First State Bank Celebrates 120 Years of Service

First State Bank proudly marks its 120th anniversary, celebrating over a century of dedicated service to individuals and businesses across North and Central Texas. 

Founded on August 16, 1905, by Cicero Smith and W. H. Eddleman as the 11th state-chartered bank in Texas, our bank has maintained its commitment to local decision-making, personal service, and community investment since day one.

From our humble beginnings in Gainesville, Texas, First State Bank has grown alongside the communities we serve. In 1977, we relocated our headquarters to California Street, opened a second Gainesville branch in 1996, and a third branch in Lake Kiowa in 1998. 

In subsequent years, we established branches in Denton, Saint Jo, Muenster, Decatur, Roanoke, Sherman, Whitesboro, Celina, Waco, and Denison. Today, the bank operates 14 locations, making modern banking services accessible and personal to Texans across North and Central Texas. 

To commemorate this major milestone, the Texas Bankers Association has recognized our enduring service to communities across the state, as well as our contributions to the overall banking industry. 

This proclamation celebrates over a century of community banking excellence, and how First State Bank continues to be recognized for its care, trust, and accountability. 

Treating the Community as Our Home

Our greatest accomplishment will always be our ongoing dedication to our community. As the first state-chartered bank in Texas to reach a centennial milestone, our success is because of the communities we serve. 

This is why First State Bank is actively involved in giving back. Aside from being a visible leader in the social and economic well-being of each community, we support various initiatives in community health, education, and social welfare – programs that support the community that supports us. 

Treating Customers as Our Neighbors

For the last 120 years, we’ve empowered our clients to achieve their financial goals. Whether they were funding their first home or finding capital to kick-start their small business ideas, our solutions have helped make financial success possible for many. 

For business owners, our tailored lending, treasury management, and other commercial products helped support growth while building local relationships. For individual consumers, we offer personal checking and savings accounts, mortgages and home-equity options, as well as the convenience of mobile and online banking — all with the added touch of personalized service.

Treating Employees as our Family

Our people are the foundation of who we are. Treating employees as our family means fostering a culture built on care, respect, accountability, and pride in our shared mission. When employees feel valued and supported, they are empowered to deliver exceptional service and create meaningful connections with our communities.

We are grateful for the talented and hardworking employees who have supported our growth and look forward to every new opportunity to expand our family.

 

Celebrating 120 Years Strong

In honor of this milestone, First State Bank hosted a series of local tailgate events across our various locations in September and October:

We also celebrated the grand opening of two new branches: our Sherman location on September 25 and our Celina location on October 15.

 

Ready To Serve Our Local Communities

As First State Bank enters its next chapter, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering tailored financial solutions that meet the needs of businesses and individuals in our communities. We’ve made banking convenient and accessible for Texans for the last 120 years, and plan to keep going for the next 120 years, and beyond. 

Visit your local First State Bank branch to discover how we can help you achieve your financial goals. For inquiries and other concerns, you may also reach out to us online.