Best Bank. Best Community Supporter. One Incredible Honor.

Every once in a while, an honor comes along that reminds you why you do what you do.

Being voted Best Bank and Best Community Supporter in The Paducah Sun's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards is one of those moments for all of us at CFSB.

To everyone who took the time to vote for us, thank you. Your trust means more than we can put into words because this recognition didn't come from a panel of judges or an industry organization. It came from our neighbors, our clients, our local businesses, and the communities we have the privilege of serving every day. What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that, to us, these aren't really two different awards. They're one story.

For over 135 years, we've believed that the role of a community bank extends far beyond providing financial services. Banking is certainly at the heart of what we do, but it's never been the whole story. Our purpose has always been to help create stronger communities by investing in the people, businesses and organizations that make them thrive. That philosophy has shaped CFSB since the days of Bank of Benton and continues to guide every decision we make today.

Earlier this year, we introduced our CREATE initiative, a campaign that highlights the long-term investments and partnerships we're making to impact the future of Paducah and McCracken County. While CREATE gave that vision a name, it didn't create our mission. It simply brought together the work we've been committed to for years.

Whether we're expanding access through new banking centers, partnering on transformational projects like the Paducah Sports Park by CFSB, supporting entrepreneurship through Sprocket, investing in neighborhood revitalization, awarding scholarships to local students, or working alongside schools, nonprofits and community organizations, each effort reflects the same belief: when our communities succeed, we all do.

As a community bank, we believe local deposits should help create local opportunities. We believe decisions are best made by people who know the communities they serve. Most importantly, we believe relationships matter. Every conversation with a client, every loan that helps a family purchase a home, every business that grows with our support, and every organization we partner with is part of something much larger than a single transaction.

Receiving these two awards together is such an incredible honor because they affirm that connection between community banking and community investment. To us, you simply cannot separate one from the other.

Our CEO, Michael Radcliffe, shared it best:

"Being named both Best Bank and Best Community Supporter is an incredible honor because these awards represent the trust our communities have placed in us. We have always believed that the best community banks are defined not only by the financial services they provide, but by how they invest in every single person and business they serve. We are deeply grateful and we hope you know that consistency in service and commitment to our communities is our number one priority."

While we're incredibly thankful for this recognition, we don't see it as the finish line. Instead, we see it as encouragement to continue doing what we've always believed matters most, serving our communities with integrity, investing in their future, and helping create opportunities that will benefit generations to come.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your story. Most of all, thank you for trusting us to continue creating something meaningful together.

Celebrate With Us

One of the greatest joys of being a community bank is having the opportunity to celebrate alongside the people we serve.

As a small way of saying thank you for this incredible honor, we'd love to invite our communities to join us for a FREE Community Celebration on Tuesday, July 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Paducah Sports Park by CFSB.

Bring the whole family and enjoy an evening of inflatables, games, giveaways, photo opportunities, food, music from a live DJ, and plenty of fun for all ages.

More than anything, it's simply our chance to say thank you in person.