United Citizens Bank of Southern Kentucky held their groundbreaking ceremony for the new Russell Springs branch of the bank on Tuesday morning at the building site on U.S 127 across from the Russell County Middle School.

The bank has a Main Office and a branch in Columbia as well as another branch in Campbellsville but the bank’s management saw the need to expand operations and open a fourth bank in Russell Springs.

“We are very excited about establishing a presence in Russell County,” said Ron Wise, the bank’s president and CEO.

“UCB has a number of loyal customers from this area and this will enable us to better serve their needs in deposits and loans.”

Board Chairman Chuck Giles said it was the bank’s hope for a late March grand opening, but that, he said, was optimistic as it may be April before the bank opens its doors.

“We’re real excited,” Giles said. “Our philosophy is the more capital you bring into an area the better it is for everybody, including the other banks because once people make an investment in an area and people profit from that investment that’s going to bleed over to everybody else in the community.”

Giles said it was a “big testament” to Russell County that it has a significant number of banks and people interested in them.

“I think that speaks well for Russell County,” Giles said.

Giles said he wants the people of Russell County to know that they are going to have a “gem” working for them when the branch opens in Branch Manager Linda McFarland, a native of Russell County. McFarland worked as a loan officer at the Bank of Jamestown for 20 years before moving to United Citizens Bank late last year.

“I’ve heard nothing but good comments,” she said. “I think we’re going to be real busy, I really do.”

She called the move a “challenge” but one she was ready to take on.

“(McFarland) is going to serve them well,” Giles said. “And our CEO Ron Wise has done a great job for us and we want to be a participant in the community and help the community anyway we can.”

He said it was the bank’s desire to further Russell County’s growth even more. Wise echoed Giles’ sentiment.

“I feel Russell County has the potential for good growth in the next few years even in this economy,” he said.

United Citizens Bank opened their first bank in December 2004.

The seven members that form the bank’s board of directors are C. Ronald Wise, Dr. Chuck Giles, chairman of the board, Marshall Loy, Philip Watson, Joe Pyles, Steve Mckinney, Eddie Franklin and Roy Beard.

According to their Web site, www.ucbsky.com, their staff is made up of experienced bank personnel with many years of local banking experience.

This provides the bank with employees who are well known and involved in civic and community affairs and are concerned with the progress, success and welfare of a community, according to their site.

To reach the bank’s main office in Columbia, call 270-384-BANK (2265).