Question 1

What is First Bankers Trust?

Accepted Answer

First Bankers Trust is a community-oriented commercial bank serving West-Central Illinois since 1946. As a National Association bank operating under First Bankers Trust Company, N.A., it provides comprehensive financial services to individuals, businesses, and agricultural customers across multiple Illinois counties and into Missouri.

With approximately $1.24 billion in total assets and 9 branch locations, First Bankers Trust has established itself as the largest bank in Adams County, Illinois. The bank operates as a subsidiary of First Bankers Trustshares, Inc., a publicly traded bank holding company with stock trading over-the-counter under the symbol FBTT.

Question 2

When was First Bankers Trust founded?

Accepted Answer

First Bankers Trust traces its origins to 1946, when it was established as Broadway National Bank. The bank was born during the post-Great Depression era in response to community needs on the north side of Quincy, Illinois.

A large group of businessmen and farmers, led by attorney Delbert Loos, met to discuss establishing a bank in that area. The bank opened on opening day at 1201 Broadway in Quincy with six employees and J.E. Kline as its first President, hired from a bank in Liberty.

The institution underwent several name changes throughout its history. In 1980, Broadway National Bank changed its name to First National Bank. In 1984, it merged with Community National Bank and joined an affiliation with First Midwest Banks, becoming First Midwest Bank of Quincy.

On August 25, 1988, First Bankers Trustshares Inc., the holding company, was formed under the leadership of Donald Gnuse. The bank was purchased by First Bankers Trustshares Inc. on June 30, 1989, and renamed First Bankers Trust Company, N.A., the name it carries today.

Question 3

Where is First Bankers Trust headquartered?

Accepted Answer

First Bankers Trust is headquartered in Quincy, Illinois, at 1201 Broadway Street. Quincy, located in Adams County, sits on the Mississippi River in West-Central Illinois, approximately 120 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri.

The bank maintains its main office and operations center in Quincy, which serves as the hub for its regional banking network.

Question 4

Where does First Bankers Trust operate?

Accepted Answer

First Bankers Trust operates primarily across West-Central Illinois with locations in multiple counties and a growing presence in Missouri. The bank maintains branch locations in:

Illinois branches:
• Quincy (Adams County) - Multiple locations including 1201 Broadway, 3333 Broadway, 2321 Kochs Lane, and 500 S. 24th Street
• Mendon (Adams County) - 101 Collins Street
• Carthage (Hancock County) - 1395 Buchanan Street
• Macomb (McDonough County) - Two locations at 440 N. Lafayette Street and East Lafayette Street
• Rushville (Schuyler County) - 116 S. Congress Street
• Springfield (Sangamon County) - 2201 Wabash Avenue

Loan Production Offices:
• O'Fallon, Illinois - 821 W Hwy 50 Suite 103
• St. Charles, Missouri - 5988 Mid Rivers Mall Dr. Suite 221

The bank has established a market presence in adjacent counties throughout Illinois and Missouri, serving the broader Quincy, IL-MO metropolitan area.

Question 5

What services does First Bankers Trust offer?

Accepted Answer

First Bankers Trust provides a comprehensive suite of banking services tailored to personal, business, and agricultural customers:

Personal Banking:
• Checking accounts including "Simply FREE Checking"
• Savings accounts and certificates of deposit
• Residential mortgage loans
• Consumer loans for vehicles, boats, home improvements, and other purposes
• Online and mobile banking platforms

Business Banking:
• Commercial lending and lines of credit
• Small business loans
• Cash management services
• Business checking and savings accounts

Agricultural Lending:
• Farm operating loans
• Agricultural real estate financing
• Equipment and livestock financing
• Crop production financing

Specialized Lending Divisions:
• Buck Land Funding (launched 2021) - Specialized financing for recreational and hunting land in the Midwest, primarily focused on Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri
• MHC Funding (launched 2022) - Financing for mobile home communities and parks

Digital Banking:
• Mobile banking app with comprehensive account management
• Online banking platform for consumers and businesses
• Digital loan applications and payments
• 24-hour ATM access at all branch locations
• MoneyPass ATM network participation

Trust and Wealth Management:
• First Bankers Trust Services operates as an affiliate company providing trust and investment services

Question 6

What makes First Bankers Trust unique?

