Entrepreneurs & Women-Owned Businesses
We understand your vision. Explore some of the ways we can help you achieve your goals.
Find Your Business BankerKnowledge is one of the most powerful tools for business success
Entrepreneurs often face unique challenges, including access to networks, mentorship, and education. We want to help close that gap. That said, we’re working to pull together trusted resources from leading institutions, organizations, and leaders in the business world to help you build your skills, strategies, and confidence so you can take your business further.
Whether you’re looking for a free business course from Harvard Business School Online, guidance from the SBA, or inspiration from national women’s business networks, you’ll find it here, all in one place.
Start exploring the articles, guides, and courses to keep your business moving forward.
Explore ResourcesAs an aspiring entrepreneur, you probably have a lot of questions, and we have answers:
How do I set up an LLC or corporation?
Step 1 is choosing the right legal structure, an LLC or Corporation. Step 2 is to register your business with the state. Step 3 is to obtain an EIN and other required licenses.
How do I market my idea or product?
A good place to start is to conduct market research, then profile your target markets, identify your unique selling proposition, develop your business brand, choose where to market, and set your goals and budget.
How do I create a business plan?
Traditional business plans will have these core sections, an executive summary, company description, market analysis, organization & management, service or product line, marketing & sales, funding request, financial projections, and appendix.
What kind of insurance do I need for my business?
Common types of business insurance include general liability, product liability, professional liability, commercial property, home-based business policies, and business owners’ policies.
Have a question we didn’t cover?
Click below to explore more answers or send us your own! We’re always looking for new ways to help new or aspiring business owners.
Submit a Question HereMeet Your Banking Partners
CNB is deeply rooted in Ohio communities across the state. We support you and your business ventures with the same level of care and flexibility you’d expect from your own team. Whether you’re launching a business or redefining it, we scale with you through local relationships and reliable solutions.
Suzzette Boyd – VP Business Banking Officer
Gabe Denecker – Business Banking Officer
Dana Rieman – AVP Business Banking Officer
Connor Shawaker – Business Banking Officer
We have 9 offices throughout Ohio, all ready to assist you with your business needs. We pride ourselves on not only stellar service, but also creating personal connections. We help build businesses one relationship at a time.
History
On January 31, 1920, the Citizens National Bank opened its doors for the first time in Bluffton, Ohio, and offered all new customers an apple in appreciation for stopping by. A review of the books from 1920 indicates that the bank began with $50,000 in capital and approximately four employees.
We have expanded our offices to Celina, Defiance, Elida, Findlay, Lima, Springfield, Toledo and Van Wert. We currently employ about 160 people and serve customers in eleven primary counties: Allen, Hancock, Putnam, Hardin, Auglaize, Mercer, Van Wert, Paulding, Clark, Defiance and Lucas.
Growth
Citizens National Bank surpassed $1billion in assets at the end of 2023, and we continued to grow. In 2025, our loan volume increased by 5.4% with a strong focus on commercial real estate and Commercial & Industrial growth.
We continue to look for ways to make banking easier and safe for our customers. We use SecureNow, which offers improved security for online/mobile banking and eliminates the need to update passwords frequently. We enhanced our credit card program to offer a more user-friendly card management portal for both personal and business cards. We also are focused on fraud education, providing tips through #NoFraudFridays on our social media channels, as well as regular communication with our business customers reminding them to check their accounts and take advantage of products such as Positive Pay, which can help catch check fraud before it happens.
As a community bank, we are focused on supporting local businesses and non-profits. Our employees volunteer their time throughout the year to many organizations, including the United Way and the Salvation Army, as well as many boards.
The size of our bank continues to grow, and we look forward to welcoming more staff into our organization to grow with us!
Special History
Citizens has a unique notoriety as being one of the banks that John Dillinger robbed in 1933. History has it that on August 14, 1933, John Dillinger and his gang came to Bluffton, stole $6,000 from The Citizens National Bank, and exited the bank, guns blazing (amazingly no one was injured) as they made their escape to the north.
