Our History

In 1884, Sumner Pierce (pictured), a businessman originally from New York who had moved to Kansas in 1879, organized the Central Kansas Bank with capital of $50,000. When it opened October 1, 1884, the bank provided a fire-proof vault, a burglar-proof safe, and a time lock to secure deposits.

In 1889, bank management decided to change from a state bank to a national bank in order to provide depositors the greater safety offered by a national bank, as national banks were required to have more capital to cover depositors. In 1890, the Comptroller of the Currency approved the change, and the bank name was changed to Central National Bank. Sumner Pierce served as president of Central National Bank from 1890 to 1914.

Strength has been one of the mainstays of Central National Bank through its history, even in trying times. The 1930's found the country in the depth of the Great Depression, and 8,300 banks had failed by 1933. Central National Bank was the only bank in Junction City permitted to reopen following the bank holiday declared by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 5, 1933.

The desperate times of the 1930s led to new banking regulations. Congress removed the authority of National Banks to issue currency, and authorized a national currency to be printed by the U.S. Bureau of Printing and Engraving. On December 12, 1934, the Central National Bank Board of Directors pledged $75,000 of U.S. Consols to support the outstanding issuance of currency--one of their final actions after half a century of currency transactions. The Central National Bank of Junction City, Kansas, issued bills in $5, $50, and $100 denominations.

In the early 1960s, new and revolutionary equipment came into widespread use in the banking industry. The computer's great capacity to store, retrieve, and analyze information freed bank personnel from many tasks that had previously been performed with pen and adding machine. Central National Bank began computerized check processing and record keeping in 1966. In 1975, Central obtained an IBM computer that enabled all processing to be done "in-house". Self-service banking began in 1978 with the purchase of two Automatic Teller Machines, or ATMs; this technology kicked off major changes to the banking industry, and we continue to see changes from this innovation today.

When Edward W. Rolfs came to the Central National Bank in 1915, he began an association with the bank that continues today for the Rolfs family. E.W. Rolfs served as bank president from July 15, 1959 until January of 1967 when his son, E.J. Rolfs, took over as president. E.C. Rolfs, son of E.J., assumed the responsibility of President and CEO in 1993 until 2016 when niece Sara Girard accepted the role of President. Girard makes the fourth generation of the Rolfs family to work and provide leadership for the bank's day-to-day operations.

Central National Bank has grown from having one location in Junction City, Kansas, to become one of the states' strongest banks, with branches in 22 communities. This growth in size has allowed Central National Bank to provide a wide array of valuable products and services that are delivered with leading technology, such as online banking, convenient mobile apps and the introduction of Interactive Teller Machines in 2017. Best of all, these convenient channels are combined with personal, local solutions from community-minded bankers for those times when you need expert advice.