History of The First State Bank, Columbus, TX

On March 1, 1913, The First State Bank opened for business in the Stafford Bank Building on the corner of Milam and Spring Streets with total deposits of $54,416.52. Total capital was $25,000.00 and total resources $86,136.20. The first officers elected were Ike T. Pryor, President; E. A. Hutchins, Vice President; Owen G. Hoegmeyer, Cashier and R. Lee Hastedt, Assistant Cashier. The Bank continued its operation in the old Stafford Bank Building until 1916, when the property formerly owned by the Simpson Bank was purchased. In 1916 the Bank moved its headquarters to the Simpson Bank Building located at the corner of Walnut and Milam and in 1923 erected a building at a cost of $36,512.63.

On December 9, 1915, Ike T. Pryor resigned as President and Director. John Hastedt was elected Director to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Pryor. He was also elected as inactive Vice President. G. H. Miller, Sr. was elected President. E. A. Hutchins interest was sold and he resigned as Vice President and Director and E. G. Miller was elected to fill his unexpired term as Director. Mr. Miller was also elected Active Vice President.

Throughout the years, the Bank continued to grow and prosper along with the community. In 1951, the bank building was completely remodeled. As of March 1, 1953, total deposits were $4,646,372.22, total loans were $1,309,558.01, total capital was $347,003.67 and total assets were $4,985,583.13.

In 1963, the Bank celebrated 50 years of being in business. Directors were Owen G. Hoegemeyer, Chairman of the Board, E. G. Miller, J. E. Meismer, Gus H. Miller, Jr., Lester Hastedt and James D. Seymour, Jr. Officers and Employees were O. G. Hoegemeyer, Chairman of the Board; E. G. Miller, President; J. E. Meismer, Vice President; A. J. Brune, Jr., Vice President; Gus H. Miller, Jr., Vice President and Cashier; Allan A. Hill, Assistant Cashier; C. A. Hennecke, Assistant Cashier; Mrs. Lorene Schmidt, Assistant Cashier; Mrs. Margie C. Kneblik, Assistant Cashier; Miss Shirley Hattermann, Bookkeeper; Mrs. Waldine Fruge, Bookkeeper; Mrs. Geraldine Barton, Bookkeeper; and Mrs. Barbara Ann Frank, Bookkeeper.

As of March 1, 1963, total deposits were $5,236,413.90, total loans were $2,115,099.86, total capital was $815,166.62 and total assets were $6,106,268.15.

In 1971, the Bank’s outside walls were torn down and all that remained was the concrete skeleton. The Bank building was then enlarged and the outer walls were made of Italian granite (the present bank building’s facade).

In 1976, E. G. Miller died and Allan A. Hill was elected Chairman of the Board and CEO and Gus H. Miller, Jr. was elected President.

Published in the American Banker on February 28, 1989, The First State Bank was listed as the #1 U.S. Community Bank in the nation. Total assets were $61,525,000.00 and total deposits were $47,061,000.00.

In 1991, the Columbus Bancorp, Inc. was formed and became the parent company of The First State Bank. On December 31, 1995, Gus H. Miller, Jr. retired from the Bank, but remained on the Board of Directors until June 30, 2020. James H. Whitcomb was elected President of the Bank, serving between the years of 1996 until 1999.

In 1999, Allan A. Hill was elected Sr. Chairman of the Board, James H. Whitcomb was elected Chairman and CEO of the Board and Karl E. Hill was elected President. In 2005, Karl E. Hill was elected as CEO. April, 2009, James H. Whitcomb retired from the Board and Mark A. Hill became Chairman of the Board. In November 2010, Mark A. Hill became Sr. Chairman of the Board (until his death in August 2020), Karl E. Hill, Chairman of the Board, and Patrick C. Moeller, President. Following Karl's death in May 2023, Patrick was elected Chairman of the Board and CEO.

The Bank continues to be one of the strongest community banks in the nation. As of March 2010, total capital was $15,150,000.00, total deposits were $84,650,000.00, total loans were $16,450,000.00 and total assets were $100,300,000.00. In comparison, as of March 2016, total capital was $20,072,000.00, total deposits were $126,288,000.00, total loans were $22,703,000.00, and total assets were $146,758,000.00. As of March 2023, total capital was $22,559,000.00, total deposits were $132,871,000.00, total loans were $46,740,000.00, and total assets were $160,335,000.00.

Our Team

Board of Directors
Patrick C. Moeller, Chairman of the Board and CEO
Lisa M. McNutt
Kim A. Reichle
John C. Glithero
Barry D. Rutta
Stacey M. Lowe

Officers and Employees
Patrick C. Moeller, Chairman of the Board and CEO, President and CFO
Lisa M. McNutt, Senior Vice President and Cashier
Kim A. Reichle, Senior Vice President
Jo Ann Zapalac, Vice President
Liska F. Pilsner, Vice President
John J. Polach, Jr., Vice President
Barbara J. Barta, Vice President
Cecilia T. Smidovec
Sandi D. Roensch, BSA/OFAC/Compliance Officer
Lori B. Grissom
Laura H. Johnson
Jessica P. Dvorak
Laura M. Stern
Jessica A. Rau
Lauren T. Summers
Brandon Orsak
Lindsay McNutt

Community Involvement

Our success is based on the outstanding quality of our customers. Our bank is dedicated to remaining a People To People bank with the safety of our depositors & funds our first priority. We are proud to be recognized among the finest banks in the nation, and we are proud of the customers that helped us achieve that position.