Press Releases
THE VILLAGE BANK OFFICIALLY JOINS FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WATERLOO
(ST. LIBORY, ILL., – JULY 24, 2023) The First National Bank of Waterloo has acquired The Village Bank and celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony at its new St. Libory location.
The ribbon cutting ceremony took place Friday, July 21, at 4 p.m. The event was well attended by the FNBW and Village Bank teams who are excited about the successes the merger will bring. The St. Libory community is full of rich history and is a great place to expand business to.
“First National Bank of Waterloo is delighted to welcome both customers and employees of The Village Bank into our bank family,” said President and CEO Rick Parks. “Our goal is to build upon the long, rich legacy of faithfully serving the financial needs of St. Libory, New Athens and Marissa just as Village has done for over 100 years.”
The St. Libory Banking Center is located at 856 Sparta Street, off Route 15. The brick building features a historic turret clock that captures the traditional and wholesome Midwestern essence of St. Libory. The three Village Bank locations in St. Libory, Marissa, and New Athens were all converted to The First National Bank of Waterloo on July 17.
First National Bank of Waterloo has over $900 million in total assets and 13 other banking centers in Central and Southern Illinois. Banking centers are located in Waterloo, Columbia, Millstadt, O’Fallon, Swansea, Dupo, Smithton, Collinsville, Maryville, Effingham, and Stewardson. For more information about First National Bank of Waterloo, please visit fnbwaterloo.bank or stop by any banking center.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WATERLOO COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF THE VILLAGE BANK
(WATERLOO, ILL., – NOVEMBER 30, 2022) First National Bank of Waterloo is pleased to announce that its parent company, First Waterloo Bancshares, Inc., Waterloo, Illinois, has acquired the outstanding shares of common stock of Village Bancshares, Inc., St. Libory, Illinois. The transaction closed on November 30, 2022.
“The Village Bank is a strong strategic and cultural fit for us and I am truly excited about the positive impact our combined company will have in the St. Libory, New Athens, and Marissa communities. Together, we have the capabilities and scale with a community-based model to help us better serve new and existing customers, businesses, and communities. We believe that we are stronger together,” said Rick Parks, President, and CEO of First National Bank of Waterloo.
The partnering of First National Bank of Waterloo and The Village Bank is expected to:
NEW FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WATERLOO BANKING CENTER TO OPEN JULY 11TH
(O’FALLON, Ill., – June 29, 2022) The First National Bank of Waterloo’s new banking center in the heart of the O’Fallon-Shiloh retail district will be open for business on July 11 th .
The center is located at 1177 North Green Mount Rd., across from Dierbergs Crossing and adjacent to the Shoppes at Richland Creek. This more prominent location with easy access to I-64 will make it more convenient for our customers to bank with us while running their errands.
The new two-story location is also home to a commercial real estate business and a title company, making it a financial destination for more than just banking.
ACQUISITION OF VILLAGE BANCSHARES
(Waterloo, Ill., – June 9, 2022) Rick R. Parks, President and CEO, First National Bank of Waterloo and its parent company, First Waterloo Bancshares, Inc., and Kathleen L. Cook, President and CEO of The Village Bank and its parent company, Village Bancshares, Inc., are pleased to announce the signing of an Agreement and Plan of Merger. First Waterloo Bancshares, Inc., Waterloo, Illinois, will acquire the outstanding shares of common stock of Village Bancshares, Inc., St. Libory, Illinois. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“First National Bank of Waterloo and The Village Bank are two relationship-focused community banks that have rich histories, compatible cultures and shared commitment to helping our clients achieve financial success. We believe that we are stronger together and can better serve the needs of our customers and our communities through this merger. We also believe that The Village Bank customers will benefit greatly from the expanded products and resources First National Bank is able to bring to the table.” states Rick Parks.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WATERLOO HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AT NEW SWANSEA BANKING CENTER
(Swansea, Ill., – July 28, 2021) First National Bank of Waterloo recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its 13th banking center located in Swansea.
