President Sam Eckart and Gordon Smith, owner of Cave Country Canoes, teamed up in the early 1980s when Cave Country Canoes approached Community First Bank for a small business loan to get their canoe rental business off the ground. Community First Bank helped Cave Country Canoes get their feet wet by creating a tailored business loan package that helped the small business get started. Community First Bank has supported Cave Country Canoes ever since with business loans tailored to their changing needs.