Whitaker Bank Corporation of Kentucky

In September of 1978, Mr. Elmer Whitaker acquired three bank charters in the state of Kentucky: Peoples Bank & Trust in Berea, First National Bank of Carlisle, and Powell County Bank in Stanton and Clay City. The banks were operated as independent, separate, companies for several years. After Mr. Whitaker decided to purchase State National Bank of Frankfort in February of 1985, a bank holding company was formed; all four banks became subsidiaries of Whitaker Bancorp, Inc. in June of 1985.

Whitaker Bancorp, Inc. grew significantly between 1985 and 1989, with the acquisition of the Bank of Whitesburg, Garrard Bank & Trust, Morehead National Bank, and First National Bank & Trust of Georgetown. In addition to these acquisitions, Peoples Bank & Trust was expanded into Richmond, Kentucky in December of 1987 and became known as Peoples Bank & Trust of Madison County. Then in the fall of 1988, the holding company opened a finance company in Hazard, Kentucky under the name of Mountain Credit Corporation.

In January of 1992, the holding company was restructured, and the present holding company, Whitaker Bank Corporation of Kentucky, was formed. Acquisition sparked growth again in July of 1992, when the holding company purchased the Corinth Bank in Grant County. This charter was moved to Lexington in October 1993 and became Whitaker Bank. In March of 1996, Mount Sterling National Bank became the tenth bank subsidiary of Whitaker Bank Corporation of Kentucky. Soon after, in 1997, the holding company decided to internally merge two bank subsidiaries, Garrard Bank & Trust and First National Bank of Carlisle, into Whitaker Bank. The purpose of the merger was to better serve the customers by allowing access to their accounts in multiple counties. The last acquisition of the nineties occurred in September of 1999, when Peoples Bank & Trust of Madison County acquired the Waco branch of National City Bank.

In the year 2000, the internal mergers continued as the Powell County Bank became a part of Whitaker Bank; at the same time Whitaker Bank was expanded into Wolfe County by opening a location in the community of Campton, Kentucky. In July 2001, the Bank of Whitesburg also merged into Whitaker Bank. This merger resulted in converting Mountain Credit Corporation into a full service bank and renaming it Whitaker Bank-Perry County.

In 2004, State National Bank of Frankfort, First National Bank of Georgetown, Morehead National Bank, and Mount Sterling National Bank were merged into Whitaker Bank. In addition to the internal mergers, four Union Planters’ branches located in Corbin and Williamsburg were acquired and brought into Whitaker Bank in March 2004. In December 2005, Berea National Bank was acquired by Whitaker Bank Corporation of Kentucky, which expanded Peoples Bank coverage into Rockcastle County. In 2007, Whitaker Bank constructed a new branch in Keavy, KY, which extended service into Laurel County. In 2008, Whitaker Bank Corporation expanded into Mercer County by acquiring State Bank and Trust. The acquisition will allow Whitaker Bank - Mercer County to serve the communities of Harrodsburg and Salvisa. Throughout the years, the company has further grown and enhanced service to the customers by constructing 22 branches in the communities served (in addition to numerous renovations and expansions of existing branches).

Since 1978, Whitaker Bank Corporation of Kentucky has expanded from five locations within three counties and total assets of $59 million to 56 locations within 17 counties and combined total assets of $1.8 billion. Whitaker Bank Corporation of Kentucky continues to be a family owned bank holding company that is dedicated to offering advanced banking services while maintaining the personal service expected of a community bank.