| Adrian
State Bank was born out of Bishop Ireland's Colony in Adrian in the
middle 1870's, when almost overnight, a cold and lonely prairie "boomed"
with Irish and German immigrants from the eastern part of the United
States.
In 1889, an application was made to organize a State Bank. The
report of condition of the bank in 1889 reflects assets totaling
$42,289.21. The first meeting of the shareholders was October 7,
1889 with by-laws presented and accepted. At that time, all stockholders
then signed an organization certificate. The state charter was issued
by Superintendent of Banks, M.D. Kenyon, dated October 23, 1889.
January 5, 1931, the Adrian State Bank consolidated with the National
Bank of Adrian, that had been incorporated since 1908.
Leander B. Eickhoff began his banking career at the State Bank
of Rockville, Rockville, Minnesota, of which his father, C.F. Eickhoff,
was cashier. Lee stepped off the train at Adrian's depot in February
1941, to accept a job in banking at the Adrian State Bank. He left
for military service in May 1942, and rejoined the bank in February
1949 upon his military discharge. In 1950 he became Cashier. On
October 29, 1958, he became Vice President/Cashier. He was elected
President of Adrian State Bank in January 1969, and has been Chairman
of the Board since 1974.
David Eickhoff succeeded his father, L.B. Eickhoff, as the President
of Adrian State Bank in November 1985. He enjoyed his banking experience
as a young man since he was 16 working there during the summers
and during college vacations. However, when he finished college,
he began working for Tri-State Insurance, traveling as a field representative.
In 1977 David returned to banking.
Adrian State Bank is reputed to be the oldest operating business
in Adrian. It has the reputation of being conservative and safe.
President Eickhoff and his father attribute much of the bank's longevity
to scores of dedicated employees over the years.
The building that housed the "first" Adrian State Bank
was erected by the organization in 1891 and resembled every other
bank constructed at that time. It is still an arresting site on
its corner. It displays a metal roofed turret, tan brick walls and
an old burglar alarm. Two blocks down from this structure is the
present Adrian State Bank building which was constructed in 1969.

|