Bank celebrates 125 years in business, new and larger Oxford location

First Merchants bank moved into a new bigger, more modern location and formally opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 11.

They celebrated with a large gift to the community.

First Merchants moved only a few blocks from its location of 15 years at the corner of High Street and College Avenue to 335 South College Avenue, Suite 101 in Stewart Square.

“I’m thrilled,” Banking Center Manager Scott Anderson said. “I’ve been in banking 20 years. This is a great bank. I love Oxford. I’ve met a lot of people. It’s a great community and has great leaders.”

Anderson said the bank and its employees regularly make donations to non-profit organizations in the communities they serve and started with a gift to the Family Resource Center.

“We’re happy to support an organization which helps families in the community,” he said, in a presentation of $1,500 to Diane Ruther-Vierling and Missy Thompson, of the resource center.

“We’ll put it to good use, we promise,” Ruther-Vierling said.

Anderson said the bank has a regular fundraising effort among employees with Jeans Day on Fridays when employees can dress casually if they pay $5 into a fund which is distributed to local nonprofit agencies. The Oxford office teams with a branch in Liberty in distributing the money in rotating months.

He said he has already begun a list of local agencies who will be recipients in the future.

“There are people to help in every community,” he said.

Oxford Chamber of Commerce President Kelli Riggs praised the effort to open the new, larger facility.

“We always do a ribbon cutting for a new business. It’s great to do a ribbon cutting for a business moving to a bigger location,” she said.

Michael Stewart, the First Merchants’ chief banking officer, also spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and said the bank has a lot to celebrate this year. Not only is the opening of the location in Oxford a highlight, he said, they are celebrating 125 years in business. He said the new facility better represents the bank’s image than the former location.

Scott McKee, the regional president, was also on hand for the occasion, noting the bank is a long-time member of the Oxford community and said they offer a full range of business and personal banking services.

“If you are not banking with us, there is about no reason not to,” he said, drawing laughter from those in attendance. “We are very happy to be here.”

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