Mechanics Bank Will Merge With BankFirst

Mechanics Bank President and CEO Cam Tyler announced Thursday morning that the bank has agreed to merge with Columbus-based BankFirst Financial Services (BankFirst). The merger is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023, following customary regulatory approvals.

Below is a statement from Tyler:

The Mechanics Bank board of directors and employees have been honored to serve you for the last 130 years; and now, as members of the BankFirst team, we will continue our commitment of offering extraordinary service and personalized financial solutions to you: our customers. This strategic partnership with a bank that shares our values is intentional and paramount. BankFirst’s history, culture, and commitment to the communities they serve are very much the same as ours. We share a belief that the best banking model is one where decisions are made locally…in the communities we serve. We also have many common systems, processes, and procedures, which will make the transition smooth and efficient.

Other than the change in ownership and eventual name change to BankFirst, it will continue to be “business as usual” for our Mechanics Bank team and customers. We encourage you to continue banking as you have always been accustomed. The same team of local Mechanics Bank bankers will continue to be here to serve you before, during, and after the merger and name change.

Over the next few months, we will keep you informed of our progress toward merging with BankFirst. We included a few Frequently Asked Questions below with answers to some common questions that may arise during this process. If you have additional questions, please visit with us.

As always, we want you to know we appreciate your business and value you as our customer and as our friend. It is a privilege to serve you.

Mechanics Bank and BankFirst have come together to put you first.