The Swansea Banking Center is located at 4101 N Illinois Street. Swansea Mayor, Mayor Leopold, and several Chamber members of both the Metro-East Regional Chamber and O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce attended the event. Several staff members, Board members and business colleagues were also in attendance to help celebrate this momentous occasion. As part of the ribbon cutting, First National Bank of Waterloo also presented a donation to the PTOEC (Parent Teacher Organization for Exceptional Children), showing their dedication and support to the community.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WATERLOO ANNOUNCES SWANSEA LOCATION
(Swansea, Ill., – April 1, 2021) First National Bank of Waterloo has announced it will be opening its fourteenth banking center. The new location will be in Swansea, Illinois.
“First National Bank of Waterloo is excited to become part of Swansea and to serve the banking needs of that great community with our first-class, personal service,” says President & CEO, Rick Parks. “We had a loan production office in Swansea years before opening our O’Fallon, IL banking center, so we are excited to soon offer a full-service location here. This expansion allows us to better serve the businesses and residents of St. Clair County from a convenient Swansea location.”
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WATERLOO PROMOTES MARK LAPLANTZ TO SVP & CHIEF LENDING OFFICER
(Waterloo, Ill. – February 16, 2021) First National Bank of Waterloo recently promoted Mark LaPlantz to Senior Vice President/Chief Lending Officer.
LaPlantz joined the bank in August 2011 and has consistently been one of the bank’s highest producing lenders, especially in developing commercial banking relationships.
“As with most banks, loans are our largest earning asset and Mark will oversee all areas of our lending function,” said Rick Parks, First National Bank of Waterloo President. “He is well-respected in the business community and has the skills to lead us forward. I am confident in his abilities and we are grateful to have him in this position.”
RICK PARKS ELECTED TO ILLINOIS BANKERS ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS – Rick Parks, president and CEO of First National Bank of Waterloo, has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Bankers Association (IBA). The election was held on June 16 during the organization’s virtual Annual Conference.
Parks has over 32 years of banking experience in the Metro-East area. Most of his focus has been in commercial banking, lending and cash management with small to medium sized banks including Magna Bank (n/k/a Regions Bank), Centrue Bank, TheBANK of Edwardsville (n/k/a Busey Bank) and now with First National Bank of Waterloo.
BEST HOMETOWN BANK OFFICIALLY BECOMES FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WATERLOO
(Collinsville, Ill. – June 29, 2020) Best Hometown Bank has officially merged into First National Bank of Waterloo. The bank’s two Madison County locations in Collinsville and Maryville, Illinois will now be First National Bank of Waterloo locations, which expands First National Bank of Waterloo’s reach to 10 cities in five counties with 13 banking centers.
First National Bank of Waterloo President, Rick Parks, said while the name has changed, customers will still see the same familiar faces and enjoy the same personal service they’ve come to expect.
“The same employees that customers enjoyed working with at Best Hometown Bank will still be there,” said Parks. “Best Hometown Bank has been serving the Madison County area for over 133 years. We value that history and are excited about the opportunity to build on the strong tradition. First National Bank of Waterloo has been serving its customers for 108 years and for all the reasons people were Best Hometown Bank customers, we think they’ll feel right at home at First National Bank of Waterloo, and we look forward to giving them many reasons to proudly say, ‘That’s My Bank!’”
FIRST WATERLOO BANCSHARES, INC. ACQUIRES BEST HOMETOWN BANCORP, INC., COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS
(Waterloo, IL – February 5, 2020) Gary D. Hemmer, President & CEO of First Waterloo Bancshares Inc., announced that the acquisition of Best Hometown Bancorp, Inc., the parent company of Best Hometown Bank, was completed on February 5, 2020. The bank has two banking centers serving Madison County in Collinsville and Maryville, Illinois.
“This expands our organization into Madison County,” said Hemmer. “Best Hometown Bank has been serving the Madison County area for the past 133 years and we are excited about the opportunity to partner with them and to build on their tradition.” Hemmer noted that Best Hometown Bank would remain a separate bank until systems are converted later in the year.
“This is a bitter sweet day, as we move forward under different ownership; however, we are confident we have found a great partner,” said Ron Shambaugh, President & CEO, Best Hometown Bancorp, Inc. “We are looking forward to expanding our product offering and to having increased lending limits. It is truly amazing how similar the philosophies are of the two organizations.”
