[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST BANK OF ALABAMA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 7, 2023

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
175th Anniversary of First Bank of Alabama.
  The City of Talladega was incorporated in 1835 and as it began to 
grow and thrive, Major James Isbell opened a banking business in 1848. 
Through the Civil War and reconstruction, the bank stayed open and in 
1893 applied for and received a National Bank Charter. The name of the 
bank was officially changed to The Isbell National Bank of Talladega.
  In 1963, after almost 100 years in the ``old bank'' building, Isbell 
National Bank moved to a new location on North Street East.
  In 1968, the Talladega Superspeedway officially opened. The following 
year, the bank opened a full service branch in Lincoln, Alabama. In 
1988, another branch was opened in Munford, Alabama.
  In 2015, The First National Bank of Talladega Board of Directors 
voted to make the bank a state-chartered bank and adopt the new name, 
First Bank of Alabama. In 2017, First Bank acquired Bank of Wedowee and 
expanded their presence into Randolph County. The following year, First 
Bank opened their seventh office in Clay County and in 2020 an office 
in Calhoun County.
  In 2021, SouthFirst acquisition was finalized, and the bank added 2 
more offices in Sylacauga and expanded into Chilton County. In 2022, 
two offices were added in Cleburne County.
  On February 14, 2023, the Annual Shareholder meeting will be held at 
the Talladega office to celebrate the anniversary of the bank. First 
Bank is Alabama's oldest, continuously operated bank in the State of 
Alabama, third oldest in the Southeast and 36th oldest in the country. 
The bank is led by Talladega native, J. Chad Jones, the bank's 13th 
President and CEO.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing this milestone for my 
friends at First Bank of Alabama and wishing them a happy 175th 
anniversary.

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