Photo by Shelley Hanson Mark Witmer, chairman, president and CEO of Main Street Financial Services Corp., shares a laugh with Main Street Bank shareholders during a meeting Thursday in St. Clairsville.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Main Street Bank shareholders learned the financial institution performed very well during 2025 during the annual shareholders meeting Thursday at Belmont Hills Country Club.

Mark Witmer, chairman, president and CEO of Main Street Financial Services Corp., said the bank had a record net income of $16.7 million, generated $97 million in loans and $176 million in profits. He attributed this success to Main Street’s community banking model, expansion of branches and good customer service. The most recent branch to open is located in St. Clairsville. Another branch is set to open soon in Canfield.

“We had an outstanding 2025. We had record profits,” he said. “We had a merger here of two banks two years ago this June and it’s just worked out so well for both sets of shareholders coming together.”

Main Street Bank’s merger with Wayne Savings Bank occurred in May 2024.

“In the past year we’ve increased our deposits by about 15 percent and we increased our loans by over 8 percent and we’re continuing along that path,” Witmer said.

Witmer said the bank is proud that the deposits taken in locally go back out as local loans.

“Everyone’s heard in the news this talk about private credit, which is where the largest banks, which may have offices locally, but generally take those deposits and … have about 20 percent of their loans going out to what they call non-deposit financial institutions,” Witmer said. “Those loans are going all over big cities and the world and are not necessarily going to support the local economy. That’s why I think community banking is so important here in the Wheeling area.”

He added that Main Street Bank works to balance providing a positive working environment for its employees with doing what’s best for the shareholders.

“We really encourage local people to buy shares of Main Street – MSWV. You can buy them on online accounts or wherever,” Witmer said. “That really helps us and we in turn try to provide a good return for our shareholders.”

Main Street Bank has local branches in Wheeling, Moundsville, St. Clairsville, Wellsburg and Toronto along with locations in Washingtonville; Rittman; North Canton; Millersburg; Lodi; Fredericksburg; Dalton; Creston; Carrollton; Ashland; and Wooster.