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agriculture is in our roots, too

Ground-up financial support

Because we grew up in the top food-production states in the country. Because many of our bankers have degrees and direct experience in agriculture. And because our team members have 15 years of agribusiness experience, on average. When it comes to understanding the breadth of financial needs unique to the food and agribusiness, and the uncertainties that require them, we add meaningful value to your business.

Solutions grown for you

1:1 Dedicated banker who knows agriculture

One banker and a complete suite of food and agribusiness banking services. Your direct access to a dedicated banker comes with the expertise of a cohesive team that’s been customizing agribusiness financing for more than a decade. Whether your need is big or small, our team is here to help take care of it for you.

Treasury management services

We know money can run through an agricultural enterprise like a combine through a grain crop. So we offer a range of services to more efficiently pay your vendors and process your customer payments, suited to your business structure.

Maximize profits and liquidity

From automatic transfer offerings to liquidity management and commodity hedging, we’ve built our product offerings to flex with the seasonality and uncertainty of your business. Our team members are specialists in crop and protein production, so they can serve the demands of capital intensive operations.

Lending for all stages of growth

Every day matters, so we focus on faster lending for equipment, improvements, and specialized lines of credit. Need all of the above? We can customize a loan structure for your short- and long-term needs.

Planting certainty in an uncertain business

You plant the groundwork, and we’ll provide the seed to your more secure future. If your operation requires growth financing, is restructuring due to succession planning, or simply adjusting to consumer preferences, we will help with key operational issues from start to finish. This includes underwriting agriculture deals through our specialized credit team and offering outside counsel with food and farm experience. With one team, one relationship, and complete transparency.

Our Recent Deals

Don’t take our word for it. Here’s the proof we know how to help businesses succeed.

$15 MM line of credit

  • A Midwest grain elevator and farm supply store needed financing quickly to expand its main facility in anticipation of demand. In addition to a $15 million line of credit, we secured a $7.5 million real estate note, and $500,000 toward future capital expenditures.

Alternative agriculture venture

  • Growth often requires change, and flexibility. When a traditional farming operation sought us out to advise on diversification of production enterprises, we lined up a $3.9 million line of credit, a $1.5 million equipment lease, and $700,000 for investments.

$2.5 MM for livestock accommodations

  • Hogs can fill a building quickly, so when a growing hog operation needed credit to expand, we presented a fast finance package which included a $1.7 million FSA-guaranteed note on the facilities with $600,000 for expansion, a $150,000 note for equipment, and a $100,000 line of credit.

The agribusiness team

Jessica Lehman, Director of Food and Agribusiness

Jessica knows the banking needs of farmers from both sides of the fence. In addition to her 10+ years as a food and agribusinesses banker, she is an experienced farmer and part owner of a family-owned and -operated grain elevator and feed mill. Jessica earned her agriculture degree from Purdue University, is a graduate of the Indiana AgrIInstitute’s Agriculture Leadership Program, and is a member of the Agribusiness Council of Indiana. In the time she has left, Jessica volunteers with youth agriculture and leadership organizations.

Call Jessica: 260-445-2528

Matthew Eldridge, Relationship Manager

Matt's “Office-With-a-View” would have to be the edge of a field, outside beneath silos of a grain elevator, or the cab of a combine talking through the pressures, possibilities, and joys of food and agribusiness. He specializes in agribusiness, grain merchandising, commodity warehousing, and ag service-provider operations. Matt’s life-long association with agricultural-based companies gives him a solid understanding of clients’ needs and building solutions that go beyond financing.

Matt believes living and working with ag partners in our communities is essential to our success and enjoys working with those who share similar passions. Matt’s community volunteer time has always focused on serving youth in agriculture and supporting our next generation of producers and agribusiness owners. He holds a BS degree from Purdue University in Agriculture Economics and has held leadership positions within banking and the Ag Marketing Division of Deere & Company for 20+ years.

Call Matthew: 812-651-8666

Craig Wagner, Commercial Underwriter

Craig is dedicated to accuracy and providing credit solutions that provide the correct options for the long-term success of the agricultural operations that we serve. Craig has been involved in agriculture his entire life with experiences in grain, dairy, beef, and hog production, gaining experience and knowledge that he has leaned on during his professional career with First Financial Bank. Craig’s career started in lending at First Financial Bank, where he has spent over a decade working in food and agribusiness lending in both sales and credit capacities. Craig holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Food and Animal Agribusiness.

Call Craig: 812-663-0150

Julie Hall, Agribusiness Support Specialist

“If I hadn’t been in banking, I would’ve entered a career where I could support animals and livestock.” Instead, Julie Hall supports the Food and Agribusiness team as well as their clients through loan administration and business support. Julie started in the banking industry in 1983 at a Citizens State Bank, which eventually became First Financial, where she now works in the same banking center which she started in many years ago. Julie has over two decades of work in Food and Agribusiness and enjoys working with the team and clients in a variety of ways. If you need to get something done, call Julie!

Call Julie: 765-331-2304

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