Accepted Answer

First Bankers Trust distinguishes itself through several notable characteristics:

Specialized Niche Markets: The bank has developed two highly specialized lending divisions that set it apart from typical community banks. Buck Land Funding focuses exclusively on financing recreational and hunting land, leveraging the bank's location in prime whitetail deer habitat and the outdoor expertise of its bankers and directors. MHC Funding specializes in the unique financial needs of mobile home community financing.

Agricultural Expertise: With deep roots in farming communities, First Bankers Trust offers sophisticated agricultural lending programs backed by bankers who understand the cyclical nature and specific needs of farm operations. The bank serves farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses across multiple agricultural sectors.

Community Banking Heritage: Despite holding over $1.2 billion in assets, the bank maintains a community banking philosophy where customers are treated as individuals with names, not account numbers. This approach combines the resources of a substantial financial institution with personalized, relationship-based service.

Local Leadership and Ownership: As the largest bank in Adams County, First Bankers Trust remains locally focused with a public holding company structure (FBTT) that allows community investment while maintaining independence from larger regional or national banking networks.

Long-Term Stability: With over 75 years of continuous operation through various economic cycles, name changes, and strategic acquisitions, the bank has demonstrated resilience and commitment to its market area.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is First Bankers Trust?

Accepted Answer

First Bankers Trust is a National Association Commercial Bank, operating under the designation "First Bankers Trust Company, N.A." The "N.A." designation indicates it is chartered as a national bank under federal banking regulations and supervised by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

As a commercial bank, First Bankers Trust serves a broad customer base including individuals, businesses, and agricultural operations. It functions as a traditional depository institution that accepts deposits and originates loans across multiple categories including residential mortgages, consumer loans, small business loans, agricultural loans, and specialized recreational property financing.

The bank operates as a community bank, meaning it focuses on serving specific geographic markets rather than operating nationally. It emphasizes relationship banking and local decision-making while offering the full range of services expected from a modern financial institution.

First Bankers Trust is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Bankers Trustshares, Inc., making it part of a single-bank holding company structure. This arrangement provides access to capital markets while maintaining local control and community focus.

Question 8

What is First Bankers Trust's approach to community involvement?

Accepted Answer

First Bankers Trust emphasizes community reinvestment as a core principle of its operations. The bank views giving back to the communities it serves as equally important as the products and services it provides.

Giving is embedded as one of the company's nine core principles, and the institution actively encourages both corporate philanthropy and individual employee volunteerism. The bank's mission statement explicitly aims to "help our customers and communities achieve their dreams," reflecting a philosophy that extends beyond traditional banking transactions.

This community commitment manifests through local leadership, with a board and management team comprised of experienced banking professionals and local business leaders who have deep ties to the regions served. The bank maintains local decision-making authority, allowing it to respond quickly to community needs and opportunities.

Question 9

How has First Bankers Trust grown and evolved?

Accepted Answer

First Bankers Trust has grown strategically through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions over its 75-year history. Key growth milestones include:

Early Expansion (1960s-1980s): The bank expanded from its original Broadway location multiple times as it outgrew facilities, adding drive-up windows, bookkeeping departments, and establishing Community National Bank as an affiliate before branch banking was legal in Illinois.

Strategic Acquisitions: In 2004, the bank acquired five branches from Union Bank, expanding into Paloma, Carthage, Macomb, and Rushville. In 2009, it acquired a Springfield branch from First Banks Inc. of St. Louis, extending its reach into Sangamon County.

Specialized Division Development: The bank launched Buck Land Funding in 2021 and MHC Funding in 2022, representing strategic moves into specialized lending niches that leverage the bank's expertise and market position.

Leadership Transitions: The bank has had only four Presidents/CEOs in its history, with Donald Gnuse serving for decades before Art Greenbank took over in 2002, followed by Allen Shafer in 2015, demonstrating continuity and stability in leadership.

Geographic Expansion: The bank recently entered the Metro East market with a loan production office in O'Fallon, Illinois, and established a presence in Missouri with an office in St. Charles, expanding beyond its traditional West-Central Illinois footprint.

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