Clarke County Democrat

Oldest county bank, two more closing doors next week






There’s been a bank at this location in downtown Jackson for over 100 years. It is closing.

There’s been a bank at this location in downtown Jackson for over 100 years. It is closing.

Last Friday, a lone customer was being waited on at a teller window in the cavernous bank and one vehicle was being serviced in the drive-through.

The scene in today’s downtown Jackson branch of First US Bank is a far cry from decades ago when the bank, then Jackson Bank and Trust Company, was the bustling only bank in town and one of the leading banks in southwest Alabama.

There’s been a bank on the site at least since 1906 when the Planters Bank was established. But the 110-year run comes to an end next Thursday, Nov. 10, when the bank closes its doors for good. Decreased business at the location and an increase in on-line banking are blamed for the closure.

First US Bank is also closing branches in Coffeeville and Fulton. Coffeeville closes Nov. 9 and Fulton on Nov. 10, the same day as the Jackson branch.

Betty Ann Nichols was the customer in the Jackson bank last Friday. “I thought when I came in today that this might be the last time I’d be in,” she said. She said it was sad to think that the longtime bank will soon be shuttered. She worked at the bank from the 1960s through the 1980s and remembered it as a busy place.

Betty Ann Nichols has banked at old Jackson Bank location for years. She hates to see the bank close. Waiting on her is Teller Katherine Pugh.

Betty Ann Nichols has banked at old Jackson Bank location for years. She hates to see the bank close. Waiting on her is Teller Katherine Pugh.

She has other ties too. Mrs. Nichols is married to Roland Nichols and his father and brother, Fred Nichols, and James Nichols, were longtime officials of the bank, president and vice-president respectively.

Katherine Pugh and Beth Myers are the only employees in the big bank now that used to be filled with customers. Pugh has been there 23 years in March and Myers will be employed 14 years in January. Both said it was sad to see the bank close but said they were glad that they would have jobs at the First US Bank office on North College Avenue.

Jackson’s first bank opened in 1901

The First National Bank of Jackson was Jackson’s first bank, organized in 1901, located on the north end of Commerce Street where it curves to become College Avenue. Planters Bank was organized in 1906, perhaps on the site of the current downtown branch. In 1910, First National and Planter’s Bank merged to create Jackson Bank and Trust Company.

Jackson Bank & Trust in earlier days. The railing was a popular gathering spot for townspeople and Saturday visitors to town.

Jackson Bank & Trust in earlier days. The railing was a popular gathering spot for townspeople and Saturday visitors to town.

An old safe in the back of the bank harkens back to its roots. An old fashion script across the front proclaims: “First National Bank.”

Jackson Bank and Trust would weather economic ups and downs and world-changing events: World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the crippling Great Depression that saw other banks fail while it withstood the calamity, World War I and the changes and progress of the 1950s through the end of the 20th century.

Mergers changed name

In 1988, the bank merged with the First Bank of Grove Hill and the name was changed to First Bank and Trust. A few years later First Bank and Trust was merged with United Security Bank of Thomasville and the bank became First United Security Bank. A few name changes later, the bank is today First US Bank.

Dell McCorquodale Mc- Clellan, whose family owned the bank, remembered her 48 years working at Jackson Bank and Trust in a 1997 story.

Planters Bank & Trust (above) was the forerunner of Jackson Bank & Trust.

Planters Bank & Trust (above) was the forerunner of Jackson Bank & Trust.

“Daisy [Daffin, the bank’s longtime cashier] and I worked the teller windows and in between customers worked up the mail deposits. After closing we balanced our windows and filed the checks of the day and balanced and then we posted on the old timey posting machine. The old way had its advantages but the new banking methods are great,” she said, noting the time savings of computers.

The Jackson bank has been remodeled several times. An older photo shows architecture with the hint of Spanish influence, including a title roof. For years there was a small lawn in front of the bank enclosed by a railing along the sidewalk. The railing was a favorite gathering spot for townspeople and farmers in town to shop — a place to whittle, chew tobacco and gossip.

Mayor-elect South says bank could be a museum

Jackson Mayor-Elect Paul South stopped by as photographs were being taken of the old building last week. “It is a part of Jackson’s history,” he said. “It is a shame it is closing but it has fallen to this,” as he held out his smart phone which allows people to do their banking from anywhere now. “It is a beautiful old building and it’d make a wonderful museum or for some other use,” he added.

Beth Myers and Katherine Pugh are bank’s employees. They will transfer to the North College Avenue office.

Beth Myers and Katherine Pugh are bank’s employees. They will transfer to the North College Avenue office.

Downtown Jackson is still serviced by Merchants Bank. It was once the main office but today is a branch playing second fiddle to the larger home office on North College Avenue, not far from the First US Bank office that will absorb the old downtown office’s business.




First National Bank of Jackson’s safe. First National was Jackson’s first bank, organized in 1901. It merged with Planters Bank and Trust. The old safe is still in the Jackson Bank.

First National Bank of Jackson’s safe. First National was Jackson’s first bank, organized in 1901. It merged with Planters Bank and Trust. The old safe is still in the Jackson Bank.

Safety deposit boxes have been cleared in preparation for closing the bank. Wonder what treasures and secrets they held!

Safety deposit boxes have been cleared in preparation for closing the bank. Wonder what treasures and secrets they held!

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