.jpg)
Wlaf1450Bank began in 1904, survived The Great Depression and rebuilt from a fire
By Charlotte Underwood
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Community Trust Bank/First National Bank has been serving the community since 1904 and is celebrating more than 120 years in business.
According to the National Bank Charter, the original bank building began as the National Bank of LaFollette in 1904 and was on the corner where it is now located. On October 31, 1923, the title of the bank changed to the First National Bank of LaFollette. From 1904 to 1908, the bank president is listed as Richard Bascomb Baird, with William Stephen McCamey is listed as the cashier. From 1908 to 1909, Robert Mullens is listed as the president and McCamey as the cashier. From 1913-1920, McCamey served as bank president.
There have been many other various presidents during the 121-year history of the bank, ranging from Mr. L.I. Mauney, Mr. Clarence Farris, Mr. Fred I. Cain, Sr., Mr. Michael Smithers, Mr. Marvin Minton and currently Rhonda Longmire, the first female president in Campbell County.
“The Bank began in 1904 when Mr. Richard Bascomb Baird from Jellico to LaFollette, bought some property and became the first President of the bank. The name of the bank at that time was the National Bank and in October 1923 the name was changed to First National Bank of LaFollette. Total resources of the bank in 1904 were $87,747.79 and approximately $12,000 in capital,” Longmire said, sharing some early history about the bank.
Now, according to a copy of the annual FDIC summary of deposits, the bank in Campbell County has over $180,000,000 in deposits currently.
In 1971, a fire destroyed the building and temporary banking was established in a building on North Tennessee Avenue. That building once stood where the parking lot for the Royal Lunch and Billiards is today. According to Longmire, that location was put together quickly for customers to have access to funds.
Longmire began working at the bank in 1975 at the age of 20 as a bank teller at this temporary location. She recalled that people had donated pieces of carpet to cover the floor, and it was “duct taped together” to make a “carpet of many colors.”
Thankfully the vault had managed to survive the fire and all records were maintained, which was a good thing because there were no computers.
“It’s crazy to think about now, not having computers, but the 12 of us did it,” Longmire said.
After starting in 1975 as a teller, Longmire moved to the loan area as a loan processor. In all, she has 34 years of employment with the bank.
“Clarence Farris was the president and hired me. When I had my interview, he had me look at a piece of coal and tell him about it,” Longmire recalled.
At the time she was hired, Conrad Troutman, Sr. was Chairman of the Board. When Clarence passed away in 1976, Fred Cain became president of the bank. The building was built back in 1979 on the corner of Tennessee and Central where the bank currently is. Then in 1993, a complete renovation was finished, and an addition was added.
Longmire left the bank in October 1996 after passing the CPA exam and went to First State Bank which, with a name change, became First Volunteer. She was then asked to be the President/CEO of First National Bank of Oneida in 2005.
“I came back home when Marvin Minton, Market President, asked me to come back to where I started and replace him when he retired. He was instrumental in my success as he encouraged me to go back to school and mentored me … I started in 1975 as a teller and have been employed for almost 34 years. It has been my greatest pleasure to serve the community where I grew up,” Longmire said.
In 2010 the bank was acquired by Community Trust Bank and the name changed in 2011 to Community Trust Bank.
“I am pleased and honored to work here as Market President. Community Trust operates as a community bank should-we give back in our community and we make loans as a community bank should,” Longmire said.
The bank operates in Campbell and Anderson Counties with branches in LaFollette, Jacksboro, and Clinton, Tennessee. The bank is the oldest and largest deposit holder in Campbell County.
“The LaFollette Market is proud of serving the financial needs of our community. We do loans all over East Tennessee in the Tri Cities, Knoxville, Sevier County, Morristown and other locations. We serve our communities, The bank makes loans, accepts deposits and supports the community with financial support particularly the schools. The bank is particularly pleased to be a major originator of SBA and USDA loans.” Longmire said.
For more information, contact Community Trust Bank at 423-562-3364. The bank is located at 106 South Tennessee Avenue in downtown LaFollette. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-09/23/2025-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)