Wisconsin Community Bank
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ANNIVERSAR IES
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Congratulations to the following Wisconsin community banks celebrating benchmark anniversaries in January
and February of 2014!
130 Years
Badger Bank, Fort Atkinson, on January 7
120 Years
Bank First National, Manitowoc, on January 1
Bank of Poynette, on January 1
First Bank, Tomah, on March 1
The RiverBank, Osceola, on January 1
110 Years
Community State Bank, Rosholt, on January 1
First National Bank, River Falls, on January 4
Milton Savings Bank, on January 1
The Northwestern Bank, Chippewa Falls, on January 1
100 Years
Collins State Bank, on January 1
First National Bank, Park Falls, on February 26
Laona State Bank, on January 1
Waumandee State Bank, on January 1
90 Years
Columbia Savings & Loan, Milwaukee, on January 1
Merrill Federal Savings & Loan, on January 1
Superior Savings Bank, on January 1
80 Years
Cumberland Federal Bank, on January 1
Dairyland State Bank, Bruce, on January 1
Union National Bank & Trust, Sparta, on January 1
National Bank of Commerce, Superior, on February 7
20 Years
Community Business Bank, Sauk City, on February 21
Badger Bank: A Brief History
The former Citizens State Bank opened its doors on South
Main Street in Fort Atkinson in 1884 with capital of $25,000.
It was established by Congressman L. B. Caswell; Roy Chase,
president of Northwestern Manufacturing; and C. A. Caswell, city
attorney and son of L. B. Caswell. Dr. H. B. Willard also served
as a director, according to the BadgerBank website,
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bank.com.
In its early years, the bank helped farmers reduce their mort-
gage debt and succeed in the state’s new dairy-driven economy.
By 1937, capital had risen to $50,000, and in 1941, the bank’s
business volume exceeded $1 million for the first time. E. R.
Klassy served as president and Edwin Hedberg as vice president.
Klassy and Hedberg shared leadership responsibilities into the
1960s, and Robert Hedberg was named president in 1968.
In 1970 the bank moved one block to larger quarters on Grant
Street, and in 1978 it improved drive-up facilities. Two years later
with the addition of trust and investment services, the bank name
was changed to Citizens State Bank and Trust.
Citizens acquired the M&I Cambridge branch in 2003 and
opened a new branch in Johnson Creek in 2005. A year later, the
bank announced plans to build a facility in Jefferson and in 2007
changed its name again, this time to Badger Bank.
26
Wisconsin Community Banker
January/February 2014
Badger Bank was featured on the March–April 2009
cover of this magazine.
