Press Releases
First Community Bank of Plainfield celebrates successful grand opening with record turnout
August 14, 2009
Plainfield folks know how to make their local business partners feel welcome. The recent official Grand Opening of First Community Bank of Plainfield was an example of Plainfield hospitality at its finest.
"We enjoyed a huge response from our community neighbors during a three-day celebration that officially christened our expansive and beautiful new bank building," enthused William Pommerening, FCB Board Chair and local business owner. "Local clients were joined by a record number of people who opened new high-interest checking accounts and commercial money market accounts."
read more
We Moved!
January 15, 2009
First Community Bank of Plainfield announces the opening of their new bank home located on US Route 30 just north of 143rd Street on Plainfield’s west side.
"The move to our permanent facility in Plainfield represents our latest investment in one of the fastest-growing communities in the state of Illinois—and a community that has proven particularly receptive to a new locally owned and managed business," says Bill Pommerening, First Community Bank Board Chair. "Plainfield businesses and residents have responded enthusiastically to our emphasis on relationship-style banking—and that response has fueled our growth."
read more
Locally owned banks are booming
Joliet holding company quickly expands in area
By Cindy Wojdyla Cain
STAFF WRITER Joliet Herald News
JOLIET—First Community Bank of Joliet stayed out of the subprime home loan business when it was all the rage a few years ago.
“They didn’t make sense to us,” said George Barr, who is chairman of the bank's holding company, First Community Partners. “We couldn’t understand how it would be good to make a 100 percent or 105 percent loan.”
read more
First Community Bank Stockholders Elect Founding Board of Directors
October, 10, 2008
First Community Bank subscribers met this week to formally elect the Founding Directors of the locally-owned and managed community bank. The vote represented the first official action of the subscribers of the Bank’s shares of common stock.
read the full release
FCB Home Nears Completion
October, 10, 2008
The permanent home of First Community Bank in Plainfield is nearing completion. We expect to be completely moved in and operational by the end of the year.
Community banks secure despite national turmoil
From Business Ledger
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
By Sherri Dauskurdas, Associate Editor
Amidst panic and speculation about the nation’s financial markets, local bank leaders say the message is only a half-truth, and that community banks throughout the suburbs are holding strong and steady.
Read the full release
A Good Time to Be a Start-Up
From American Banker
Friday, August 22, 2008
By Steve Johnson and Joe Depa
The last time there was a major banking crisis in the United States was in the late 1980s. As a result of that crisis, the government formed the Resolution Trust Corp. in 1989 to buy assets from insolvent savings and loans at discounted prices. During the first three and a half years of its existence it took control of 737 failed thrifts and acquired assets with a book value of $434 billion.
Read the full release
Plainfield population still rising
July 10, 2008
By Janet Lundquist
PLAINFIELD—By now, people living and working in Plainfield are used to ranking among the top of census lists.
It's happened again. Plainfield had the fourth-largest population increase in the state from 2006 to 2007, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Read the full release
First Community Bank in Plainfield announces initial stock offering
July 9, 2008
Plainfield, Illinois—Organizers of First Community Bank of Plainfield (in organization) announce plans to offer stock in the new community bank in mid-July “This is great news for area investors who have been lining up to become shareholders in a new, locally-owned and locally-managed community bank in Plainfield. The Plainfield branch office of First Community Bank of Joliet, which the new bank will acquire upon organization, has reached over $58 million in assets since opening in (November 2006)—clear evidence that community clients gravitate to bankers who are friendly neighbors as well as financial experts,” explains Ethridge.
read the full release
Plainfield’s First Community Bank home nears completion with installation of historic vault door
News Release—March 5, 2008
Plainfield, Illinois—Plainfield’s First Community Bank Founding Board’s decision to purchase a century-old bank vault door for their new permanent home symbolizes their commitment to build a better community bank.
“Our new-to-us bank vault door has secured the valuables of customers in closely-knit communities since the early 1900’s, says John Argoudelis, FCB Founding Board Member. “That enduring history and strength seemed to represent our vision for an authentic locally-owned and managed bank with deep roots in the community. Just like this historic door, we plan to be around a long time.”
 |
Standing in front of the vault door in the new First Community Bank are (l to r) John Argoudelis, Founding Board Member; Carl Holmquist, Executive Vice President; Anne Henderson, Senior Vice President; Brad Hogan, Vice President; and Chris Ramirez, Assistant Vice President. |
The 17,000-pound steel door was manufactured by York Safe & Lock Company, York, Pennsylvania—the nation’s leading maker of bank vault doors as well as manufacturers of gun turrets for most of the World War II American battleships. Stevenson Crane Company handled the door lift and placement. Donna Stevenson, owner and CEO of Stevenson Crane is a member of FCB Plainfield’s Founding Board.
Bankers plan on moving into the completed red-brick, two-story Federalist style headquarters this fall. The building, located on Route 30 just north of 143 rd Street, is being constructed by Bob Sohol, owner of R.I. Sohol Construction, Bob is also a member of FCB Plainfield’s Founding Board.
“While we are understandably proud of our ‘bricks and mortar,’” notes Richard Ethridge, president of FCB in Plainfield, “our real passion is to serve the people of Plainfield. Our clients are delighted with a return to uncomplicated banking, above-and-beyond service from local bankers, and First Community’s investment in the future of Plainfield.”
First Community Bank opened in temporary quarters on U.S. Route 30 near 135 th Street in late 2006, and since opening has tallied assets in excess of $60 million.
For construction updates and information about the bank’s personal and commercial services, call (815) 436-6300.
Read the press coverage in the Plainfield Enterprise here.
First Community Bank in
Plainfield breaks ground
September 18, 2007
Plainfield , Illinois—First Community Bank in Plainfield recently broke ground on the site of the permanent location of the bank. Prominent community leaders were present, as well as the bank’s organizers and staff members. Speakers included Plainfield Mayor Dr. James Waldorf, FCBP Organizing Board Chair Bill Pommerening, FCBP President Richard Ethridge, and local businessman George Barr, President of The Barr Group.
Dr. Waldorf addressed the crowd, "The addition of First Community Bank in Plainfield will be the start of a wonderful new chapter in the history of this community. The new bank will help us move into the future and will strengthen our belief in our growing community." Pommerening was also enthusiastic about the new bank, "With so many local investors coming on board, we are really gaining momentum. We feel that we are going to bring a fresh approach to banking in the community—putting people first."
irst Community Bank’s new home in Plainfield will be a Federal-style, two story, red brick building fronted with stately white columns. VRA Architects, specialists in creating state-of-the-art, client-friendly banking facilities, designed the 26,000-square-foot facility. “We are extremely pleased with our permanent location at the intersection of Route 30 and 143 rd Street on Plainfield’s west side,” says Ethridge, President of FCBP. “First Community Bank will be situated in a prime location to serve Plainfield’s growing community.”
First Community Bank is making excellent progress on the construction of their permanent facility. As work progresses, a Fall completion date is becoming a reality.
First Community Bank of Plainfield moved into their permanent bank home—an impressive Georgian brick building on S. Route 30 just north of 143rd Street in January of 2009.
August 2, 2007 |
April 22, 2007 |
November 6, 2006 |
August 3, 2006 |
June 8, 2006 |
May 25, 2006 |