Links to additional information for the First National Bank of Southern Kansas:
History of First National Bank of Southern Kansas
The history of the First National Bank of Southern Kansas is really a story of two banks. The Farmers and Drovers State Bank was founded in 1883 by a group of local businesses, the State Bank of Mount Hope was founded by Henry Jorgensen in 1895, and the two banks merged in 1905 when Henry Jorgensen acquired control of the Farmers and Drovers State Bank. In 1900, Farmers and Drovers Bank changed to a national charter and became the First National Bank of Mount Hope. The same banking charter has been used since that time, making this a 123 year old bank with a national charter for 106 years. Family ownership can be traced to 1895 as the founder of the State Bank, Henry Jorgensen, is the Great Grandfather of J.D. Porter, Jr., current CEO.
Shortly after its founding, the Bank building burned and was rebuilt in 1887. In 1913, a new two-story brick bank building was constructed on the corner of Ohio and Main in Mount Hope. This served as the Bank's home until 1975, at which time the current building at 100 N Ohio, Mount Hope was built. The main bank still operates from this location.
E.M. Porter entered the Bank prior to World War I and was elected assistant cashier in 1917. He was married to Mamie Jorgensen, the daughter of Henry Jorgensen, founder of the State Bank of Mount Hope and controlling stockholder of the First National Bank of Mount Hope. On January 3, 1949, E. M. Porter and J. D. Porter purchased most of the Jorgensen's interest in the Bank. That ownership passed to J. D. Porter, Mildred Porter Graves, Mary Porter Spring, and Ruthe Porter Harris and to their offspring, current owners: Nancy Porter Hill, Bobbie Hill, J.D. Porter, Jr., Nancy Porter, Chris Porter, Lisa Porter Dunitz, J. Thomas Graves, David Graves, Alan Graves, Julie Spring McMullen , Kay Harris Fritchen, and Jan Harris Rasmussen. Additional stockholders are Rex Reynolds, a current officer and director and Mary Lynn Haines, a descendant of a previous director.
J. D. Porter became president in the 1959. Ken Porter, his son, joined the staff in January 1969, and was an officer and director of the Bank at the time of his death in 1976. On January 2, 1977, J. D. Porter, Jr. joined the staff. In October 1984, Mount Hope Bancshares was formed and acquired all of the stock of the First National Bank of Mount Hope.
The Bank continued to grow and prosper and opened a branch in Andale in 1997 and in Goddard in 2000, after which time the Bank changed its name to The First National Bank of Southern Kansas. At the time the Andale branch was opened, the Bank was approximately a $20,000,000 bank. Since that time, the Bank has grown to approximately $60,000,000. Management changes were put into place in 1998 and 2006, with Jack Porter remaining as Chairman and CEO. Other members of the Management Committee are Rex Reynolds, President, Vickie Horsch, Vice President, and Donetta Boese, Vice President.
The current Board of Directors are as follows: J. D. Porter, Jr., Rex W. Reynolds, Nancy L. Hill, Nancy L. Porter, Alan P. Graves, Bob W. Hill, Thomas D. Harris, and Vickie S. Horsch.
