Friday, April 1, 2016

The History of Farmers and Merchants State Bank



April is Community Bank Month and we would like to kick off the month with a trip into the past. Here are some of the most memorable moments of the last 108 years of Farmers & Merchants. All the pictures in this blog are from our Pierz location when it was built in 1974.

1908: The bank was started by A.P. Stoll under the name German State Bank of Pierz

1912: R.M. Stoll joined his brother in the business, forming Stoll and Stoll Insurance

1916: A new prairie-style building was built to house the bank, which is now known as the building where the Old Bank Restaurant was.

1917: The bank’s name of German State Bank of Pierz was ordered to change by the state commerce department, due to anti-German sentiment during WWI.

1931: The bank was robbed. Shortly after, special electrified bandit barriers were installed. Pierz was one of the last banks in the state to remove the metal spiked, bulletproof shields and the cumbersome revolving trays used for all teller transactions.

1950: R.M. Stoll was named President and the bank underwent a major expansion project.

1965: Bill Stoll was named President

1974: The new Farmers & Merchants Bank building (which is where it stands today) was built.


1979: An addition was added to the front of the building to house the insurance department and realty offices.

1990: Bill Stoll retired and Ken Heid was named C.E.O.

1995: A new location was built in Sauk Rapids located on Golden Spike Road.

2007: Ken Heid retired and Merlin Bruns was named C.E.O/President.

2008: Celebrated 100 years of business with a customer celebration and employees dressed up in the 1900’s attire.

2009: The Pierz location was remodeled.


We hope you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane as much as we have.