Indianapolis, IN
First Farmers Bank & Trust to open Carmel branch – Indianapolis Business Journal
Converse-based First Farmers Bank & Trust plans to open a full-service branch in Carmel by the end of the year—a move that the bank intends to use as a springboard for future growth in the Indianapolis market.
The new office in Carmel’s Arts & Design District will occupy 2,800 square feet at 111 S. Rangeline Road in a three-story, 50,000-square foot mixed-use building being developed by LOR Corp.
First Farmers first established a physical presence in Carmel last year, when it opened a loan production office at 11711 N. Pennsylvania St.
Based on the results at that office, the bank decided it was time to establish a full-service branch. It plans to incorporate its existing Pennsylvania Street operations into the Rangeline Road office when the new branch opens.
In contrast to the Pennsylvania Street location, which is in an office district, the Rangeline Road location is in a livelier neighborhood with more foot traffic—and is expected to offer the bank better exposure to current and potential customers.
Another tenant in the Rangeline Road office will be 1933 Lounge, a restaurant concept from Indianapolis-based Huse Culinary. Huse, the parent of St. Elmo Steak House and Harry & Izzy’s, opened its first 1933 Lounge above St. Elmo at 127 S. Illinois St. in downtown Indianapolis and its second in Fishers District in 2019.
Matt Maher, First Farmers’ Hamilton County regional president, said the vibrancy of the Arts & Design District, and the presence of 1933 Lounge, will give the bank good visibility to both pedestrians and vehicle traffic.
“People will be able to see us, and I think it’ll give us a lot more brand recognition over time,” he said,
First Farmers, which is headquartered about 55 miles northeast of Carmel, has been doing business in Hamilton County for years. Its Sheridan office opened in the late 1990s and its Cicero branch opened about five years ago.
But the bank, which was founded in 1885, has grown to the point that it feels it can now compete in the Indianapolis market in a bigger way, said First Farmers President and CEO Mark “Doc” Holt.
In the world of banking, assets are a standard measure of a bank’s size. Last year, First Farmers’ assets surpassed $3 billion for the first time.
“That allows us to service a fair number of large commercial real estate customers,” Holt said.
Provided the Carmel branch performs well, Holt said, First Farmers will be looking for future expansion opportunities in the greater Indianapolis market. Holt said he envisions the bank eventually having between five and 10 branches in the market over a still-to-be-determined timeline.
Indianapolis, IN
Silver Alert declared for 16-year-old boy missing from Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the disappearance of Robert Williams Jr., a 16-year-old Black male who is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 185 pounds, has black hair with brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a gray coat, blue sweat pants, and black tennis shoes.
Williams Jr. is missing from Indianapolis, and was last seen on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. He is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance.
Investigators ask that anyone with information on Williams Jr. contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department at 317-327-6541 or 911.
Indianapolis, IN
The City of Indianapolis’ “Indy Peace Fellowship” 2025 review
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indy Peace Fellowship is an initiative from the city, providing solutions to reduce gun violence in our city.
WRTV spoke with Dane Nutty, President & CEO of the Indy Public Safety Foundation, about its efforts in 2025 and continued targets ahead for 2026.
“A lot of times, you have an idea of what the community wants, you have an idea of what people need, and so, we certainly have a significant engagement with the community daily,” Nutty said.
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The City of Indianapolis’ “Indy Peace Fellowship” 2025 review
Finding solutions to gun violence has been one of the city’s biggest hurdles.
“This year that we’re looking at annual data, we’re over 20% reduction in criminal homicides and nearly 30% reduction in non-fatal shootings, but again, I think it’s a testament to the investments that have been made over the last three to five years and really lifting not only targeted intervention but also community voices in violence intervention,” Nutty said.
Nutty said that the relationships built with the community, IMPD and organizations throughout the years helped foster greater results in 2025.
“I think after the first couple of years, you know, when you launch a really huge new strategy, it takes a little time to kind of cement those partnerships and ensure that we’re being most effective and intentional with our work, and we’ve really seen that come into play this year,” Nutty said.
Looking ahead to 2026, Nutty said his team will continue to review data daily to help cultivate the best outcome.
“We might have an incident in the community that results in either the potential for retaliation or, you know, some additional trauma that that neighborhood or that community has incurred,” Nutty said.
OPHS
Every year, Indy Peace Fellowship’s goal is to reduce homicides by 10%.
“As of today, we’re down over 20% in criminal homicides year to date, so we’re certainly, again. We’re happy that we met that goal. That doesn’t mean that the work has completed, right? That we can just say, ‘Hey, we’ve done it all, we’ve fixed the problem.’ There’s a lot of work to move forward,” Nutty said.
Nutty added that they are seeing nearly a 30% reduction year-over-year in non-fatal shootings. Further proving that community outreach and targeted impact are working.
Indianapolis, IN
IMPD officer charged with operating vehicle while intoxicated after showing up to work smelling of alcohol
INDIANAPOLIS — An officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has been charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OVWI).
According to a news release from IMPD, Bryan Gibson, an officer with the department, arrived at the department’s southeast district in his personal vehicle on the evening of Dec. 10 for a scheduled administrative duty shift.
When Gibson arrived, the department alleges that Gibson smelled like alcohol. After an investigation from the department’s OVWI unit, the special investigations unit and internal affairs, the release said that Gibson was determined to be under the influence of alcohol.
On Dec. 11, IMPD Chief Chris Bailey suspended Gibson without pay and recommended his termination to the department’s civilian police merit board.
The release said that at the time of the incident, Gibson was assigned to administrative duty. Officials said that Gibson did not have police powers while under administrative investigation for an unrelated personnel matter.
On Wednesday, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office officially filed charges against Gibson for:
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated
- Operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.
Gibson’s initial hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2026, the release said.
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