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| The Citizens Savings Bank |
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History:
In the year 1902, a group of hometown businessmen in Martins Ferry felt there was room for another bank in the community in addition to the two already established and proceeded to organize. On the 27th of January 1902, a charter was granted to The German Savings Bank of Martins Ferry, Ohio with an authorized capital of $50,000.
Organization was completed by electing the original Board of Directors: Attorney Edward E. McCombs, John E. Reynolds, Henry H. Rothermund, William M. Lupton, Dr. Joseph W. Darrah, Chris A. Heil, Fred K. Dixon, Thomas J. Ball and Dr. R.H. Wilson. The first officers were Edward E. McCombs, President; John E. Reynolds, Vice President; William C. Bergundthal, Cashier; and William H. Wood, Assistant Cashier.
A room in the old Henderson Building located at the alley on Hanover Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets, currently occupied by a local realtor, was rented. A vault and counters were installed and the new Bank opened for business on Saturday, April 26, 1902. This was the beginning of The Citizens Savings Bank.
Upon Mr. Bergundthal's death in 1918, Harold H. Riethmiller, who began his banking career at the bank in 1911, was rehired by the Bank as Cashier. He had been working for 6 months at the Citizens-Peoples Trust Company in Wheeling. Mr. Riethmiller brought with him an assistant, David W. Thompson, who upon his death in 1966 was Vice President and Cashier.
In 1936 the Bank suffered a loss with the sudden death of Edward E. McCombs, who had served as President and Attorney for the Bank during the 34 years since its beginning. John E. Reynolds was then elected President with Attorney David H. James as Vice President. Mr. Reynolds served as the bank’s second President until his death in 1940, at which time Harold H. Riethmiller was elected President. Upon Harold H. Riethmiller’s retirement in January of 1973, James W. Everson, who began his banking career as a student intern with the Bank in 1959, was elected as the Bank's fourth President and Chief Executive Officer.
In May 1999, The Citizens Savings Bank and its affiliate, The Citizens-State Bank of Strasburg, Ohio were merged into one Bank under the leadership of James W. Everson continuing as Chairman and Harold W. Price as the bank's fifth President and Chief Executive Officer since it’s founding in 1902. Harold W. Price served as President and CEO for five months, suffering a fatal heart attack on September 12th, 1999, after which James W. Everson was reappointed Chairman, President and CEO.
Continuing growth and increased business at The German Savings Bank brought the need for larger quarters, and in 1917 the Bank relocated into a new banking building on the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets where they were located until February 21, 1984 when they moved to their current banking center located one block south at the corner of Fourth and Hickory Street in Martins Ferry. The First World War brought the name 'German' into bad repute, making a change in name necessary. On May 1, 1918, the old German Savings Bank became The Citizens Savings Bank of Martins Ferry, Ohio.
In 1957, a total remodeling of the first level was completed at the Fourth and Walnut location enlarging the banking lobby by taking the adjoining room formerly occupied by the Mear Drug Store. In 1963, the Bank opened a Consumer Loan Office at the Fourth and Walnut Street location by expanding into the space occupied by the former Packer Insurance Agency.
Upon James W. Everson becoming President in January 1973, the bank began an expanded growth program. November 18, 1974 was the date the Bank's first branch office was opened. A banking center was opened in Colerain, Ohio offering full service banking to that area, including safe deposit boxes and a modern new home for the Colerain, Ohio Post Office. On June 12, 1978, the Bank opened its second full service branch at the Corner of Howard and DeKalb Streets in Bridgeport, Ohio.
Recognizing the continued growth of the Bank, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase in July 1979 of an .8 acre site formerly occupied by the vacated Central School, one block south on the Corner of Fourth and Hickory Streets, for the purpose of future expansion. A Phase I building program was completed on May 12, 1980 with the opening of a limited-service four-station auto teller with a two-station lobby and large off-street parking facility.
In October of 1982, approval was granted by the State Banking Department and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to relocate the bank’s Main Office to the corner of Fourth and Hickory streets in Martins Ferry and ground was immediately broken for a new banking center. As a result of 5 years of strategic planning, The Citizens Savings Bank introduced a new era of banking to the Ohio Valley on February 21, 1984 with the opening of their new 21,500 square foot headquarters office located at the corner of Fourth and Hickory streets. This new banking center offered state-of-the-art security with high-tech scanning and alarm equipment, and the latest in electronic data processing programs for banking. The new Bank building was designed by the architectural firm of Jack H. Tribbie and Associates of Martins Ferry and was constructed by the Byrum Construction Company of Martins Ferry. The new building was of colonial design in keeping with the Bank's Colerain and Bridgeport offices, with the interior of the Bank tastefully decorated in the Williamsburg period.
