On hand to celebrate Farmers State Bank’s 140th anniversary celebration on Friday, August 10, 2018, were Tarkio bank employees Melanie Riley, Craig Livengood, and Taylor Wilcox.

Ned and Judy Seymour sign up for the chance to win a gift card or Kansas City Chiefs’ tickets at the Farmers State Bank’s 140th anniversary celebration Friday, August 10, 2018, in Tarkio. Ned worked at this Tarkio bank for over 20 years.

Pictured below left is Teri Noland grabbing a cookie provided at the Farmers State Bank’s 140th anniversary celebration on Friday, August 10, 2018.

On hand to celebrate Farmers State Bank’s 140th anniversary celebration on Friday, August 10, 2018, were Fairfax bank employees Marilyn Reed, Lynn Adams, and Teresa Shaw, below right.

Bill Smith, bottom left, signs up for the chance to win a prize at the Farmers State Bank in Fairfax on Friday, August 10, 2018. Farmers State Bank celebrated 140 years with chance drawings and refreshments for their customers all day Friday.

Farmers State Bank branches partied like it was 1878 Friday, August 10, 2018. The bank celebrated its 140th anniversary that day, with each branch holding prize drawings and handing out refreshments to their customers. The bank employees also wore shirts that broke down those 140 years: 1,680 months, 7,304 weeks, 51,134 days, 1,227,216 hours, 73,632,960 minutes…and counting.
Though the way banks do business has changed a lot over 140 years (or thousands of years if you go back to the very first banks), for the most part the every-day service is the same. Tellers still greet their customers with a smile behind the counter and clients know to expect and appreciate speedy, reliable service keeping their money safe. Customers can now use bank debit cards and ATMs to receive and spend their money and computer technology has made tabulating accounts and interest a lot easier. And though internet banking is a growing trend, most of us still depend on and use the bank found on most smalltown Main Streets. Being a bank employee is not for everyone and those who do call a bank their “office” are still held in high regard for their accurate, mental calculating skills and good customer-service personalities.
Tarkio and Fairfax residents have been lucky to have at least one bank in each town for more than 100 years and continue to expect such an institution to be there for another 100 years or more. We appreciate the men and women who keep the banks running smoothly!