FARMERS STATE BANK KEEPS COMMUNITY FEEL WHILST EXPANDINGSERVICES
Though Farmers State Bank of Hoffman continues to expand operations to better serve its customers, the community institution has no plans of abandoning its small-town roots.
Founded in 1911, with a total of 43 employees across branches in Hoffman, Central City and Hoyleton, Farmers has made a name for itself by remaining a true community bank.
“The bank has been one of the few in the area that has not changed hands a lot over the years. It is the same bank it has been,” Macon said. “I push that we need to offer more digital opportunities for our customers, while still not forgetting those who come in.”
Macon said the bank will introduce several new digital services this spring in an effort to help streamline the customer experience and offer more options to those who bank online.
“In April, we are going to outsource some of our services that will allow us to run a little more efficiently and hopefully give us more flexibility on what we can offer,” said Macon. “That includes online account opening, with the hope that we can expand our footprint, even if that’s through more digital avenues. We can retain customers and bank more people in the way they need to be banked.”
Macon mentioned additions to the bank’s commercial services as well, designed to assist with bill pay, eliminating third parties from transactions, and more.
“On the commercial side, we are looking for ways to expand our offerings and have recently taken on some ways that we hope we can help serve commercial customers,” he said. “We are looking for ways for businesses to pay their bills via ACH by having them create their own ACH file and sending it in.”
Having just remodeled the Hoffman branch within the last four years, the bank is planning to update its Central City location in 2024, as well as provide upgrades to equipment and protocol, in each location.
“We are remodeling our Central City branch this year as well as some things we have done to our teller lines,” said Macon. “We have just added cash recyclers, again with the hope that we can make the bank run more efficiently for our customers. We are making upgrades and retraining our tellers to hopefully create a more seamless experience.”
Despite the coming advancements, several of which remove the need for in-person service, Macon insisted Farmer’s would continue to be the community bank it has been.
“We really pride ourselves on offering a lot of the services that larger banks do, but with the community bank feel,” Macon explained. “When someone comes in, we know their name, we know their families. We try to treat every customer like they are the most important customer we have, regardless of deposit account size or loan size.”
Farmer’s State Bank of Hoffman
100 W. 4th St. Hoffman, IL
618-495-2225
