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"The
Bremen Bank Company" was opened in 1897 by Howard M.
Shelhamer, a highly respected Bremen dry goods store owner.
At that time, his store was the largest merchandising
establishment in Fairfield County.
Mr.
Shelhamer had kept money in his store for Bremen area farmers
and other residents who wanted to make a withdrawal when they
needed it. In 1896, a salesman suggested that Mr.
Shelhamer start a bank. That idea, along with $50,000 in
capital from various friends and business associates, helped to
give The Bremen Bank Company its start. The bank
incorporated in 1906 with Shelhamer as President, J.J. Welch,
vice president, G.E. Turner, cashier, and George Frasch,
assistant cashier.
In
1910, The First National Bank opened on Main Street in Bremen
amidst the area's new oil drilling boom. The two banks
would later merge and become "The First Bremen Bank"
in June, 1927. Mr. Shelhamer continued as president until
his death in 1933.
Mr.
Robert Alt became President and Chief Executive Officer in 1956
and continued until 1995. Under his leadership, two new
locations in Lancaster were added. The Lancaster locations of
the East Main Street Office and the West Fair Office were added
in 1985 and 1989 respectively. The Operations Department was
established in 1996 at its current location on US 33. On July 8,
2002, a division of First Bremen Bank, Canal Banking Center,
opened its doors at 6360 Prentiss School Drive in Canal
Winchester. On December 19, 2006, a division of the First
Bremen Bank, Bremen Bank of Pataskala, opened its doors at 700
Corylus Drive in Pataskala, Ohio.
In
1984, The First Bremen Bank became affiliated with Community
Bancshares, Inc. Robert Will, Jr. is the Chairman of
Community Bancshares which also owns Vinton
County National Bank and Ross
County Banking Center.
Thomas
D. Will is the current President of Community Bancshares, Inc.,
as well as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the First
Bremen Bank. He joined the bank in 1984 as Assistant
Vice President and became President and CEO in 1993, a position
he had held until December of 2000. Ronald B. Collins was
appointed to the position of President and CEO in December of
2000.
The
philosophy of The First Bremen Bank has always been its
friendliness. From its humble beginnings in a dry goods
store to the present, customers have been treated with courtesy,
respect, and old-fashioned friendliness. The community has
responded by making this a very successful company in Bremen,
Lancaster, Fairfield County, and beyond. That's why our
customers know us as The Friendly Bremen Bank. |
