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First State Bank History
For one hundred and eleven
years people have made a difference to First State Bank, and
this holds true today. Our continued growth and success have
allowed us increased opportunities to serve our customers
through our banking locations in Larned, Pratt, Iuka, and
most recently Overland Park, as well as our Trust Company
and the financial services of Kansas Wealth Management, Inc.
The employees of First State Bank and Kansas Wealth
Management, Inc. take pride in serving their communities and
strive to give their customers the best service possible.
June 1896: Following the closure of five banks in Larned,
the town of Larned was without a bank for three weeks. It
was then on June 26, 1896, that a Larned newspaper (The
Chronoscope) announced the opening of the First State Bank
and wrote, “The gentlemen connected with this new enterprise
are among our most prominent and careful business men, which
is a guarantee that the business of the bank will be
conducted in a careful and conservative manner.” It went on
to say, “the following named gentlemen were elected
directors: Timothy McCarthy, F.D. Lowery, L.A. Choat, H.M.
Halloway, and E.E. Frizell.”
First State Bank opened its doors at 513 Broadway, Larned
Kansas on June 30, 1896. F.D. Lowrey was elected the first
President.
Succeeding bank Presidents included: 1902 H.M. Halloway,
1905 H.H. Reed, 1908 Charles Lobdell, 1911 E.E. Frizell,
1914 John E. Wagner, 1919 H. Mont Reed, 1950 H. Leon Reed,
1964 Kenneth Peters, 1968 Reed Peters, 1990 Gene Dikeman,
2005 Reed Peters and 2006 Douglas M. Briggs. Many of these
people are tied together by family. E.E. Frizell, H.M.
Halloway and H.H. Reed married sisters - the DuMont sisters.
H. Mont Reed and H. Leon Reed were brothers and their father
was H.H. Reed. Reed Peters is the great grandson of H.H.
Reed and Douglas M. Briggs is the son-in-law to Reed Peters.
The Bank has had three home office locations. Starting at
513 Broadway in 1896, in 1900 the Bank moved to 502 Broadway
and in 1976 to a new building at 116 West 6th Street all in
Larned.
On July 4, 1996, First State Bank celebrated its one hundred
year anniversary in Larned by hosting a community wide
celebration with a reception, a free concert by “The Little
River Band” and a spectacular firework display for the over
5,000 in attendance.
First State Bank acquired new banking locations in Pratt and
Iuka, Kansas in February 1998.
In 2001, Kansas Wealth Management, Inc. became a part of the
extended services offered by First State Bank. This
investment management company offers a bundle of investment
services. It has offices located in Pratt and Larned with
their main office at 818 Broadway Larned. Kansas Wealth
Management is managed by James VonFeldt.
In March 2007, First State
Bank received regulatory approval to open a branch at
College and Metcalf in Overland Park, Kansas. Leigh Peters
Briggs serves as Branch Manager of this bank.
The Board of Directors at First State Bank are Reed A.
Peters, Douglas M. Briggs,
Carlton Bert, Larry L. Carr, Michael G. Cillessen, Jean B. Martin,
Frank S. Perry, D. Ray Reep and Glee S. Smith Jr.
With over $80 million in total assets and almost $10 million
in capital, First State Bank offers a full line of
competitive banking services and is well positioned for the
future.
Continuing the traditions of
quality customer service established when the bank first
opened its doors; First State Bank looks forward to helping
enhance the future growth and prosperity of all its
customers for many more years.
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