History
The Bank of Vernon received its charter on November 11, 1911, and was the first bank in Alabama chartered by the Alabama Banking Department. After the creation of the F.D.I.C. in 1933 the bank was issued F.D.I.C. Certificate #51. Our first location was adjacent to the Lamar County Courthouse and part of the Courthouse Square as it has been called for many decades.
Since that time, the bank has maintained a history of being a community bank in the spirit of being a strong, well-capitalized, hometown, and independent bank. During several periods of challenge, including the Great Depression and COVID-19 Pandemic, the bank continued to offer its services by being the most stable source of capital in the community. It intends to remain a locally owned and operated bank and recently celebrated its 110th Anniversary!
The Bank of Vernon is also a Community Development Financial Institution (C.D.F.I.) and Community Development Enterprise (C.D.E.), which speaks to the bank's commitment towards its target markets with deposit and lending services. The bank's board members and stockholders have ties to its target market, which closely aligns the bank's goals with LOCAL communities.
We are headquartered in Vernon, Alabama at 44825 Highway 17 with the Westside Express Bank located at 9435 Highway 18. We have three branches in Lowndes County, Mississippi as well. We opened a branch in Caledonia at 9715 Wolfe Road in 2017, a branch in North Columbus 3561 Bluecutt Road in 2019, and the third branch in East Columbus at 420 Alabama Street in 2021. We continue to look for ways to improve our relationships with our customers and appreciate each of them.
Mission Statement:
The Bank of Vernon is a LOCALLY owned and operated Independent Community Bank since 11/11/1911. It is a C.D.F.I. and C.D.E. Bank and Holding Company. Its mission is to improve social and economic conditions of the residents and businesses in its Target Market by offering a full range of financial products, financial services, and development services tailored to the needs of the Target Market residents and businesses.
Vision Statement:
The Bank of Vernon will offer innovative products and services striving for customer satisfaction in order to achieve our strategic goals.
Core Values:
Accountability- We will acknowledge and assume responsibility for our actions, decisions, policies, and products.
Accuracy- We shall strive to get it right the first time. Quality continues to be paramount to the Bank and an integral part of its long history.
Initiative- We take the initiative to offer comprehensive, competitive products and services to the communities that we serve.
Integrity- We will gain trust by being honest, having strong moral principles, and being consistent with our actions.
Ownership- We will take pride in our financial institution and care of our customers as if they were our own family.
Resourcefulness- We will be self-reliant as problems, situations, or opportunities arise and attempt to resolve them before enlisting the help of others, and will support co-workers as needed with no reservations.