Hutson takes it to the bank on Throwback Thursday

First National Bank and Peoples National Bank were to merge back in the 1930s

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- This Throwback Thursday is about the merger of Lafollette’s only two banks. Several years ago Jack Reynolds, CEO of Peoples Bank of the South told me the story of the plan for First National Bank (now Community Trust Bank) and Peoples National Bank to merger back in the 1930s.

According to Mr. Reynolds, the merger of the two banks had been kept quiet as the officers and directors of the new bank were being formed. When the information was released, the new bank officers and directors were named and the new bank name would be First National Bank of Lafollette, and they would use the First National Bank building.

A target date for the merger was set and released to the public, but on the set date the  merger never happened. On that day, employee’s returned to their respective bank and went to work.

According to Mr. Reynolds, his father said there was never a press release or any information released  is why the merger didn’t happen. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-07/03/2025-6AM)