The Bank of Vernon, established on November 11, 1911, holds the distinction of being the first bank chartered by the Alabama Banking Department. Throughout its more than one hundred-year history, it has remained a locally owned and operated independent community bank, maintaining its identity as a Community Development Financial Institution. In its early decades, the bank was firmly established as the primary lender for the Lamar County area, with leadership roles held by prominent local figures like Judge S. G. Johnson and later his wife, Lilly Pearl Johnson. The bank has always been proactive in adapting to technological advancements, bringing modern tools to its customers long before its peers in the region. During the mid-1970s, it constructed its current headquarters to accommodate growth, including expanded computer systems and improved drive-through services. Despite facing economic pressures from the decline of local manufacturing and various national recessions, the bank has successfully expanded its footprint, recently growing to over $400 million in assets through strategic lending and branch expansion into Mississippi and Alabama. Its core values—accountability, accuracy, initiative, integrity, and ownership—have guided its operations for over a century, ensuring it continues to support its target markets with dedicated financial services.