Bank of Edmonson County Celebrates 100 Years in Business With Community Gathering

Bank of Edmonson County celebrated their 100th Anniversary with a community gathering today.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
One hundred years of anything is impressive but in a small community like Edmonson County, seeing a business celebrate its 100th anniversary stronger than it's ever been is downright amazing.

Bank of Edmonson County celebrated such a milestone today with hundreds in attendance at their Brownsville branch.

The Bank, which has been one of the most prominent and influential business in Edmonson County, was front and center on Main Street today with a large tent set up in the parking lot along with a giant video screen. Attendees enjoyed a video presentation that focused on the Bank's history and legacy as food, drinks, and other goodies were given away.  

The crowd gathers before the celebration begins.

The Bank first opened on October 5, 1925 and was founded by Jesse T. Alexander, his brothers Luther F. Alexander and David W. Alexander, along with George W. Woodcock and N.E. (Ed) Vincent. What started out as a $15,000 bank has now ballooned into a $200M enterprise. 

Speaking at today's event were loan officer Michael Meredith, President Alex Ulm, U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie, Bank CEO Michelle Coleman, and Executive Vice President Mike Thompson. 

Each talked about the bank's history, legacy, and all focused on community involvement.

Bank President Alex Ulm addresses the crowd.

Bank loan officer Michael Meredith addresses the crowd.

Bank CEO Michelle Coleman shares her thoughts on the celebration with the audience.

Alex Ulm told the Edmonson Voice that today's celebration made him reflect on generation after generation of local people who have been served by the Bank.

"I'm thankful that we have the opportunity to have that for 100 years," he said. "I'm grateful that our friends, our family, our neighbors, they've chosen us, and I'm thankful for all of our customers. On a beautiful day like this, we must be living right," he joked. "I'm grateful to see the community come out for this show of support."

Michael Meredith, who also serves as the county's State Representative, mentioned 2025's combination of celebrating 100 years for the Bank and 200 years for the county.

"It's a great run of history but it wouldn't be possible without the people and employees that have been such an important part of this place, and certainly not without the community support." 

With that community support, he said the Bank has always tried to return the favor.

"We as the bank have always tried our best to support the community, to be involved in it the best ways we can, but because of the community's involvement with us, that has been the secret to our success," said Meredith.

Michelle Coleman told the Edmonson Voice that "legacy" is what kept coming to her mind.

"Sometimes you can have lots of meanings for legacy, but just continuing the legacy of customer service," she said. "Continuing the legacy of giving a people a local choice to bank and to do so right here at home."

She also spoke of branching out into Smiths Grove and Bowling Green.

"When we started growing, we were appreciative of any new customers that we got, but we were thinking about our hometown folks. So many people from our county commute to work, and we wanted to be on their commute and make it easy to bank with us."

She also talked about the culture of the Bank, which revolved around Christian principles, family, and support. 

"We have been so fortunate to employ Edmonson County's best and brightest, and even at our branch locations the majority of the time, they are Edmonson County folks, and we take pride in that. As I said, we've always had a legacy of education. We use the Kentucky Banker's Association Programs. We want people to further their education even while they're working here. The tuition reimbursement program my mom started (Jeanne Patton), you know, we value education here because we know that we can't be great bankers if we can't continue to have those opportunities given to our staff."

We asked her what it meant to know how much impact the Bank has had on the community, specifically in her lifetime. She referenced the first electronic scoreboard constructed at the high school baseball field in the early 80s that proudly displayed "Bank of Edmonson County" on top of the board.

"I think one of my favorite pictures in the video we showed today was my grandfather, and Ed Houchins, Owen, and Scotty standing under that scoreboard. I mean, I don't know exactly when that was, but you know, they set that precedent, and we are just following that pattern, like when the school system has a need. Because as I said, the kids of Edmonson County are the future. I mean, they are future business leaders. They are our future ambassadors of the county to move it forward, and I'm so excited. I feel like Edmonson County, in the last 10 years especially, has really grown, thrived, and developed. It has some great leadership to hopefully make it even better. I've always been so proud to live here and when anybody ever asks me where I'm from, I tell them, "Edmonson County," and I'm very proud of to say it."

U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie presents the Congressional Record of his commemoration of the event.

Congressman Brett Guthrie read to the crowd the official Congressional Record that he presented in honor of the Bank's 100th anniversary. He presented a printed copy to Mrs. Jeanne Patton Chairman of the Board.

Mrs. Patton served decades at the bank in various roles. She described today as "just amazing."

"We are so grateful for everybody that came to share it with us," she said. "That's a long time and a lot happens in 100 years, and I remember when I was a little girl, my grandfather was still alive. So I remember him, and then the generations to come, my father, my uncle, and now Scotty (Woodcock) and Ed (Houchins) and me and Sarah (Gray), and now we've got a new generation with Michael and Michelle and Alex."

The Bank also recently completed a comprehensive remodel to the Brownsville branch, with new roofing, HVAC, upgraded drive-through services, and a facelift inside. 

The federal holiday of Columbus Day caused the Bank to be closed for official business today but a huge community turnout made for a great birthday party. They will open tomorrow morning as they continue their legacy, working on their next 100 year milestone.