About Us

Original Farmers State Bank Building

The Farmers State Bank of Blue Mound was chartered in August of 1913 by 26 area men, with capital stock of $10,000.00.  The men were mainly farmers, from the surrounding Kansas communities; Centerville to Bronson and Selma/Kincaid to Mound City. The initial board of directors included J. L Pettyjohn, President; Fred Bronson, Vice President; N. E. Hawkins, Secretary; Clifford Cox, John Wallace, Frank Ungeheuer, F. G. Robinson, Dan Simpson, Otto Broady, Fred Harrison, and E. H. Burt.  Other stockholders were J. M. Davis, George T. Wanlace, Willie E. Wright, George A Ross, Charles M. Way (who was also the cashier of the bank), John F. Priest, D. B. Murrow, R. A. Rogers, Harold Rogers, James Hedges, Robert Parnett, Ross Austin, E. H. Robinson, Allie Robinson, and G. Zorn.

Interior of Farmers State Bank circa 1922

Interior of Farmers State Bank circa 1977

The bank was robbed in 1935 and again in 1937.  The directors then installed a bullet-proof security front as protection for bank employees as well as for its assets. In 1975 the 18 current stockholders, most of whom were descendants of the 26 original stockholders who chartered the bank back in 1913, made the decision to sell the bank to a private party.  After the sale, extensive remodeling was completed in 1977.  The steel and heavy glass front was removed, given to the Linn County Historical Society, and is currently displayed in the Linn County Museum in Pleasanton, Kansas.  The bank was robbed a third time in October, 1977, after the security front had been removed.

Main Street of Blue Mound in 1977

The Farmers State Bank of Blue Mound expanded its locations by purchasing the Bank of Pleasanton in 1989 and the Garnett Savings and Loan in 1990. The bank has served Linn and Anderson counties and the surrounding area for over 100 years and has been privately held since 1975.

Letterhead and logo - 1918