First State Bank History

Larned Background up to July 5, 1896 ● Founders of the Bank - 1900 ● Larned Business - 1904 ● H. H. Reed - World War I ● John Wagner - 1933 ● 1933-1949 ● 1949-1959 ● 1959-1967 ● Reed Peters - 1975 ● New Building - 1989 ● 1986-1996 ● 100 years ● Begin the Next 100 Years ● 2000's

Begin the Next 100 Years

1997

September 30 - - NationsBank and First State Bank and Trust Co. of Larned, Kan., jointly announced today a purchase agreement has been signed for First State Bank and Trust Co. to purchase the NationsBank Pratt Banking Center at 906 East 1st, Pratt, Kan., and the NationsBank Iuka Banking Center at Main & McClellan, Iuka, Kan.

1998

Elects two new Directors

Two new directors, Carlton R. Bert and James L. VonFeldt were elected to serve for 1998. Re-elected were Glee S. Smith, Walter M. Crawford, Jean B. Martin, Larry L. Carr, Reed A. Peters, D. Gene Dikeman II, and D. Ray Reep.

Carlton R. Bert

Carlton is President of Bert & Wetta Sales, Inc. of Larned, is a graduate of the University of Arkansas where he majored in Finance and Banking. Prior to moving to Larned, Carlton spent four years as a Federal Reserve Bank Examiner and one year as a loan officer with Boatmans Bank & Trust of Kansas City. Carlton and his wife, Shari, have lived in Larned since 1983 and have four children.

James L. VonFeldt

Jim is a Certified Public Accountant with the firm of VonFeldt, Bauer & VonFeldt Chtd. He is a graduate of Larned High School and Kansas State University where he majored in Business and Accounting. Jim has been active in the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce, Central Kansas Medical Center, Pawnee County Crimestoppers and the Sacred Heart Church to name a few. He and his wife, Judy, have two children.

"Dale Lucas retired from our Board after serving nine years and he will be missed. However, with the addition of these two community leaders, we have an outstanding Board to provide leadership for our Bank in 1998 and for many years to come" said Reed Peters, Chairman of the Board.

In February First State Bank increased its Capital by over $600,000.00.  This was done by the sale of 100 new shares of common stock to First State Financial Corp.  In the same month First State Bank purchased the Iuka, Kansas and Pratt, Kansas branches from BankAmerica. 

Jeanne Vratil joined First State Bank & Trust as Assistant Trust Officer in May of 1998.  Jeanne is a graduate of Pawnee Rock High School and previously worked for Smith, Burnett, and Larson.  Jeanne and her husband Clinton have two daughters.

The Financial Statement of
First State Bank on March 31, 1998, read as follows:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sharon S. Lessard
Senior Vice President & CFO

Sharon joined First State Bank in June of 1999 after spending fourteen years with the Kansas Banking Department as a Bank Examiner. If you are from Larned, you may already know Sharon. She graduated from Larned High School in 1981 (Sharon Bowman). After graduating from LHS Sharon attended Kansas State University, graduating in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Economics. Sharon and her husband, Mark, have two daughters and are in the process of building a new home in west Larned.
 

Jill Yeager
Assistant Vice President and Cashier

In September the First State Bank Board of Directors promoted Jill to Assistant Vice President and Cashier.  She was also given the responsibility of Bank Compliance Officer.  Jill is a Larned native, graduating from LHS in 1978 (Jill Pivonka).  In 1982 she graduated from Emporia State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business. 

In 1990 Jill joined First State Bank and in 1994 she was promoted to Assistant Loan Officer.  She has been active in the Larned BPW, Larned Area Chamber of Commerce, Sunrise Board of Directors and is currently President of the Golden Belt Bankers Association.

Donita Clawson
Assistant Vice President

Donita is yet another Larned native, graduating from LHS in 1991 (Donita Gleason).   She went on to Kansas State University where she graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.  In 1995 Donita joined our bank and has managed the Loan Processing Department since July of 1997.  In her spare time Donita coaches the LHS girls golf team.
In September of this year Donita was promoted by the Board of Directors to Assistant Vice President.  Her duties will now include supervision of both the Loan Processing Department and the Bookkeeping Department.

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