The Farmers & Merchants Bank’s 100th Anniversary

WHEREAS, on April 14, 1914, the 31 proposed stockholders of The Farmers & Merchants Bank, Waterloo, Lauderdale County, Alabama, made notice and oath of  their intention to organize the proposed bank and purchase the required $10,000 of capital stock therein; and

WHEREAS, Alabama Superintendent of Banks Alexander Ewell Walker, as required by The Banking Laws of Alabama, investigated the proposed bank and ascertained that the proposed stockholders and officers of The Farmers & Merchants Bank possessed the good character and general fitness to form a bank and command the confidence of the citizens of the community of Waterloo and Lauderdale County; and

WHEREAS, on June 4, 1914, Superintendent Walker issued his approval of the Certificate of Incorporation of The Farmers & Merchants Bank and said Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Judge of Probate of Lauderdale County; and

WHEREAS, on June 29, 1914, Superintendent Walker issued his Permission to Begin Business which stated that he did hereby certify that The Farmers & Merchants Bank, Waterloo, Lauderdale County, Alabama, had duly complied with all the requirements of law relating to organization of a Bank and authorized it to transact business as a bank and further certified that all proper business could be entrusted to the bank; and

WHEREAS, on Monday, June 29, 1914, The Farmers & Merchants Bank opened its doors for business and has remained in business for one hundred years through times of prosperity and times of great crisis including the Great Depression, two World Wars, numerous recessions, and most recently the Great Recession; and

WHEREAS, throughout, the directors, officers and employees have served and supported the community of Waterloo and the citizens of Lauderdale County by providing needed credit, banking services,  and safety of their funds; and

WHEREAS, with the leadership of its current President, Thomas D. Ray, The Farmers & Merchants Bank, one hundred years after its founding, remains in a sound condition that continues to command the confidence of the citizens of the community of Waterloo and Lauderdale County:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby honor the directors, officers, employees and shareholders of The Farmers & Merchants Bank, Waterloo, Alabama, and proclaim June 4, 2014, as

The Farmers & Merchants Bank’s 100^th Anniversary

in the state of Alabama.