Citizens National Bank was recently named Bank of the Year by the Ohio Statewide Development Corp. (OSDC), according to Michael Romey, CNB president and CEO.

The announcement came during an OSDC awards luncheon Jan. 26 in Columbus. During the annual event OSCD honor projects, lenders and banks for their commitment to growing, creating and retaining jobs in Ohio through the use of its small business loan programs.
 
Citizens shares the Bank of the Year honor with Heartland Bank, which has 13 offices in central Ohio.
 
In receiving the award, Citizens National Bank was cited for its use of the Small Business Administration 504 loan program and the Ohio 166 program to extend long-term fixed rate financing for business real estate.

CNB has also a signed Lender Service Provider Agreement with OSDC to submit SBA 7a loans on behalf of bank.
 
Citizens has worked with OSDC for 15 years. The largest project was a Springhill Suites Hotel under construction in Beavercreek.
 
By working with the OSDC, clients in the bank’s Columbus, Springfield and Van Wert markets have each benefited by receiving long-term fixed rate financing on large projects that contribute to the economic development of those communities.
 
Accepting the award in addition to Romey, were Brock Burcham, senior vice president of CNB’s Springfield office, and Eric Faulkner, vice president business banking officer.
 
“We’re very proud of our involvement with the OSDC and the financing opportunities it provides our clients who otherwise may not have been able to move forward with these important projects. We’re honored to have been named Bank of the Year and look forward to continuing our involvement with the OSDC in 2016,” said Faulkner.
 
About Ohio Statewide Development Corp.
OSDC is a Certified Development Co. with the SBA. By partnering with banks such as Citizens, the development corporation provided over $4 billion in 504 loans to 5,600 businesses nationwide in 2015.
 
It provides loans to small businesses that are growing and creating and retaining jobs throughout Ohio. OSDC is certified by the Small Business Administration and authorized by the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) to provide small business loans under the SBA 504 and Ohio 166 loan programs.
 
OSDC works in partnership with area lenders to provide long‐term, fixed rate, low down payment financing for expanding small businesses.