Ryan Paxton

Every organization has a story--a core set of beliefs and values that tells the world who they are and what they represent. Forcht Bank's story is the one of our founder Terry Forcht. Long before Terry Forcht was known and recognized as one of Kentucky’s foremost entrepreneurs, he was a college professor and small-town lawyer practicing in Corbin, KY. In 1972, Terry was asked to join the Board of Directors at Corbin Deposit Bank & Trust. Having had an interest in banking since working for the Federal Reserve while attending the University of Louisville, Terry Forcht began his journey into banking. As he continued to serve on the bank Board, and as his other businesses prospered, his interest in community-based banking grew. In 1985 he assembled a group of investors and opened his first bank, Tri-County National Bank in Corbin, with $1.5 million in assets. With the success of Tri-County National Bank, his entrepreneurial spirit was ready for more. In 1987 he acquired Deposit Bank & Trust in Greensburg, followed by Williamsburg National Bank two years later and Campbellsville National Bank the following year. Over the next 17 years, Terry Forcht founded or acquired seven additional community banks in Kentucky. The 10 different bank names were consolidated under one charter on December 31, 2007, and the name “Forcht Bank” was born. Today, Forcht Bank has approximately $1 billion in total assets and 25 banking centers located throughout central, northern and southern KY, making it one of the largest KY based community bank groups. More importantly, Forcht Bank and its 300+ employees continue to follow Terry Forcht’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for local community-based banking.