From First State Bank to First Volunteer Bank to Builtwell Bank

By Charlie Hutson

CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN (WLAF)- On this Throwback Thursday, we return to February 1955. That’s when First State Bank of Jacksboro moved into its brand new building. First State Bank was first chartered to Caryville in 1923. The banks first president was Dr. R. L. Gallaher until 1945.

In 1945, the bank changed their charter to Jacksboro and the new  president was Dewey Lumpkins. This new building, in photo above, with it’s drive thru window was considered one of  the most modern bank buildings of its day in all of East Tennessee.

On November 1, 1999, First State Bank President David Craig announced that First State Bank of Jacksboro would be First Volunteer Bank.

The bank chartered in 1923 took on a new name in the summer of 2022. “It’s a great time to do a reset, bring some attention and let the community know why we’re here and what we want to do,” said Laura Byrge, Market Leader for Builtwell Bank.

“Six banks in the heart of Dalton, Georgia, were acquired by Builtwell Bank, and that prompted the new name,” Byrge added. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-07/23/2026-6AM)