KSB celebrates grand opening of Wooster branch

For the past 125 years, Killbuck Savings Bank has been walking hand-in-hand with community members throughout Holmes and Wayne counties.

On Aug. 12, KSB celebrated a shining new moment in its history, joining many community members in the grand opening of its newest bank at 445 W. Milltown Road in Wooster.

During the grand opening ceremony, Samira Zimmerly, Wooster Chamber of Commerce president, opened the ribbon-cutting ceremony and spoke about the ideal fit Killbuck Savings Bank brings to the community.

While KSB has Wayne County locations in Kidron and Shreve, Zimmerly said having a location in Wooster will be a huge convenience for Wooster community and business members.

“We want to thank Killbuck Savings Bank for their ongoing involvement and commitment to the communities in which they serve,” Zimmerly said. “Their investment in local people, businesses and organizations truly makes a difference, and we’re proud to have them as part of our growing community.”

Mike Adleman, president and CEO of Ohio Bankers League, gave a speech about the importance of having community banks that continue to serve such a vital role throughout Ohio.

He said KSB continues to be a shining example of what rural, local banks can accomplish when devoted to serving their respective communities.

Adleman said the importance of celebrating 125 years of service is a milestone that can’t be overlooked.

“It’s a great legacy of service,” he said. “That’s more than a century of commitment to the community, integrity and financial stewardship. These (12 KSB) locations aren’t just dots on a map. They represent neighborhoods, families, farms and small businesses that depend on the personalized service that only a true community bank can deliver.”

Adleman said community banks are economic engines that drive communities forward, providing loans and providing trusted partnerships in people’s lives.

“Banks like Killbuck show us what it means to know your customers by name,” Adleman said, “to show up at the county fair, to support your local school, to be a source of strength during uncertain times."

He said the five-star-rated bank continues to set the standard for excellence in many ways.

“We’re so thrilled to be here,” KSB President and CEO Rachel Miller said. “We’re excited that (the city of Wooster) has welcomed us in, and we are excited to be part of such a vibrant community. This city is growing and expanding, and we’ve already built a strong customer base, and we’re eager to build even more relationships.”

No company can thrive for 125 years without building trust within the communities in which it serves, and in the banking industry, trust is critical.

Miller said trust stems from a dedicated staff at each location, staffs that are committed to serving above and beyond and building relationships with the people who put their trust in KSB.

Miller said from a convenience standpoint, the move to Wooster makes all the sense in the world.

Zimmerly agreed. “Having the convenience of a KSB branch right here in our community will be so advantageous to our community,” she said.

Miller, who has worked her way through the banking system at KSB for more than two decades to become the company’s first female CEO, also said the move to Wooster was one that took plenty of time and planning as they tried to find the ideal location to add to their family of community banks in the area.

She said the board felt Wooster was a natural fit, and the purchase of the former Huntington Bank was a blessing, although it did take quite a bit of effort to transform the building from its former look into one that perfectly matched the KSB brand.

“It was nice it was already a bank with the vault and a drive-thru in place, but we did have to redo the entire interior and bring in new equipment to make it our own,” Miller said. “We are in the process of rebranding all of our banks to bring in a fresh, new look that is identical so customers recognize us when they walk in the door.”

Adleman said in a time when so much of the banking world is becoming digitized and distant to customers, it is refreshing to see rural, family-oriented community banks stand out by reminding everyone banking is still about one thing: serving the people of its community.