Among the monetary institutions that have emphasized and held note-worthy influence in the financial stability and conservatism of Cerro Gordo county, a conspicuous place in occupied by the Iowa State Bank of Mason City, which conducts a general banking business and which is fortified by the able management and by the interposition of citizens of the highest reputation. This bank was organized under the laws of the state of Iowa in 1900, and those concerned in its founding were Irving W. Keerl, N. C. Kotchell, George W. Brett, Daniel W. Telford and William E. Brice. The bank was incorporated with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars and the personnel of its first executive corps was as here noted: George W. Brett, president; N. C. Kotchell, vice president; and Irving W. Keerl, cashier. The board of directors included these officers and also Mssrs. Brice and Telford. The history of the bank has been one of consecutive growth and its business now is of the most substantial order. The present officers are as follows: N. E. Kotchell, president; Irving W. Keerl, cashier; and L. Oliver Stone, assistant cashier. Besides the president and cashier, the board of directors includes William E. Brice, M. J. Fitzpatrick, Earl Smith, Dr. William E. Long, and W. H. Smith.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014