Center Bank

About Us

Late in 1890, a group of residents of Litchfield decided to start a bank and call it Bank of Litchfield. It opened for business in January 1891. Bank of Litchfield became the State Bank of Litchfield, then First State Bank of Litchfield, then First Bank Litchfield, then First Bank Central, and then the current name of Center National Bank.

Bank of Litchfield was located on North Sibley Avenue and was occupied temporarily while the building was under construction. Fire destroyed this building and a new building was constructed at the same location. The bank was moved to the present site of 301 North Ramsey Avenue in 1978. Extensive remodeling was done to the bank building in 1999 with moving the teller area to the center of the lobby and adding new offices around the sides of the bank.

In early August of 1985, without any early warning or expectation, the bank was informed through a regional meeting of CEOs that the Litchfield affiliate, along with approximately 44 other FBS locations, would be immediately be put up for sale. In addition, FBS announced at the same time that major efforts on the part of the corporation would be made to attempt to sell those entities back to groups that would include local management, board, and staff. Bob Sparboe, who had been on the board since 1981, expressed a very keen interest in the bank's future and its potential acquisition. Negotiations were opened in September 1985 with First Bank. The Litchfield affiliate was formally sold on June 30, 1987, at which time the new name, Center National Bank, was also adopted.