As of December 31, 2019, First Waterloo Bancshares, Inc. had total assets of $492 million. The bank currently has 11 banking centers serving Waterloo, Columbia, Millstadt, Dupo, O’Fallon, Smithton, Effingham, and Stewardson, Illinois. Best Hometown Bancorp, Inc. had total assets of $112 million as of December 31, 2019.
Forward-Looking Statements.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Any statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believes,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “predicts,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “estimate,” “plans,” “projects,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expects,” “intends” and similar words or phrases. Accordingly, these statements are only predictions and involve estimates, known and unknown risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in them. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including as a result of factors outside First Waterloo Bancshares, Inc.’s or Best Hometown Bancorp, Inc.’s, control, such as economic and other conditions in the markets in which the companies and their subsidiary banks operate; inability to complete the transaction announced today or delays in completing the transaction; managements’ ability to effectively execute their respective business plans; inflation, interest rate, cost of funds, securities market and monetary fluctuations; changes in laws and regulations; and competition. All forward-looking statements are necessarily only estimates of future results, and there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations, and, therefore, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Collinsville Banking Center
Maryville Banking Center
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WATERLOO ANNOUNCES NEW BANK PRESIDENT
(Waterloo, IL – January 27, 2020) The First National Bank of Waterloo and Robert Hoffmann, Chairman of the Board, announced that Rick Parks will succeed Gary Hemmer as the bank’s president.
“We are delighted to have Rick Parks join the First National Bank of Waterloo as the new president,” said Hoffmann. Parks will become the bank’s ninth president spanning the bank’s history of 108 years.”
Parks follows Hemmer who recently announced his retirement effective June 30, 2020.
Parks has over 30 years of bank experience. Most recently he was Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking at TheBANK of Edwardsville. He also has worked for Centrue Bank as Regional President and Regions Bank as Senior Vice President, Corporate Sales Team Leader. Parks has been active and involved with various community and civic organizations.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WATERLOO PRESIDENT AND CEO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
(Waterloo, IL – January 21, 2020) First National Bank of Waterloo and President and CEO Gary Hemmer announced his intention to retire on June 30, 2020. Hemmer began his tenure with the bank more than twenty years ago on July 1, 1999.
“Hemmer has provided strong and steady leadership over the past 21 years as President and CEO of First National Bank of Waterloo,” said Robert Hoffmann, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Under his tenure, the bank has grown from about $150 million in assets with three banking centers to about $600 million in assets with 13 banking centers at the time of his retirement.”
“It has been a real privilege to work for one of the premier financial institutions in Southern Illinois. I am proud of our organization, our board of directors, our staff and our advisory boards,” said Hemmer. “Banks are the economic engines that enable communities to grow. They help people and businesses realize their dreams. I am proud to have served this industry and to have been a banker. It has been a privilege to work with a great board of directors that has helped guide and direct this organization. It has been an honor to work with the bank’s outstanding staff which is to be credited with the success of the bank. It has been a joy to serve our customers who are also our friends.”
Hoffmann said the Board of Directors has created an executive committee to identify Hemmer’s replacement and that announcement will be made shortly. Hemmer will remain on the Board of Directors and will assume the role of Chairman of the Board at this year’s Annual Meeting in February. Hoffmann plans to retire from the board and will become Director Emeritus.
BUILDING ON TRADITION AND VALUES
First Waterloo Bancshares, Inc. to Acquire Best Hometown Bancorp, Inc. Collinsville, Illinois
Gary D. Hemmer, President & CEO, First National Bank of Waterloo and its parent company, First Waterloo Bancshares, Inc., and Ron Shambaugh, President & CEO, Best Hometown Bank and its parent company, Best Hometown Bancorp, Inc., are 
pleased to announce the signing of an Agreement and Plan of Merger. First Waterloo Bancshares, Inc., Waterloo, Illinois, will acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Best Hometown Bancorp, Inc., Collinsville, Illinois. Pursuant to the merger agreement and based on the estimated book value of Best Hometown Bancorp, Inc. at closing, the shareholders of Best Hometown Bancorp, Inc. will receive cash consideration of $14.89 per share of common stock, subject to certain adjustments as outlined in the merger agreement.
