President’s Message
Citizens Bank is quickly becoming the premier community financial institution in the County by creating and delivering quality financial products and services to you at exceptional values.
We are creating a stimulating and challenging work environment for our employees that encourages, develops and rewards excellence; we are serving our local communities with integrity and pride; we are a responsible corporate citizen in the communities we serve; and we are achieving consistently superior financial performance for our stockholders.
Citizens Bank will continue to grow and attain even greater market share in our existing markets. We’ll meet this challenge by insuring that our employees are well trained to deliver state-of-the-art products and superior service to you. Right now, we offer such services as: 24-Hour Telephone Banking, and Internet Banking, as well many other competitive products and services.
We intend to remain independent. We will focus on increasing stockholder value. And we will continue to provide personal services while emphasizing the importance of personal involvement of our employees in local communities. Citizens Bank will continue to meet your needs and the needs of our community
Citizens Bank opened for business in Carthage, Tennessee on October 26, 1929– three days before the Wall Street Stock Market Crash on October 29, 1929.
The bank was organized by a group of local businessmen headed by Walter Birdwell, Sr. There were 59 original stockholders whose number has grown to over 500. The original capitalization was $30,000. Total Capital has grown until the bank now has one of the highest Capital to Asset ratios in the state of Tennessee thus making the bank one of the safest in the entire nation.
The Bank of Pleasant Shade was acquired in 1936. Branching started in 1962 with the opening of the Gordonsville Branch making two offices in Smith County. Through merger and branching, there are now eight offices in Smith, White and Putnam Counties. These offices are in Carthage- with two branches, South Carthage and Gordonsville; Sparta- with three branches; and Cookeville with 1 branch.
From meager beginnings in 1929, assets have grown to approximately $622 million with a capital of $118 million and capital to assets of 19%. It is the largest independent community bank in the area it serves.
