First National Bank of Bellville

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the First National Bank of Bellville. Now, most stories worth telling start with a date, and this one's got a good one. February 25, 1890.

That's the day the First National Bank of Bellville was chartered, and friend, that charter has held. We're talking about the oldest bank in Austin County, and one of only four national banks in the entire state of Texas that were chartered in 1890 and are still standing. Four.

Out of the whole state. Let that settle a moment. The first officers stepped up to run things right from the start.

E. J. Marshall took the president's chair.

C. F. Hellmuth came in as vice president.

And E. M. Reynolds held the cashier's post.

Three names, three roles, one institution that was built to last. They opened their doors right on the town square, which is exactly where you'd expect a bank with that kind of ambition to plant its flag. The town square.

Then in 1970, the bank moved to its present location, carrying more than eighty years of history right along with it. The story didn't stop there. In 2007, the bank merged with Industry Bank Shares Incorporated, a group that consists of locally owned banks in various parts of Texas.

Locally owned. That phrase does a lot of work in this story. Because through a charter, through moves, through mergers, what the First National Bank of Bellville never let go of was its roots.

It continues to support the community and the region as a locally owned institution. Some banks come and go with the wind. This one came with a charter in 1890, and it's still right here.

What the marker says

The First National Bank of Bellville, chartered on February 25, 1890, is the oldest bank in Austin County, and one of four national banks in Texas still in existence that were chartered in 1890. The first officers were E. J. Marshall, president; C. F. Hellmuth, vice president; and E. M. Reynolds, cashier. The bank first opened on the town square, and moved to its present location in 1970. In 2007, the bank merged with industry bank shares incorporated which consists of locally owned banks in various parts of Texas. The First National Bank of Bellville continues to support the community and the region as a locally owned institution.