At 1st National Bank, banking begins with understanding what matters most to the people impacted by each decision.
LEBANON, OH / ACCESS Newswire / May 6, 2026 / On a weekday morning in Lebanon, Ohio, a business owner needs prompt answers to pressing financial questions. A loan question needs context, an appraisal is holding up the schedule, and cash is tighter than expected. What they're looking for isn't simply a bank that can move quickly, but one that understands the situation well enough to act wisely. In this moment, 1st National Bank is their lifeline.
"Community banking still matters," says CEO Joe Cesta. "When someone calls, they reach a real person who understands their situation and can help them move forward."
Operating in the corridor between Cincinnati and Dayton, and founded more than a century ago, the bank has grown steadily alongside the families and businesses it serves. The region is seeing renewed momentum as construction picks back up, small businesses are finding room to expand, and families are making long-term financial decisions they expect to live with for years.
However, growth in a real economy rarely follows a straight line. Cash flow can take a hit, construction schedules often slip, and payroll requires attention. In times like these, progress depends on someone willing to listen and offer steady financial judgment amidst shifting conditions.
Deliberate Responsiveness
Instead of waiting days for answers, 1st National Bank readily responds with financing options, deposit solutions, or operational tactics long before they become problems.
According to Paul Revelson, the bank's incoming president, "When a customer is growing or navigating a transition, timing is everything. In some cases, we're able to take a conversation from first meeting to closing in a matter of weeks."
Therefore, team members meet customers early, stay engaged, and often watch businesses and families grow into something lasting to the benefit of the entire community.
The bank's Bank your best. mantra serves as a reminder that customers bring real work, risk, and responsibility to the table. In return, the bank stays prepared, engaged, and consistent-treating each relationship with care, urgency, and familiarity.
"Most people don't come in with a finished plan," says Revelson. "They're sorting things out in real time. Being available in those moments builds trust."
The bank's services are only the starting point. Community involvement, from food drives to financial literacy initiatives, reflects an understanding that financial challenges don't begin at the bank counter.
Continuity is reinforced through leadership. Cesta and Revelson, who are cousins, bring a shared sense of accountability to decision-making.
It has been recognized as a 2024 Forbes Best-In-State Bank and a 2025 Fastest Growing Real Estate Lender in Cincinnati, while also ranking among the largest banks by market share of deposits in Cincinnati and Dayton.
For Cesta, though, success is measured less by how far the bank grows than by how carefully it's trusted. "Those moments," he says, "are what this work is really about."
Contact:
1st National Bank
Bank your best.
513-932-3221
bankwith1st.com
SOURCE: 1st National Bank
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:
https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/1st-national-bank-in-the-business-of-relationships-1157461
