Citizens National Bank of Lubbock

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Citizens National Bank of Lubbock. Now, some stories start with a bang, and some start with a ledger. This one, well, it starts with both.

May 5, 1906. Lubbock, Texas, a town of fifteen hundred souls, dust in the air and ambition in the water. On that day, Citizens National Bank opened its doors under National Bank Charter Number 8208, and the numbers they wrote down that first morning tell you everything about what kind of place this was.

Capital stock: fifty thousand dollars. Deposits: thirteen thousand, two hundred and seventy-five. Loans: four thousand, eight hundred and sixty-three.

Not a fortune by any measure, but it was a start, and in Lubbock in 1906, a start was everything. George C. Wolffarth was the first president, and A.G.

Hunt held down the cashier's desk. Two men, one charter, and a whole lot of West Texas ahead of them. Now, Citizens National wasn't the only bank in town trying to plant a flag.

It was one of three pioneer banks started between 1900 and 1910 in Lubbock. Three outfits, all reachin' for the future at roughly the same time. But here's the thing about survival: it takes more than an opening day.

It takes day after day after day, year after year, under that same original charter. And that is precisely what Citizens National did. Of all the banks in Lubbock, this one has served the financial needs of the city longer under its original charter than any other.

The oldest national bank in continuous operation in Lubbock. That charter, Number 8208, is still the one. Sometimes the oldest story in the room is the one still bein' written.

What the marker says

The oldest national bank in continuous operation in Lubbock. When this bank was founded on May 5, 1906 (under National Bank Charter No. 8208), Lubbock was a town of 1,500. Citizens National was one of three pioneer banks started 1900-1910 in Lubbock. On opening day, capital stock was $50,000, deposits $13,275, and loans $4,863. First president was George C. Wolffarth; Cashier was A.G. Hunt. Citizens National has served the financial needs of Lubbock longer under its original charter than any other bank in the city. 1970