the Bank were composed of prominent businessmen and farmers in the Morgan County community, who provided the necessary capital of $100,000 for the Bank; and

WHEREAS, The Farmers State Bank and Trust Company began operating in temporary quarters at 231 1/2 West State Street in Jacksonville; 11 months later, the Bank moved to 27 South Side Public Square; in January of 1940, the Bank purchased the Ayers National Bank building at 200 West State Street at a foreclosure sale; the Bank's main branch opened its doors at 200 West State Street on July 26, 1941 and has remained there even since; in 1986, the 200 West State Street site was accepted into the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior for being associated with banking longer than any other site in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In 1977, The Farmers State Bank and Trust Company opened its West Morton branch, which continues its full-service operations today; and

WHEREAS, The Farmers State Bank and Trust Company has consistently been on the cutting edge of customer service; the Bank implemented an electronic banking system in 1959 to facilitate operations; the Bank was also the first to offer home banking services in the State of Illinois in 1992; and

WHEREAS, The Farmers State Bank and Trust Company began a Business/Education Partnership with Lincoln Elementary School in November of 1992; the Bank proudly continues this partnership to this day; and

WHEREAS, The Farmers State Bank and Trust Company and its employees serve as models of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the owners and employees of The Farmers State Bank and Trust Company on the occasion of the bank's 100th anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Joy French Becker, President of The Farmers State Bank and Trust Company, as a symbol of our esteem and respect.