The Oldest and Largest
Independently Owned Bank in Franklin County

On November 2, 1877, when the Bank of Washington first opened for business, President U.S. Grant had just left the White House, and his successor, Rutherford B. Hayes, another Civil War veteran, was just a few months into his own term as President of the United States. It would be another two years before Thomas Edison would first demonstrate his new electric light bulb. And on that November day in 1877 Orville Wright was just a six year old boy. The world would have to wait another twenty six years before he and his then 10 year old brother Wilbur would make their historic flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Then, as now, the officials of the Bank of Washington were all civic leaders and local businessmen. They were men such as Frederick Hendrich (owner of a box manufacturing company), Leopold Wattenberg (tannery on the south bank of Busch creek), Frederick W. Stumpe (clerical work), John D. Hibbeler (general store owner) and John B. Busch (owned the Busch Brewery). 

The first home of the bank was in an impressive building, only one year old, on the south side of Main Street between Oak & Lafayette streets.  Later this structure was the location of Robert Voss's "Washington Bazaar" and Kruel's "Racket Store".  The bank then built a new home for itself on an empty lot just east of its first home in 1880.  These two buildings are still standing in downtown Washington.

On February 27, 1923, the bank opened its new classic style building at Main & Oak streets.  This bank had all of the modern features for the period. A large reconstruction, expansion and modernization of the bank was completed in 1967,

In 1977, the Bank of Washington opened its second location at the corner of 14th and Jefferson streets.  In 1999, the bank opened its third location inside the new Schnucks Supermarket.  And in  April 2000 the fourth branch office was opened in Gray Summit, MO. In addition to these full-service locations, our network of ATM machines has recently been expanded to include thirteen convenient locations in Washington, Gray Summit, New Haven, and the Marthasville area. 

The Bank of Washington provided some of the first in modern services.  It was the first bank in the Washington area to install NCR Postronic Electronic machines, the first bank in the area to have an Installment Loan Department, and the first bank in the area to provide drive-in banking and a walk-up window.

The Bank of Washington has been known over the years for its stability and strength.  During its 131-year history it has had only nine presidents.  The bank grew fast, going from $10,000 starting capital to $53,739.38 in resources at the end of 1877 — less than two months of business — and becoming a half-million dollar bank in less than twenty years.

The bank grew its total assets to one million by 1916. The bank reached nearly five million in assets in 1946. In 1977, assets topped $49 million. Today the Bank of Washington has total assets in excess of $556 million. During these many decades of service to the Washington and Franklin County region, almost every large civic enterprise has been financially supported, encouraged, or aided by the bank. As our community has grown, so has our bank. One thing has always remained: our commitment to aid in the health and prosperity of the region through a wide array of products and superior service.