Friendship State Bank Now Open In Lawrenceburg

Press release from Friendship State Bank (Friendship, Ind.) - The Friendship State Bank has been rooted in southeast Indiana for a century and this spring two new branches sprouted in Madison and Lawrenceburg. Friendship prides itself in sensible growth. It first branched out from the Friendship, Indiana headquarters in 1989 opening a location in Dillsboro. The Rising Sun (1998), Versailles (2000), Vevay (2006), Batesville (2009), Madison and Lawrenceburg (2016) locations followed at the request of their customers. “The Friendship State Bank has enjoyed doing business with folks in Madison and Lawrenceburg for years,” CEO Chris Meyer shared. “We are excited to now serve them at more convenient locations.” Friendship is a part of many employees’ and customers’ family history including insurance agent Greg Hughes. Hughes recounts the story of his grandmother in need of a new refrigerator. She had two cows. Friendship State Bank loaned her the funds with the arrangement that when the cows calved each year, one would be sold for the annual loan payment while the other would be kept to feed the family. “Friendship has always been my family’s bank,” Hughes shared. “I have never really considered another bank as a customer so when my family and I moved back here from Ohio, I applied right away and the rest is history. I love it that Friendship is still people oriented.” Trends and regulations change, but Lawrenceburg branch manager Jody McGuire appreciates the company’s legacy of customer service and common sense banking. “We aren’t driven by sales, but much more so by customer service,” she shared. “It makes working here more enjoyable because you aren’t being pushed to reach sales goals or push products.” “It was refreshing to come from a small company to one with over 100 employees and still find that Friendship values always treating the customer right,” Matt Fox said who joined Friendship when Fox Insurance grafted into Friendship Insurance in 2010. Loan officer and vice president, John Rumsey shares that Friendship’s tradition of care and concern starts with the leadership. “From the board of directors down, everyone cares about our customers and employees,” Rumsey explained. “Everyone will do whatever it takes to help our customers. That is what has made this bank great.” Friendship’s growth led to 22 budding new positions since January. They are grateful to have an immediate positive impact on the area by offering good-paying, fulfilling jobs. So what is Friendship reaching for next? “The best part of being an independent community bank is that we make our own decisions,” Meyer shared. “So what’s next? We are going to settle in to these great communities and do what we do best, serve.”