From Harrogate to Nasdaq: Commercial Bank rings the bell on 50 years and a historic IPO
A community bank born in rural Claiborne County made its way to the heart of Wall Street last month, and rang the opening bell to prove it.
Terry Lee, president and CEO of Commercial Bank, stood at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York City on March 23 and rang the opening bell to celebrate the bank’s 50th anniversary and its debut as a publicly traded company.
“Ringing the Nasdaq opening bell is a tremendous honor and a testament to the dedication of our founders, customers, employees, shareholders, senior managers and board of directors,” said Lee.
50 years, 35 locations
Commercial Bank was founded in 1976, when the first branch opened in Claiborne County. Today the institution has grown to 35 locations across Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina, while keeping its headquarters in Harrogate, TN.
Commercial Bancgroup, Inc., the bank’s holding company, completed its initial public offering on September 30, 2025, raising $172 million, the largest bank initial public offering (IPO) in Tennessee history.
Shares began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on October 2, 2025, under the ticker symbol “CBK.”
For April Bailey, executive vice president and assistant chief credit officer, this milestone is deeply personal. She has spent over two decades with the bank, beginning her career as a teller.
“Going public is a defining moment for our bank, and ringing the Nasdaq bell is a symbol of that achievement. I never imagined this moment when I first joined the bank 26 years ago. I’ve watched it grow through many milestones that rarely make headlines, especially like this. This moment represents the dedication of the people who believed in this institution, and it belongs to every employee who made this possible,” she said.
Bringing amplified ability back home
Commercial Bank’s listing on Nasdaq only compounds its ability to continue to serve local families and businesses that have banked there for half a century.
“Our partnership with Nasdaq opens up our opportunities for visibility, investments, and access to capital. We maintain our founder Oscar Robertson’s vision of delivering superior customer service to every customer, every day,” he said. “Relationships are what drive us. We meet with our customers one-on-one and work to find solutions to their financial needs.”
The bank says its focus going forward remains on operational excellence, customer success, community impact, and shareholder value — the same principles that got them to this major milestone.
Follow Commercial Bank on LinkedIn.
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