Progressive Banking Since 1917
Central Bank wasn’t the first bank in Lebanon. It is, however, the banking institution that has stood the test of time longer than any other bank in town. A good part of that longevity is due to the fact that Central Bank has remained home-owned and independent since 1917.

New Bank		Old Bank

Originally it was called the State Savings Bank and was organized in 1917 by I.T. Curry and a group of shareholders. It was located at 116 West Commercial that is across the street and a just a few doors up from where Central Bank’s Main Bank is located today. It stayed there for several years before moving to its current location at the corner of Jefferson and Commercial in 1958. By then, I.T.’s son, George Curry who first began working in the bank as a teenager in the mid-1930’s, had stepped into a leadership role within the bank.

Although I.T. Curry didn’t own the bank when it was founded, he gradually obtained ownership over the years and passed that ownership to his children at his death. Ownership has remained in the Curry family ever since.

In 1967, George Curry, as the bank’s owner and president, changed the name to Central Bank and guided it successfully through major growth and expansions. An extensive remodeling was done at the Main Bank downtown in 1975 along with the addition of the Motor Bank Facility that same year. Central Bank in Conway, MO opened in 1978 and Central Bank South opened in 1983. The first Access 24 ATM was installed at Central Bank South in 1986.

George Curry retired and passed control of Central Bank to his son, Craig Curry, in 1989. The move marked the third generation of the Curry family to guide the destiny of the bank.

Central Bank continued its progressive approach to banking when Craig took the reigns from his father as President and CEO. In 1990, the Main Bank underwent another extensive remodeling and Lifestyles, a new program for customers aged 50 or better, was introduced. The Conway facility was remodeled in 1993 and later in 1994 the bank formed Central Money Services, Inc., a financial planning center. Customers saw the addition of convenient 24 hour banking by phone with Central Bank’s Bankline 24 in 1995 as well as the introduction of Central Bank’s own Hometown credit cards. Central Bank North opened in 1996 and the bank began offering Access 24 Checkcards that same year. Then in 1998, Central Bank opened its newest facility inside the Wal-Mart Super Center. In addition, ATMs were added at various facilities and are now conveniently located all around Lebanon and Laclede County. Other ATM locations continue to be reviewed and installed frequently to accommodate our customers' busy lifestyles.

Through the years, Central Bank has grown from a small bank in the early 1900’s to the largest homeowned bank in Laclede County. We continue to grow and be progressive because just as our hearts are committed to family and community, so are the depositor funds we reinvest right back here where we all live and work. Because in the end, it’s the people that we value most. Our customers are our greatest asset.

At a time of mega merges and changes in the business world, we’ve vowed to stay true to our beliefs and provide our customers with the personal service they’ve come to expect. While other banks in town have changed owners once or several times, Central Bank has remained a strong, secure and stable financial leader that’s been in the Curry family since 1917. And that’s not going to change. You can take that to the bank!