History

In 1909, F.L. Berry and John Wiley laid the foundation of The Farmers Bank. Six years later, The Farmers State Bank of West Salem was established and incorporated. The original board of directors included visionaries such as F.L. Berry, W.H. Horst, N.W. Zimmerman, J.H. Wiley, J.A. Hines, W.S. Zehner, O.B. Dreibelbis, J.L. Van Evera, and S.A. Read. Building on this strong start, The Farmers State Bank continued to flourish and in 1922, it acquired the Bank of West Salem, which was originally founded by Samuel Wood in 1902. 

Throughout its early years, the bank thrived under the leadership of Charles McBride. Having joined the bank in 1919, McBride dedicated 40 years to its success, serving in various roles. Starting as an assistant cashier, he rose through the ranks to become vice president in 1947. McBride’s commitment extended beyond The Farmers State Bank, as he also served as President of the Ohio Bankers Association. His wife, Bessie (Bahl) McBride, was an integral part of the bank for an impressive 65 years, retiring in 1975. 

As the banking landscape evolved, The Farmers State Bank expanded its operations. In the 1960s, new offices were established, featuring a night depository and drive-in window to cater to the growing needs of its customers. Recognizing the need for future growth, in 1991, the bank transformed into Farmers State Bank (FSB) within a one bank holding company named Community Independent Bancorp, Inc. 

Committed to improving its services, the West Salem branch built a new building in 2017, gaining additional space and currently resides as our bank headquarters. 

In the early 1990s, the Farmers State Bank network expanded with additional branches, including: 

• Baney Road, Ashland (1991) 
• East Main Street, Ashland (1998) 
• North Main Street, Marshallville (2005) 
• North Main Street, Rittman (2006) 
• West Liberty Street, Wooster (2019)