One Hundred, and Healthy

The financial services industry has been through a lot in the last year, to say nothing of the last hundred. In 2009, thirty-five banks in the 14-state region covered by NorthWestern Financial Review will celebrate centennials. Here is how some of those banks plan to mark the momentous occasion. .Lisco State Bank, Neb..Chairman Tom Olson remembers his father's Depression-era anecdotes. His dad went to work for Reuben Lisco, founder of both the bank and the town, in the 1920s. Olson's dad "often spoke of the time when a correspondent banker stopped by and told Mr. Lisco that he needed to get a sign on the bank building to get more customers. Mr. Lisco replied 'too many people have found the bank already,'" Olson said..The bank will mark its centennial, which it shares with the town itself, by hosting special events throughout the year, capped by a year-end customer appreciation event. Olson said that "a major community improvement project" will also be undertaken by bank staff. .Prospect Federal Savings Bank, Worth, Ill..Steven Rosenbaum, president and CEO, said he is considering a range of celebratory activities, including raffles, special activities for the Golden Eagles seniors' club and costume days when employees wear clothes from various decades of the last century. "I suppose I may be best served putting on a leisure suit," Rosenbaum quipped.."We'll probably bring in a numismatist, so that people can bring in old coins to see what the value might be," he said.."It's a major accomplishment, especially in today's environment. We will be highlighting that to the communities we serve." .Security State Bank, Wishek, N.D..Roxanne Henke, co-owner and board member, plans to celebrate the bank's centennial with an event each month of the year. She is looking into essay contests on 'why I like banking at Security State Bank,' scavenger hunts and other activities. "We want to have a community feed at some point," as well, she said..Quoting a written bank history, Henke mentioned a 1950s-era foray into financial literacy. Security State Bank officers "visited the local school and lectured on the habits of thrift, and then they gave each child a $1 savings account," Henke said.."This anniversary is a big deal. We survived the Great Depression years when many of the banks in this area didn't." .Heartland State Bank, Redfield, S.D..Paul Domke, president and CEO, said the bank is putting together a traveling display of old banking machines, documents, even ration cards, to send around to the bank's four locations. Anniversary cake will be offered in each location as well..Domke's father Arnold will also mark his 50th year in banking next year, "so we want to celebrate his fiftieth and our hundredth all together," Domke said. .Citizens State Bank of Loyal, Wis..Gary Weirauch, CEO, said the bank is planning to open a new branch in Spencer, Wis., in August, complete with a big picnic "to commemorate 100 years plus get people into our new facility." The bank also hosts an annual customer Christmas party on the first Sunday in December, appropriate timing as the bank actually opened on Dec. 9, 1909..Recounting some history Weirauch said that on Sept. 15, 1929, the bank had $336,000 in deposits and loans of $303,000. At the end of 1933, a few months before the bank holiday of 1934, the bank was down to $140,000 in deposits and $154,000 in loans. Today the bank has about $86 million in deposits.