On July 3, 1983, the Bank's Board of Directors positioned itself for continued growth by forming United Bancorp, Inc. of Martins Ferry, Ohio, a Citizens Savings Bank holding company. At formation, the shareholders of The Citizens Savings Bank exchanged their stock on a one-for-four basis for shares in the United Bancorp, Inc. On December 29, 1986, United Bancorp, Inc. became one of Ohio's then 21 multi-bank holding companies by acquiring the outstanding shares of stock of The $12.5 Million Asset based Citizens-State Bank of Strasburg, Ohio. Under the leadership of James W. Everson as Chairman and Charles E. Allensworth as President and CEO, The Citizens-State Bank then grew from its one office in Strasburg by opening a new banking center at 2909 N. Wooster Avenue in Dover, Ohio in February 1990; the purchase of their offices in New Philadelphia and Sherrodsville in April 1992; and the purchase of its Dellroy Office in June 1994. Harold W. Price was appointed President and CEO of The Citizens-State Bank of Strasburg in April 1993. The Citizens Savings Bank of Martins Ferry further expanded into St. Clairsville with an in store location at Riesbeck's Food Market in July l997 and purchased a full service banking center in Jewett, Ohio in January 1999. United Bancorp entered Northern Athens County in July 1998 when the $47.8 Million Asset based Community Bank of Glouster was purchased, expanding United Bancorp, Inc. to a three bank holding company. Today, The Community Bank is headquartered in Lancaster, Ohio with three locations in addition to its two offices in Glouster and offices in Amesville and Nelsonville, Ohio.
As space in the new headquarters became occupied, property across from the new Main Office on the other corner of Fourth and Hickory Streets was acquired in 1993 to support the continued growth. It was renovated into a modern Operations Center now housing the Data and Item Processing Equipment for the affiliate banks of United Bancorp, Inc. and the offices for United Bancorp, Inc.’s Accounting Group. With the introduction of 24 x 7 Automated Call Center and Internet Banking in 2001, the Accounting and Operations Center was further expanded through the purchase and renovation of the adjoining property formerly known as the Fullerton Bakery Building. Today the Accounting and Operations Center Building supports the back room operations for the seventeen banking offices of The Citizens Bank and The Community Bank of Lancaster.
On April 21, 1999 the $74.1 Million Asset based Citizens State Bank of Strasburg was merged into The Citizens Savings Bank expanding customer service under the charter of The Citizens Savings Bank to 10 locations in Belmont, Carroll, Harrison and Tuscarawas counties. Harold W. Price who had served as President and CEO of The Citizens-State Bank of Strasburg was appointed The Citizens Savings Bank’s fifth President and CEO with James W. Everson continuing as Chairman, in addition to serving as Chairman of The Community Bank and Chairman, President and CEO of United Bancorp. Everson was reappointed Chairman, President and CEO of The Citizens Savings Bank five months later upon Harold W. Price's sudden death.
The growth and success of The Citizens Savings Bank and the United Bancorp, Inc. have been attributed to the association of many dedicated men and women. Having served on the Board of Directors are Edward E. McCombs, 1902-1936; John E. Reynolds, 1902-1940; Dr. J.W. Darrah, 1902-1937; J.A. Crossley, 1902-1903; William M. Lupton, 1902-1902; F.K. Dixon, 1902-1909; Dr. R.H. Wilson, 1902-1905; C.A. Heil, 1903-1909; David Coss, 1904-1938; L.L. Scheele, 1905-1917; A.T. Selby, 1906-1954; H.H. Rothermund, 1907-1912; Dr. J.G. Parr, 1912-1930; T.E. Pugh, 1920-1953; J.J. Weiskircher, 1925-1942; David H. James, 1925-1963; Dr.C.B. Messerly, 1931-1957; H.H. Riethmiller, 1936-1980; E.M. Nickles, 1938-1968; L.A. Darrah, 1939-1962; R.L. Heslop, 1941-1983; Joseph E. Weiskircher, 1943-1975; Edward M. Selby, 1953-1976; David W. Thompson, 1954-1966; Dr. Charles D. Messerly, 1957-1987; James M. Blackford, 1962-1968; John H. Morgan, 1967-1976; Emil F. Snyder, 1968-1975; James H. Cook, 1976-1986; Paul Ochsenbein, 1978-1991; David W.Totterdale, 1981-1995; Albert W. Lash, 1975-1996; Premo R. Funari, 1976-1997; Donald A. Davison, 1963-1997; Harold W. Price, 1999-1999; John H. Clark, Jr., 1976-2001; Dwain R. Hicks, 1999-2002; and Michael A. Ley, 1999-2002.
Today, The Citizens Savings Bank is Martins Ferry's only locally owned financial institution. The general objective of The Citizens Savings Bank as outlined in its Mission Statement which was adopted by its Board of Directors on June 8, 1982 and renewed annually is to remain an independent state-chartered commercial bank and expand its asset base and market share through acquisitions and new branch construction where financially feasible. Currently serving on the bank’s board of directors are Michael J. Arciello, Retired Vice President of Finance, Nickles Bakery, Inc; Herman E. Borkoski, President, Borkoski Funeral Homes, Inc; James W. Everson, Chairman, The Community Bank of Lancaster, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Bancorp, Inc. and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Citizens Savings Bank; Scott A. Everson, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, United Bancorp, Inc. and President and Chief Operating Officer of The Citizens Savings Bank; Dr. Leon F. Favede, Optometrist; John R. Herzig, President, Toland-Herzig Funeral Homes; John M. Hoopingarner, General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District; Richard L. Riesbeck, President of Riesbeck Food Markets, Inc.; Errol C. Sambuco, Consultant; and Matthew C. Thomas, President, M. C. Thomas Insurance Agency Inc. |
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