In October of that year, John Dillinger was brought back to Ohio and held in the Lima jail (12 miles south of Bluffton) to stand trial for the Bluffton bank robbery. On October 12, Dillinger’s “gang” came into the jail claiming they were officers from Indiana and they were taking Dillinger back to stand trial there. When Sheriff Jesse Sarber asked for their credentials, they opened fire on Sarber, killing him and breaking Dillinger out of jail.
Dillinger was one of the most publicized criminals of the 20th Century. On July 22, 1934, however, Dillinger was brought down by “The Lady in Red” when he was killed by federal agents and police as he left a Chicago movie house.
Ratings
Citizens National Bank is consistently rated high for performance and stability. We currently have a 5 Star Rating from Bauer Financial, and an “A” Health Rating by DepositAccounts.com. We were also named as one of the Top 50 Community Banks in the Midwest in 2022 by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Citizens National Bank (CNB) is proud to be named one of the best-performing community banks in the nation by The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). All community banks in the U.S. were divided into categories by asset size: Less than $300 million; $300 million to less than $1 billion; and $1 billion or more. CNB surpassed the $1 billion in assets threshold in January 2024 and was named 24th in the nation for that category.
Community Involvement
At Citizens National Bank, we believe it is our responsibility to support, improve, and give back to the communities we serve. We partner with our neighbors to focus on our community, with an emphasis on making it a better place to live and work. We do this by investing in and giving back to the community, with donations to local causes and non-profit organizations, and countless hours of employee volunteer time. When you do business with CNB, you benefit the community in which we all live and work.
We’re very fortunate to have a lot of different businesses, and along the way, Citizens National Bank has been a great financial partner for us.
– Tammy Kinsinger, Vetter Lumber
Just getting started or already growing strong? These are the go-to products our small business customers rely on most:
A powerful digital platform to manage tax payments, initiate payroll direct deposits, and more – All online for efficient business operations.
A no-fee checking account, perfect for small businesses with lighter transaction volumes.
Convenient on-the-go access to your business accounts via CNB’s mobile platform.
A Visa® Credit Card tailored for businesses, offering easy cash management and flexible tracking of employee spending.
Tools that enable you to deposit checks from your place of business.
Tools that enable your business to handle credit card payments.
A streamlined solution for you to submit employee hours. CNB will handle payroll processing, direct deposits, and quarterly tax payments, saving you time, reducing stress, and helping avoid penalties.
At CNB, we believe women-owned businesses are essential to thriving communities.
They spark innovation, create local jobs, and bring fresh perspective to every industry they touch. But we also recognize the unique challenges women entrepreneurs face, whether it’s access to funding, mentorship, or networks. That’s why we’re committed to offering more than just financial products. We provide partnership, flexibility, and resources to help women-led businesses grow with confidence. When women succeed, entire communities move forward, and we’re proud to play a part in that journey.
“There are more than 14 million women-owned businesses, employing nearly 12.2 million people and generating $2.7 trillion in revenue (2024 Impact of Women-Owned Businesses report). Women-owned businesses make up 39.1% of all U.S. businesses – a 13.6% increase from 2019 to 2023.” (WBENC.org)
In the future, I see J Collection Bridal really continue to grow, and I think partnering with Citizens National Bank is gonna help us do that. I think they’re invested in our journey just as much as we are, and the sky’s the limit for us!
– Jenna Dailey, J Collection Bridal
Message From The President: A Look Ahead at 2026
Here from President & CEO Eric Faulkner, as we prepare for 2026, and how we as a bank plan our careful but curious approach to Artificial Intelligence.
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Protect Your Business from Cybercrime
At an event hosted by Citizens National Bank and Tomorrow’s Technology Today, banking and cybersecurity expert Erin Moreno warned that small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are increasingly becoming prime targets for cybercrime and can’t afford to delay action.
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The Kinsinger’s – Multiple Businesses, the Right Bank
When Jason and Tammy Kinsinger purchased Vetter Lumber, they weren’t just adding another venture to their portfolio; they were stepping into a legacy.
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