The Farmers Bank Champions Community Growth with The Farmers Bank Fieldhouse
Photographer / Heather Haas
For nearly 25 years, The Farmers Bank has been more than a place to manage money in Boone County — it’s been a trusted neighbor, a problem-solver, and a champion for local progress. From helping families buy their first homes to s
upporting the dreams of local entrepreneurs and nonprofits, the bank’s Lebanon branch has grown alongside the community it serves. Now, as it approaches this milestone anniversary, The Farmers Bank is reaffirming that commitment in a bold way — by putting its name and its heart into one of the county’s most exciting new assets, The Farmers Bank Fieldhouse.
While banking needs have evolved over the decades, The Farmers Bank has kept pace — offering the full range of modern financial services without losing the personal touch that has defined it since 1876. At the Lebanon branch, customers can take care of everyday banking, secure loans for big dreams, and sit down with seasoned financial professionals to map out investment strategies. Whether it’s helping a young family open their first savings account, guiding a business through an expansion, or advising retirees on how to make the most of their nest egg, the team delivers tailored solutions designed to make life easier and goals more attainable.
The Farmers Bank is proud to offer concierge banking — meaning they become a trusted partner to the clients they serve by acting as a single point of contact to provide solutions for any issue that arises. Much like a primary care doctor, whom you trust with your health concerns, customers at The Farmers Bank receive curated care for their financial needs. Not only do they provide personal one-on-one service, but they also give access to an entire team of financial professionals who can step in to assist when needed.
“When we meet with individuals, businesses or nonprofits, we have a conversation about their specific needs. We ask about their long-term goals and what they are trying to accomplish,” says Steve Latour, VP, Community & Customer Experience. “Besides offering savings and checking accounts, we have ideas, tools and opportunities to lower banking fees, earn interest, or consolidate debt.”
For the past quarter century, The Farmers Bank has supported nearly 50 nonprofits, school districts, and local businesses in Boone County, and they plan to continue that commitment for decades to come. So, when a 200,000 sq. ft. athletic facility was being built in Lebanon, the project’s leaders approached Farmers Bank to explore a partnership.
“When we made the decision to put our name on the building, one of the driving factors was that we recognized the growth that was coming to Boone County. We viewed this new amenity as something that could significantly impact Lebanon and the county as a whole,” says Chris Cook, President and CEO. “The opportunity to sponsor a state-of-the-art facility like this one for the residents of Lebanon and Boone County and to have that facility available for guests and visitors that were coming to Indiana was really exciting.”
This was the bank’s way of doubling down on its investment in Boone County — specifically Lebanon. While some may view the partnership as a simple marketing opportunity, Cook is clear that this wasn’t the motivation. The Farmers Bank along with the building’s owners Card & Associates were focused on serving the individuals and families who call Lebanon and the surrounding communities home.
The Farmers Bank Fieldhouse, which opened in February 2024, features eight basketball courts that can convert into 15 volleyball courts, 12 pickleball courts, a turf field, batting cages, and four golf simulators. Programming includes basketball, volleyball, pickleball, soccer, football, baseball and softball.
“This was an exciting vision that we were happy to support,” Cook says. “We were pleased to rise to the occasion and help bring this vision to reality with our partnership.”
He notes that some residents might assume the facility is only for tournaments, not realizing it’s open to the public for activities such as pickleball, birthday parties and field trips.
While the Fieldhouse is primarily geared toward youth athletes, it offers programs for all ages. GoTime Basketball and GoTime Volleyball provide leagues, camps, clinics and skill development training.
“We have in-house programs for each sport,” says Mason Hankins, President of The Farmers Bank Fieldhouse. “Plus, all of our coaches are non-parent coaches, so that adds a layer of allure to what we do.”
Pickleball is the only membership-based amenity, which is open to all ages.
“We do a lot in the youth and high school space,” Hankins says. “Then on the weekends we host a ton of AAU basketball tournaments. We also run our own basketball league and host a lot of volleyball tournaments in the winter months.”
Starting in October, the Fieldhouse will also launch a home school physical education program on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, covering multiple sports through fun, instructed activities and games. The focus will be on fitness, team building, and sport-specific skills, led by coaches from GoTime Basketball, GoTime Volleyball, and X-Factor Football.
Hankins notes their strong community connections, including partnerships with Discover Boone County and the Boone County Chamber of Commerce, which hosts many networking events at the facility.
For The Farmers Bank, it’s about more than just sports — it’s about creating a community gathering place.
“We saw being a part of this fieldhouse as an opportunity to create a space for residents and guests to do something that they didn’t have access to before,” says Cook, noting the bank’s longstanding commitment with Card & Associates, the facility’s owners. “We’re thrilled to have our name on that building for a long time.”
Now, the bank is focused on helping the Fieldhouse become a central hub of activity.
“We want to do all we can to help the folks who are running it bring attention to how it can be utilized to support the community,” Latour says. “We also want to support the mayor and his initiatives to drive participation, whether that’s through things we do, products we launch, or just helping to sponsor and market various other community organizations that utilize the space.”
The Farmers Bank Lebanon Financial Center is located at 2304 N. Lebanon Street, Lebanon, IN 46052. For more information, call 765-482-4556 or visit thefarmersbank.com to schedule an appointment.
The Farmers Bank Fieldhouse is located 645 Fieldhouse Way, Lebanon, IN 46052. For more information, visit thefarmersbankfh.com.
