Over 35 years ago, a dedicated group of individuals came together with one shared goal: to create a local community bank that truly cares about the people it serves and provide ways for them to thrive. First Bank of the Lake is so grateful, to get to know so many loyal customers over the years. Though the technology of banking has changed, we remain committed to our most valuable assets – our customers and employees. Keep reading this week’s blog to learn the history of First Bank of the Lake.
Our Story
First Bank of the Lake’s story began in October 1985, when a group of local investors along with a group of St. Louis investors with interest in the lake area founded First Bank Centre in Osage Beach, Missouri. These well-respected and savvy investors recognized the need for a bank whose focus was on the local community. In May 1987, First Bank Centre proudly opened its doors to serve the Lake of the Ozarks Community. The bank’s name was changed to First Bank of the Lake in January 1998, to highlight our banking roots, while closely defining our identity with the Lake area community we proudly serve.
In order to further enhance our growth strategy, First Bank of the Lake was purchased by new investors in December 2010. The bank is affiliated through common ownership with nationally recognized Advantage Capital Partners. Recognizing the need for a strong leader to take the bank into the future, Mike Anderson was hired as President & CEO in December 2014. Mike brought over 40 years of banking experience, serving in executive positions in Missouri and Oklahoma banks and holding companies. The goal of the new investors and Mr. Anderson was to develop a strong community bank serving the Lake of the Ozarks and to build a national government guaranteed lending program. This national expansion was greatly enhanced in August 2019 when Annemarie Murphy joined the bank as Executive Vice President and President of the SBA Lending Division. Since then, additional staff were hired with significant government guaranteed lending experience and they are located throughout the United States. It’s an exciting time of growth for the program as we continue to hire top talent, applying their knowledge to structure financing solutions that transform businesses across the country.
We have created a culture where good people are valued, customers’ needs are surpassed, and new ideas are embraced. Each day we build on the day before, measuring our performance by the high standards set by our founders. Caring for our employees and customers as well as the communities in which we serve is the basis for our success and the roadmap for our future performance. We continue to grow because we have talented people in place who are committed to doing their very best every day.
Moving forward, nothing defines us more completely than these four simple words that are at the core of everything we do and the difference that sets us apart – We put you First!
All of us here at First Bank of the Lake hope you enjoyed learning more about our story as much as we enjoy getting to know you. If you are looking to bank with a community bank in Osage Beach, give us a call today. We can be reached at the phone number listed below. You can also stay up to date on our latest announcements by following us on our social media channels listed below. Be sure to check out our NEW website, HERE.
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