History
In late 1998, several business and professional people in Cheatham County, noted and discussed that area banks were being acquired by non-local interests. It was the consensus of this group that there may exist a business opportunity in chartering a bank to be owned, directed, and operated by local residents. On January 27, 1999, Joe M. Empson, James T. Perry, Debbie C. Thrash, Ronald Brown, Tracy S. Oliver, Evie L. Sommers, and Richard Murray (the “Organizers”) filed a Notice of Intent to Organize a State Bank with the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI), and an Application for Federal Deposit Insurance with the Regional Director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). This notice was officially accepted and filed by the Commissioner February 19, 1999.
On March 1, 1999, Community Bank & Trust Company of Cheatham County, hired its first paid employee, Stephanie L. Walker, a life-long resident of Cheatham County, and began its organizational phase in the “log cabin” (formerly Harlow Chiropractic Clinic) on the corner of Highway 70 and Sams Creek Road in Pegram. By the second week of April 1999, Debbie C. Thrash and Stephanie L. Walker had submitted the bank’s final application to the TDFI and the FDIC. In May of 1999, Johnnie Marlin from Springfield, Tennessee was hired, and the bank moved its organizational offices to the “Cathcart Building” located at 501 South Main Street in Ashland City, Tennessee.
Over the next four months and upon the approval of regulatory authorities, preparations were made to open the bank to the public in October 1999. Issues addressed included bank facilities, personnel, and products and services to be offered.
On October 4, 1999, Community Bank & Trust Company of Cheatham County received its Certificate of Authority from the TDFI, and it’s Certificate of Federal Deposit Insurance from the FDIC. The bank hosted a homecoming celebration the week of October 8, to signify the bank’s opening and the return of community banking to Cheatham County.
Being in operation for only ten weeks, the bank, with offices located at 501 South Main Street in Ashland City, Tennessee and 704 Highway 70 in Pegram, Tennessee, ended 1999 with approximately $17.3 million in total assets. The bank began construction of its permanent facilities in April 2000 and moved into the new offices in October 2000.
As of February 28, 2001, the bank had total assets of approximately $37 million. In March 2001, the Bank filed an application to open a new office in Kingston Springs. This office officially opened for business December 10, 2001. The new office has approximately 2,000 sq. ft. and is located at 101 W. Kingston Springs Road, Suite A in Kingston Springs, Tennessee.
In January 2002, the Bank filed an application to open a new office in Pleasant View. This new office located at 2566 Hwy 49W, Pleasant View, Tennessee officially opened for business December 17, 2002.
In September 2002, the bank opened its Mortgage Loan Department in the Kingston Springs Office at 101 W. Kingston Springs Road, Kingston Springs, Tennessee. In September 2003, the Mortgage Loan Department was moved to the Pleasant View location at 2566 Highway 49 E., Pleasant View, Tennessee in order to service the needs of the Bank’s market areas including Ashland City, Pegram, Kingston Springs and Pleasant View.
In April 2003, Community Bank & Trust of Cheatham County made application to form a one-bank holding company, Community Trust, Inc. This application was approved by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions and became effective January 1, 2004. All Community Bank & Trust Company of Cheatham County stock was exchanged share for share for Community Trust, Inc.
In 2005, the bank filed an application to open a new office in Springfield, Tennessee. This new office located at 3564 Tom Austin Highway, Springfield, Tennessee, officially opened for business April 18, 2005. Johnnie Marlin, the Bank’s Executive Vice President, was selected to become the County President for the Robertson County market due to his deep roots in the community.
As a result of the bank’s expansion into Robertson County, the Board of Directors approved the recommendation of President Debbie Thrash to amend the Bank’s Charter changing the name from Community Bank & Trust Company of Cheatham County to Community Bank & Trust. This name change was approved by the Tennessee Secretary of State, Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in May 2005.
In January 2008, Shayne Bell was promoted to the position of County President for Cheatham County.
With success comes growth and expansion. In the fall of 2008, the Main Office expansion was completed with the addition of a new 7,300 sq. ft. administration building which houses the operations department, accounting, compliance, marketing and information systems and security. Once the administrative personnel relocated to the new administration building, the Credit Administration Department relocated to the upstairs offices of the Main Office. During the first quarter of 2007, centralized loan processing was implemented.
The bank made history by building the first cross-walk in Ashland City that connected the administration building with the existing facility. The mortgage loan department was moved to the lower level of the administration building during the first quarter of 2007.
Our Mission
Community Bank & Trust is dedicated to providing quality financial products and services that add value to our community, while maintaining family-like relationships with our employees, customers, and shareholders.
Vision Statement:
Community Bank & Trust aspires to be the premier financial services provider in the communities we serve.
