Farmers Bank, a community bank founded in 1919 to serve farmers, businesses and families in Isle of Wight County and surrounding communities, is the recipient of the inaugural Business Excellence Award given by the Isle of Wight County Department of Economic Development in conjunction with its annual Business Appreciation Month celebration.

The award celebrates a top-notch company that is dedicated to excellence and helps make Isle of Wight County a more vibrant place to live, work and do business. This year, the award honors the memory of Thomas D. “Tom” Elder, Jr., former Isle of Wight County Director of Economic Development, who passed away unexpectedly in 2018.

“We are honored and proud to be the recipient of the Isle of Wight County Business Excellence Award presented by the County in which Farmers Bank was organized 100 years ago,” said Richard J. Holland, Jr., Chairman of the Board & CEO. “If we have excelled, the good people of our County have contributed significantly to our success over the years.  Isle of Wight County has been gracious to Farmers Bank and we are very appreciative.”

One-hundred years ago five local business leaders planted the seed for a new bank in Windsor. Shirley T. Holland, who was a recent college graduate, became the first cashier and later president of the locally-owned financial institution. Farmers Bank strives to provide the community with prompt, courteous service. Its core values of courtesy, promptness, reliability and security have remained unchanged, while the products and services it offers have continually improved and evolved to meet the needs of every customer. The bank’s strength comes from the fact that it is uniquely reliable. Few banks have the gratification of serving their community for so long without being acquired by a larger bank. Farmers Bank’s goal is to continue to serve the businesses and families in the community well into the future.

Farmers Bank also contributes greatly to the local community by sponsoring Woman’s Club and Ruritan events, the Windsor Christmas parade, Fourth of July celebration and the Isle of Wight County Fair. The bank also sponsors Isle of Wight Chamber events such as the new young professionals’ program “Eats for 8” and the Isle of Wight Community Foundation’s “Flavors of Isle of Wight.”

Farmers Bank has offices in Windsor, Smithfield, Suffolk, Chesapeake and Courtland, visit them on the web at www.farmersbankva.com or find them on Facebook.