Local bank providing big benefits and results

PANA — June 25, 2021 – Putting people first is more than just a tagline for Peoples Bank & Trust. The bank’s commitment to its communities and customers was recently recognized in two Small Business Administration (SBA) statewide rankings. SBA ranked Peoples 6th by number and 11th by volume of SBA PPP loans made by Illinois based lenders with under $1 billion in assets. Among lenders based in Illinois with under $1 billion in total assets. SBA also ranked the bank 4th by number and 2nd by volume of SBA 7a Guaranteed Loans closed during its fiscal year ending May 31, 2021.

Supporting families, farmers and business owners is at the core of what Peoples Bank & Trust does on a daily basis since it opened in 1954. However, the past year has proven especially challenging for many in our community regardless of their planning and preparation.

“We realize that to truly be a partner to the people and communities we serve, every member of the Peoples Bank & Trust team must place our customers’ needs first – and that is exactly what we do”, stated John Gardner, President of Peoples Bank & Trust. “We certainly appreciate the recognition and honor of being ranked as one of the most active SBA lenders in Illinois, but the real satisfaction comes from the smiles and ‘Thank Yous’ we receive from our customers.”

The SBA PPP program, which began in 2020, was created to provide economic security by delivering finan- cial assistance via payroll certainty for businesses, self-employed workers, sole proprietors, and other entities. The SBA 7(a) guaranteed loan program is SBA’s primary program for providing guaranteed lending for small businesses. As an Express SBA Lender, Peoples has excelled at effi- ciently and quickly provid- ing SBA 7(a) guaranteed loans for qualifying busi- nesses. These programs provide opportunities for lenders to deliver the support and backing which many employers and employees found necessary to limit the financial burden which broadened last year.

“In January, Peoples was recognized by the USDA as one of the top 12 USDA Rural Development lenders in the United States. Now, only six months later, Peoples has received more recognition as one of the top SBA lenders in Illinois, and well, we couldn’t be happier to be a small source of support our friends, neighbors, and business partners”, Gardner humbly acknowledged. Being able to provide these specialized guaranteed loan programs requires our lenders to have a high level of experience and proficiency. With this knowledge, our banking team brings lending options and tools to every client that others can’t deliver.

The state and national rankings Peoples has received in the past several months is verification of the time and effort our dedicat- ed employees provide to deliver the best possible banking and lending options to customers. However, the Peoples Bank & Trust team members take more pride in their ability to help the businesses and communi- ties where they live.

Gardner concluded, “When our customers take the time to express their gratitude for the effort and support we are able to provide, wow, that is the type of recognition that means more to us than any ranking.”

Peoples Bank & Trust is a locally owned and managed independent community bank with ten offices located in Pana, Taylorville, Altamont, Tower Hill, Charleston, Springfield, Morrisonville, Palmyra, Waverly, and White Hall. Peoples is a full-service bank offering outstanding customer service to consumers, small businesses, and farmers in Central Illinois. People First Bancshares, Inc., with cor- porate offices in Pana, Illinois, is the holding com- pany for Peoples Bank & Trust

For more information on Peoples Bank & Trust and their available banking services or how they can help with consumer or business lending needs, contact the bank at 888-728-1954 or visit “http://www.BankPBT.com” www.BankPBT.com