I thank the Farmers Bank Board of Directors and shareholders for blessing us with the opportunity to carry forward the extraordinary legacy of Farmers Bank.
- Bob Aston, Executive Chairman

In 1919, Farmers Bank opened in Windsor with $20,000 in capital, five shareholders, and one employee – its founder Shirley T. Holland. At the time, Windsor was a small rural town with the railroad running through it, and Route 460 was a dirt road. From humble beginnings, Farmers set the standard for rural community banking where character, a handshake, and a smile were their greatest strategic assets. 

In 1927, Farmers Bank expanded to two employees when Ida Johnson was hired as bookkeeper. By 1946, assets exceeded $2 million. Richard Holland, Shirley’s son, became president and CEO in 1967, the year before the bank opened its first drive-thru window. Richard’s son Dick started as a teller at Farmers in 1977 and was named president in 1985, succeeding his father.

More services and locations were added including the first ATM in 1994, online banking in 1999, a bank website in 2000, and remote deposit capture in 2008. Farmers expanded to surrounding areas, opening branches in Smithfield, Suffolk, Courtland, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach. 

For more than 100 years, Farmers remained true to its heritage, becoming the epitome of rural community banking with lifelong friendships and relationships. “As a native of Suffolk, it is the world and way of life that I know and love,” says Bob Aston, TowneBank executive chairman. “Born into a farming family, I can still remember the sweet smell of the early morning dew as the summer sun started to rise over the fields of corn and peanuts. Over the years, my grandfather often spoke of his gratitude for our family’s long-term relationship with Farmers Bank. He would become somewhat emotional as he described how the bank stood by him during the bad crop years when he was unable to fully repay his crop loan yet would continue to lend to him the following spring. My grandfather never forgot that.”

On April 17, Farmers Bank officially came under the TowneBank name, and we welcomed many new members to the TowneBank family. After months of planning, Farmers and TowneBank team members worked seamlessly together to ensure a smooth transition over the April 15-16 weekend.  

Joining with Farmers has brought additional products and expanded services to our Farmers friends while helping our communities grow and prosper. Five former Farmers locations are now part of TowneBank, including the Farmers’ headquarters in Windsor, Hillpoint, and Lakeside in Suffolk, as well as offices in Courtland and Smithfield. Thomas Woodward, a longtime Farmers executive, is now serving as president of Suffolk and Western Tidewater for TowneBank.

“I thank the Farmers Bank Board of Directors and shareholders for blessing us with the opportunity to carry forward the extraordinary legacy of Farmers Bank,” Bob says. “It is a responsibility our Towne family takes very seriously. We promise to do our very best each day to provide our new members from Farmers with exquisite service, a friendly smile, and some fun along the way.”