WIOTA SAVINGS BANK.

This valuable institution was organized on its present basis in March, 1900, with a capital stock of $20,000 and the following officers: Richard R. Bell, president; M. H. Welton, vice-president; R. H. Bell, cashier; and Charles Sherret, assistant cashier; who are also the members of the board of directors. R. S. Fudge retired on June 1, 1906, and John Rogler was elected as director. It does a general banking business in all its departments, and issues exchange for all sections of the country. The stockholders are all residents of Cass county. The capital stock was originally $10,000, but in 1903 it was increased to $20,000.

The bank is the successor, through several changes of name and management, of the first bank started in the town. The first was a private banking institution owned by V. M. Lahman, and was in operation a number of years. That was followed by the Farmers & Mechanics Bank, owned and conducted by T. G. Turner, now of the First National, of Council Bluffs. This gave way to the Exchange Bank, founded in 1898 by R. S. Fudge and W. E. Simpson, and carried on by them until the organization of the Wiota Savings Bank.

In the six years of its existence the Wiota Savings Bank has firmly established itself in the confidence of the people, and been found by them, in many a day of trial and difficulty, a present help and a strong defense against future disaster; for while conducted on strictly modern business principles, its policy has ever been liberal and its accommodating spirit has been decided.

"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pp. 265.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, February, 2012.