First Farmers and Merchants Bank: how it compares with its peers
Against 31 TN banks with half to twice its assets, First Farmers and Merchants Bank's strongest measure in Q2 2026 is return on assets (1.27% vs. a 1.30% peer median). Its weakest relative measure is net interest margin (3.65% vs. 3.94%).
| Measure | This bank | Peer median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on assets Annualized net income over average assets. | 1.27% | 1.30% | Middle third Ahead of 48% of peers |
| Net interest margin Annualized net interest income over earning assets. | 3.65% | 3.94% | Middle third Ahead of 35% of peers |
| Efficiency ratio Noninterest expense per dollar of revenue. Lower is better. | 61.70% | 56.71% | Middle third Ahead of 39% of peers |
| Assets per employee Total assets over full-time-equivalent staff. | $6.8M | $7.4M | Middle third Ahead of 35% of peers |
| Loans to deposits Net loans and leases over total deposits. | 65.82% | 81.41% | Context |
What it means for lending operations
Its efficiency ratio of 61.70% is above the 56.71% peer median: it spends more to earn each dollar of revenue than most banks its size. Staff time on manual borrower verification (collecting pay stubs, bank statements, and employment letters, then re-keying them) is one of the larger controllable costs behind that number.
Banks closest in size
- Security Bank and Trust Company Paris, TN · $1.70B
- Wellworth Bank Lafayette, TN · $1.84B
- Independent Bank Memphis, TN · $1.85B
- One Bank of Tennessee Cookeville, TN · $1.67B
- Citizens Tri-County Bank Dunlap, TN · $1.64B
- Citizens National Bank Sevierville, TN · $1.96B
Questions about First Farmers and Merchants Bank
How big is First Farmers and Merchants Bank?
First Farmers and Merchants Bank, established in 1909, is headquartered in Columbia, TN. It reported $1.76B in total assets in its Q2 2026 FDIC call report and operates 23 offices.
What is First Farmers and Merchants Bank's return on assets?
1.27% annualized in Q2 2026, against a 1.30% median for 31 TN banks with half to twice its assets, ahead of 48% of them.
What is First Farmers and Merchants Bank's efficiency ratio?
61.70% in Q2 2026: it spent about 62 cents in noninterest expense for each dollar of revenue. The peer median is 56.71%, and lower is better.
Is First Farmers and Merchants Bank growing its loans?
Net loans grew 3.4% over the year to Q2 2026, while deposits shrank 0.1%.
Sources and method
Figures are from the FDIC’s public call report data for the quarter ending 06/30/2026, via FDIC BankFind. Return on assets and net interest margin are annualized year to date. Peers are TN banks with half to twice its assets in the same quarter, excluding this bank. The page refreshes daily, so new quarters appear as banks file. Compare another bank or see every Tennessee bank ranked.