MOUNT VERNON — Representatives from First-Knox National Bank met with the county board of commissioners Monday to demonstrate their eagerness to work with the county in any way possible. The meeting was arranged in the wake of a previous meeting where the commissioners entertained proposals from an out-of-county bank looking to expand its business.

“While I only speak for one of our local banks, this seems very unusual, unnecessary and somewhat insulting,” First-Knox President Gordon Yance said in a letter to the commissioners requesting the meeting. In the meeting, Yance emphasized that the bank’s core business is in Knox County, where six of its 11 branches are located, and where it employs 175 people. He stressed the community involvement of the bank and its employees.