First State Community Bank makes privacy and security top priorities

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First State Community Bank has entered into an agreement to purchase two new banking locations from Truman Bank in Jefferson County, Mo.

Cape Girardeau's two First State Community Bank branches are a piece of a larger regional financial services company based in Farmington, Mo.

First State Community Bank, an affiliate of First State Bancshares Inc., offers its customers a wide range of the newest and most technologically advanced banking services.

Retta Penrod, a representative of the company, said technology is steadily changing the way the bank does business. Privacy and security are top priorities for the company. Penrod said imaging of internal documents done by the company adds to the convenience of customers, who can transact business at any of the 27 First State Community Bank locations in Southeast Missouri.

Jim Childress, vice-president

"We plan to meet the demands of our banking communities which allow us to continue the steady growth seen in the past six years in the Cape Girardeau area," Penrod said.

The bank's two Cape Girardeau locations at 2527 William St. and 1602 N. Kingshighway are now offering two new account options to for personal accounts as well as a new line of products for business customers.

New this year are Elements Green Banking, a paperless, interest-bearing account, and a new deposit product, New Opportunity Checking, which is available to customers who may have had financial challenges and need a fresh start in banking.

"We walk with our customers hand in hand through the tough economic times as well as the good times," Penrod said.

The new business line of products now offered includes Remote Deposit Capture, along with a full line of ACH and payroll services available through FirstNet for Business.

Devonne Glastetter, vice-president

First State Community Bank was founded in 1954. Since 2003, the company has continued to offer more services to customers in Cape Girardeau.

The William Street location offers the convenience of a contract postal unit where customers can purchase stamps, mail packages, insure and certify mail and apply for a passport.

In both locations, First State Bancshares has expanded the company insurance agency, First State Insurance Agency, with the purchase of Albrecht-Hodges and Johnson agencies. Agents are ready to assist customers with a full line of commercial, home, auto and life products.

In order to meet the demand of the real estate market in the area, the bank has also been fulfilling first-time homebuyers' mortgage requests, making the company a one-stop location for their customers' financial needs.

First State Bancshares will continue to expand in 2010. The company has entered into an agreement to purchase two new banking locations from Truman Bank in Jefferson County, Mo., one each in Imperial, Mo., and Shady Valley, Mo. Both branches are situated in highly visible and accessible locations.

Penrod said she wants customers to know the bank continues to add financial services in order to help customers succeed in meeting their financial goals.