April 30th, 2020 - At First Community Bank and Trust we recognize that being a community bank means going the extra mile for our customers. We also know that this pandemic has been especially hard on small business owners. For those reasons, we are so grateful to have been able to assist many of them through the Paycheck Protection Program. Our relationship with our local businesses is a true partnership, and we want to help in any way we can during this trying time. We are very pleased to Read More

Shop Local for National Small Business Week May 3–9 Beecher, IL (May, 2020)—First Community Bank and Trust and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA)® encourage Americans to support their local economies by shopping at small businesses during National Small Business Week, May 3–9. Small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. annually. “As a small business ourselves, FCBT values America’s entrepreneurs and is committed Read More

“No plan survives first contact.” We’ve all heard the phrase. It can apply to business or bedtime negotiations with your toddler. You made a budget in the cold of January, assessed your goals for the year, and an unexpected opportunity has drained your capital reserves by July. Despite your best efforts, you’re tight on cash, but your employees still expect a paycheck. Where do you turn? Here are a few things to consider to get through your cash crunch. Speed up your Read More

As we celebrate our nation’s birth this Fourth of July, we are proud to represent our country’s independent spirit as community bankers, contributing to our nation’s economic well-being through service to our customers and communities. At First Community Bank and Trust it’s the relationship, not the transaction, that governs our practices and interactions with customers and distinguishes us as independent lenders. Because we are locally owned and operated, we understand Read More

Support local commerce during National Small Business Week May 5-11 May 5th, 2019 – First Community Bank and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA)® are lending their voices to the thousands of organizations nationwide encouraging Americans to shop locally and help support their local economies during National Small Business Week (May 5-11). Small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. annually. More than 50 percent of Americans either own Read More

On Friday, November 13th, First Community Bank and Trust Senior Vice President, Karen Burgess and Commercial Loan Officer, Cameron Ohlendorf attended the 13th Annual Community Bankers Symposium hosted at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.  Speakers included Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President and CEO Charles Evans, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Jelena McWilliams, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) Joseph Otting. Topics of the Read More