On a warm August evening in 1906, a group of local businessmen met at the St. Elmo Hotel in Monticello, Florida. Their objective: Open a new bank in Jefferson County that would be the best in the territory, and offer friendly, neighborly service, good enough to last a lifetime. That bank was Farmers and Merchants Bank. On January 5, 1907 it opened for business with $25,000 in Capital. FMB has grown to be one of the oldest and strongest financial institutions in Florida, its roots deeply imbedded in Jefferson County for almost 100 years. Always a strong but conservative financial institution, Farmers and Merchants served its community faithfully through good and bad economic times. In 1966, F.W. Carraway, Sr., a Tallahassee legislator, was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. Carraway served in both the Florida House of Representatives and the Senate, and was elected President of the Senate in 1962-63. Under Carraway's leadership, FMB began a tradition of strong dedication to community and personal service. This progressive philosophy and spirit of helpfulness continues today under a capable team of professional bankers and caring individuals. From humble beginnings nearly one hundred years ago, FMB has grown into a solid financial institution, recognized for its bold actions to provide superior service and its five-star strength.