BUCKHANNON — When Branch Manager Karen Knabenshue began her career at First Community Bank, she processed two batches of work daily — one for FCB and another for the Adrian Buckhannon Bank that had just been purchased.
Thirty-five years ago, the newly hired teller also rolled coins by hand, typed savings bonds individually, inserted film into security cameras and shared a main computer at either the teller line or the drive-thru where she was working.
On her work anniversary recently, the dedicated Buckhannon branch leader recalled counting and shipping food coupons, manually posting loan payments and seeing the branch’s first ATM — The OWL — being installed. She also welcomed remodeling of the interior and exterior of her branch.
“There have also been countless other changes in banking in my 35 years,” Karen said this week, as FCB bank leaders and employees celebrated her commitment to quality and the Buckhannon community.
“I am honored to be a member of Karen’s team,” Vice President of Retail Banking Mary Gorey said, as she marked Knabenshue’s milestone.
Her loyalty and expertise have become so well known in the area that the Buckhannon mayor declared the branch is unofficially known as “Karen’s Bank.”
Gorey said Knabenshue takes that title seriously, wearing it with pride.
That isn’t the only one she takes seriously, either.
“She has not only inspired me as a woman and working mother, but she has also become a wonderful friend,” Market Manager of Commercial Banking KD Coleman said, as she and Chief Retail Banking Officer Milton Campbell attended a surprise breakfast in Knabenshue’s honor.
Outside of the bank, Knabenshue and her husband, Tim, share three children: Krista, Karissa and Kirk — and one grandson, Hudson.
