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| Additional information |
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| Pony Express Community Bank |
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Overview:
Pony Express Community Bank is a locally owned, locally operated community bank in the St. Joseph, Missouri area. With two branches in St. Joseph, Missouri, the original branch in Elwood, Kansas, a branch in Paxton, Nebraska, and our newest branch in Horton, Kansas, we offer convenient locations for all customers.
Our primary trade territory covers Buchanan and southern Andrew counties in Missouri, Brown and Doniphan counties in Kansas, and Keith county in Nebraska. Please click on the Locations & ATMs link to see all our branches and ATM locations. |
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History:
Founded by John & Joann Means along with other principal investors – Owen Henson of Elwood, Richard Schultz and Henry Kiehnhoff of Wathena, Bill Glasscock of Manhattan, and Bill Allen of Kansas City - and a number of Elwood residents, The First State Bank of Elwood came to be in December of 1975. At the time, Elwood was the largest town in Kansas not to have a bank.
Over the years, the bank has experienced modest but steady growth along with reasonable profitability.
In 1993, Missouri River flooding topped the levee protecting Elwood and the bank was engulfed by almost 10 feet of floodwater. The flood occurred on a Sunday morning, but with the help of state and federal banking regulators, temporary banking facilities were operating by mid morning Monday across the river in St. Joseph, Missouri. The flood had devastating effects on many families and area businesses and the bank was no exception. While both the bank and community rebuilt successfully, bank leaders recognized that things needed to change. In order for the bank to successfully serve future generations, it needed to establish and operate multiple banking facilities in several communities…the beginning of a new breed of community banks.
In 1995, friends of John and Joann Means (Steve and Rhoda McAllister) came in contact and suggested a partnership in purchasing Farmers State Bank in Lucas, Kansas. Along with Steve and his partner, Doug Hickman, Pony Express Bancorp (parent to First State Bank) acquired Farmers State Bank, Lucas. In January 1996, the two banks were merged and the charter was moved into St. Joseph while continuing to operate in Elwood and Lucas. A name change was in order. With St. Joseph being the birthplace of the Pony Express and Elwood being the first stop on the trail, Pony Express Community Bank became the new name; reflecting a rugged heritage of innovation and service.
In 1998 a branch location was purchased from Mercantile Bank at the corner of the Belt Highway and Faraon Street (St. Joseph) and in 2006 Bank of Paxton (Nebraska) was acquired by Pony Express Bancorp. Interestingly, Paxton is also on the Pony Express trail. Bank of Paxton and Pony Express Community Bank were merged at year-end 2009.
The branches in each community continue to operate similarly to how they did when they were stand-alone banks… local directors, local management and staff, local involvement and local commitment…but with the added strengths of broadened management expertise and economic diversification. |
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