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Local bank will celebrate 90th anniversary with an open house
RANDOLPH — One of Randolph’s oldest businesses is marking a big milestone this week.
First State Bank will celebrate 90 years in business with an open house from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 29.
While others around it closed, the bank survived the financial crisis of 1929, the Bank Holiday declared by President Roosevelt in 1933 and the Great Depression of the 1930s. It was one of the few banks in the nation that did not require capital to fortify its strength in the Great Depression.
Consistent leadership has been one of the keys to the bank’s success. In those nine decades, only four people have sat behind the president’s desk.
F.S. Stagge was First State Bank’s first president, serving in that role from 1935 until 1960. Vernon Viergutz was named bank president upon Stagge’s death. He served in that capacity from 1960 to 1998. Tom Reidmiller took over after Viergutz. Mark Linville then succeeded Reidmiller when he retired in 2002.
Linville has not only shown his leadership ability locally, but also across the state. Earlier this month, he was elected president of the Nebraska Banker’s Association, a statewide organization which provides resources and advocacy for Nebraska’s banking industry.
There have been lots of changes at the bank over the years, but one thing has remained constant — a strong belief in customer service.
“Banking is changing at an exponential pace. The only remaining long-standing tradition is good customer service,” Linville said.
Linville is quick to point out, it’s the entire staff, and not just one person that makes the bank successful.
“We have had many wonderful employees that have worked at FSB for three or four decades,” he said. “I think that is a testament to the bank’s stability, positive work environment and the quality of the community.”
“I have made my share of mistakes, but I also did a lot of things right during my career at FSB,” Linville said. “The most important thing I do at FSB is hire good people. Banking is about relationships and having the right people makes all the difference.”
Current employees are: Mark Linville, Chairman and President; Sandra Owens, Executive Vice President; Melissa Engel, Loan Officer; Gary Gubbels, Loan Officer; Christie Larsen, Cashier; Jeri Schmit, Assistant Cashier; Crystal Dockhorn, Administrative Asst.; Megan Nordhues, Head Teller; Michelle Backer, Teller; Sandie McDonald, Teller; Tina Thelen, Custodian.
First State Bank has always been known for being there to help when the community and community members needed assistance.
The bank established a Downtown Betterment Revolving Loan Fund in 2011. The revolving loan fund has been used to assist downtown businesses with short term low-interest rate loans to promote downtown growth and improvement.
FSB has also made substantial donations to numerous projects in the community ever since the establishment of the bank 90 years ago.
The bank has aided projects like the Cardinal Kids Learning Center, Randolph Lied Library, Randolph Public Swimming Pool, Veterans Memorial Flag Monument and countless others.
Linville said if the original founders could see the bank today they would be astonished.
“Banking is nothing like what it was when I began my career 35 years ago and compared to 1935 — it’s a completely different world,” he said.
See page two inside this week’s Randolph Times for more on the bank and its role in Randolph’s history.
