Local institution celebrates 125 years

Nancy Karleskint, a teller at Citizens Bank, N.A., sorts money at her desk inside the local bank, 200 S. Main St. Karleskint is a 25-year employee of the bank. The bank, which was formed in 1884 to serve Bourbon County, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. To celebrate the milestone, open house events will take place Friday at all Citizens Bank locations in Kansas. (Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photo)

More than a century ago, an enduring local bank franchise was born.

Citizens Bank, N.A., which has served Bourbon County since 1884, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Bank officials and community members will celebrate the bank's milestone with refreshments and open house events on Friday at both Fort Scott locations; 200 S. Main St., and the corner of U.S. Highway 69 and 23rd St. Similar celebrations are set to take place at the bank's seven other locations in communities throughout eastern Kansas, Citizens Bank Owner and Chairman Dean Mann said.

Mann said he attributes the bank's longevity and success to consistently solid management over the years. The bank has survived numerous financial disasters over the last 125 years, including a recent downturn in the local and national economy.

"I would attribute it primarily to the management of the bank, and people who can manage the bank in both good and bad times," he said. "And the bank has gone through a number of bad times, including the Great Depression in the 1930s. We've been fortunate in our management to have good managers who have experience and knowledge in both good and bad times."

The bank's main location at 200 S. Main St., a building constructed in 1974, is actually the bank's fourth location -- all of which have been on Main Street -- since it was formed in Fort Scott. Prior to the bank's current location, it was housed for many years in a building on the corner of Wall and Main streets. The bank was originally located in a building in downtown Fort Scott that no longer exists. All of the bank's current locations in eastern Kansas are branches of the Main Street location, Mann said.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the bank's purchase by Mann and his wife, Becky. The banking industry has changed considerably the last 20 years, Dean said.

"There's a lot more competition today," he said. "Everyone can offer financial services now. In the mid-1980s, they started allowing banks to have more branches. The growth of the economy is also a factor."

Citizens Bank started 125 years ago with only a handful of employees, and since this was well before the advent of computers and other similar modern technology, banking tasks were done using the simplest of methods, Mann said.

"There were about four or five who started the bank," he said. "Everything was done by hand back then. They wrote it all down."

The number of staff members grew over the years, and the organization now employs about 120 people across all of its locations. There are about 62 employees working in both Fort Scott banks. Among those employees are some who have put in at least 25 years of service to the company, including Nancy Karleskint, Peggy Niles, Tex Crutcher and Ellis Spencer. The staff member with the longest current term of service is Kathy Gray, a 37-year employee of the bank, Mann said.

The bank currently serves customers in nine locations in seven Kansas communities, including Iola, Lenexa, Pittsburg, Kincaid, Overland Park, and Mound City.

The Friday celebrations are open to the public.