Timeline of Our History

As the oldest, independent community bank in Missouri, The Callaway Bank combines old-fashioned values like fairness, respect, integrity, and honesty with modern banking products and services. Our customers have been our greatest asset since before the Civil War. Unlike most banks, we are still an independently owned and locally operated community bank.

Our decisions are made right here at home, with the interest of our community and our customers in mind for all that we do. While we take great pride in our history, it is the future we work for today.

Our Beginnings

1857

1857

First Bank Established in Callaway County

Founded January 1, 1857.  Known as the “Fulton Branch, Western Bank of Missouri,” it was not actually a branch, as all stock owners and officers were local.

1861

1861

The Civil War Begins

The Civil War

1861

Civil War Threatens Bank’s Gold

Directors feared the bank’s $50,000 in gold was in jeopardy from army raids. They agreed to hide the gold in a well on the west side of the Courthouse Square until peace was restored. The money remained there until 1865 when the well was pumped dry and all but one..Read More

1900

1900

The Callaway Bank Receives its Current Name

Having been previously reorganized as the Callaway County Savings Bank, The Callaway Bank receives it new and current standing name.

1914

1914

World War 1

World War I.

1929

1929

Stock Market Crash

1929 Stock Market Crash that began The Great Depression also known as Black Tuesday

1930

1930

Original Building Destroyed by Fire

The building that the bank had occupied since 1868 was destroyed by fire. Two new buildings have been constructed on the site since that time.

1939

1939

The Callaway Bank Survives The Great Depresssion

Only 2 banks in Callaway County survived The Great Depression, one of which was The Callaway Bank.

1960

1960

Drive-in Banking Brought to Fulton

The Callaway Bank brought drive-in banking to Fulton with its first separate downtown facility.

1969

1969

Man Landed on The Moon

The Apollo 11 Lunar Module lands on the moon.

1982

1982

Southern Fulton Branch Opened

South Bank in Fulton opens.

1993

1993

The Callaway Bank Merges with Steedman Bank

The 2 banks merge to replace services lost to Mokane residents during the disastrous Missouri River flood of the same year.

1999

1999

The Callaway Bank Settles into Columbia

The first facility is opened in Columbia at 1600 Chapel Hill Road

2002

2002

The Callaway Bank Expands to 2nd Columbia Branch

The Callaway Bank follows the original Columbia branch by opening its second facility at 3200 West Broadway, Columbia.

2007

2007

Lake of the Wood Branch Opens

We celebrated 150 years serving Mid-Missouri as an independent community bank in 2007. Our Lake of the Woods, the third Columbia location, was opened as part of this milestone.

2015

2015

Ashland Branch Opened April 17, 2015

The Callaway Bank rounds out its eighth banking office with a new bank in Ashland, Mo.

2022

2022

The Callaway Bank 165th Anniversary

The Callaway Bank celebrates 165 years in business in 2022. The bank is the oldest independent bank west of the Mississippi River.

Today, The Callaway Bank has eight banking offices in Ashland, Fulton, Columbia, and Mokane, 11 direct ATM locations, and over 32,000 surcharge-free ATM locations nationwide through the MoneyPass® network. Plus with tools like Zelle®, online banking, and our mobile apps (with mobile check deposit), you can bank anywhere and anytime.

Through the use of these tools, we have customers literally around the globe who prefer to bank with us, even after they have relocated from mid-Missouri. While banking will continue to evolve from a technology standpoint, we realize that it is how we take care of our customers that makes the difference. We’ll continue to adopt new technology but will always put our emphasis on serving our customers and our communities.