‘Celebrating forward’
Community Bank marking 125 years
Barron McCune, commonly known as “Pat,” did not stand pat during a quarter-century with Community Bank, mostly as a corporate leader. He helped not only to sustain, but expand this venerable institution’s role in a region he called home.
“There aren’t many local independent banks left, much less ones that are 125 years old,” said McCune, who retired as CEO in 2018. “I think the secret sauce is the bank never forgot its roots. We were regular folk trying to take care of our neighbors and customers. The bank wanted to be trustworthy.
“All officers, until recently, were home-grown people, and we didn’t make mistakes. We’ve managed to survive and help people.”
On July 1, Community Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of CB Financial Services Inc., will celebrate its 125th anniversary. The bank was founded in 1901 in Carmichaels, led by local residents. They helped to raise funds to launch a bank near the banks of the Monongahela.
The bank started modestly during the McKinley administration, with one office. It now has 12 branches, located in Southwestern Pennsylvania and the northern panhandle of West Virginia, and offices in Southpointe and Pittsburgh. The bank provides an abundance of services, including digital banking, mobile deposits, online account opening and treasury management platforms.
Amazingly, it is one of three banks headquartered within 30 miles that have operated for at least a century. The others are Washington Financial Bank (127 years) and First Federal of Greene County (102).
Community Bank has existed essentially half as long as the United States, which is marking 250 years.
“Our Treasury Payments & Services program started running in March and we’ve expanded our mortgage division,” CEO and President John H. Montgomery said, adding that the company employs about 175. “That’s up a little as we invest in people.”
He arrived from Missouri in September 2000, in the midst of the pandemic, with a similar mindset to that of his predecessors – let’s keep on keeping on with clients and communities.
“You can’t go wrong if your focus is on customers,” said Montgomery, who has often expressed a philosophy of “we want to be Community Bank upper case and lower case” – corporate title and mission description.
“The bank is well capitalized with excellent credit and liquidity. We want to use technology to make it easier on customers and employees. We don’t send callers to call centers. We want humans to answer the phone and clients to know their bankers.”
Montgomery said “mortgages are a key element for clients,” and the bank plans to expand its mortgage division.
Community Bank distinguished itself in 2025, ending the year with $14.4 million in adjusted net income and strong capital levels.
A century and a quarter is a formidable accomplishment for any business, but Montgomery prefers to strategize for the future more than reflect on the past. “Rather than simply look back, we’re celebrating forward.”
“I think our history generally speaks to stewardship. Folks working for the bank take their mission to heart,” said Ben Brown, executive vice president of Consumer Banking and Banking Experience.
“It’s not just a bank or a job, but being able to support communities and clients. We talk about strategic planning processes. How do we stay relevant to our stakeholders?”
Brown, who grew up outside Atlanta, is well aware of longtime ties Community Bank has forged with communities and clients. “We still have original ledger books from 1901,” he said.
He said he believes similar interactions exist in this region beyond banking. “People in southwest Pennsylvania, the Mon Valley and Wheeling tend to form long-term relationships in a lot of other businesses that have been around for a long time. It’s good to see that.”
Speaking of ties, Brown coincidentally has one with Pat McCune. He bought the East Washington house in which the former CEO grew up.
“We are the third or fourth owners since the 1880s,” Brown said, laughing. He and his wife purchased the residence in 2009 from Washington & Jefferson College.
McCune now resides 1,600-plus miles from his previous residence in Scenery Hill, where he had horses on a 150-acre farm. He, his wife, Ann, and sons Sam and Joe, reside on a 40-acre farm in Sheridan, Wyoming, about 20 miles from Montana.
“It’s very beautiful,” he said. “The mountains are not far from the house. “If I look west, all I see are mountains.
“Things are working out. It’s not as taxing as our place was in Western Pennsylvania.”
McCune rose to CEO of Community Bank in 2005 and oversaw a merger in 2014 with First Federal Savings Bank of Monessen, headed by longtime friend Pat O’Brien, who shared leadership duties. (O’Brien, a longtime Washington County resident, declined to be interviewed for this article.)
“Three years later, we purchased a bank out of Wheeling,” McCune said.
He retired in June 2018, relinquishing CEO duties to O’Brien. They were colleagues for four years.
McCune certainly established himself at Community Bank, as anyone approaching EQT Park can attest. The Barron “Pat” McCune Jr. Corporate Center sits a home run away from the Wild Things’ stadium.
Pat O’Brien is enamored of the company that he served as well.
“Add my congratulations to Communuity Bank for 125 years,” he said. “There was an opportunity to sell the bank, but it didn’t happen. Not doing so is something special.”