First Citizens Community Bank has recruited a team of agricultural business leaders in Central Pennsylvania to help the bank get a better handle on the local market.
Based in Mansfield, First Citizens has been serving customers in Central Pennslvania since it bought Lebanon County’s First National Bank of Fredericksburg in 2015.
It is one of several regional banks that have beefing up efforts to reach customers in agriculture. Among them are ACNB Bank, Centric Bank and Mid Penn Bank.
First Citizens’ ag advisory board for southcentral Pennsylvania includes the following six members:
- Delvin Martin, co-owner and president of Stevens Feed Mill Inc. in East Cocalico Township, Lancaster County. He also runs a farm in Lancaster County, primarily raising swine.
- Peter J. Hughes, president of Red Barn Consulting in East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County.
- Chris Pierce, president of Heritage Poultry Management Services Inc. in South Annville Township, Lebanon County.
- Brent Copenhaver, an investor in Villa Dale Farm LLC in South Annville Township, Lebanon County.
- B. Robert Kreider, owner of Embrovac LLC in Tamaqua.
- Chris Hoffman, owner of several farming organizations, including Lazy Hog Farms in Juniata County.
“Our talented and well-respected agricultural advisory boards give First Citizens a competitive advantage in our markets,” Randall E. Black, CEO and president of First Citizens, said in a statement. “They are experienced and committed to agriculture, and each understands the challenges and opportunities in their respective fields.”
First Citizens operate 26 offices in Pennsylvania and New York, including four in Lebanon County and one in Lancaster County. The bank has assets of about $1.2 billion.
