The beginning of a banking institution

An early photo of the original bank in Baxter Springs. The bank began in 1917 as the American National Bank.
An early photo of the original bank in Baxter Springs. The bank began in 1917 as the American National Bank.

Beginning with an announcement in the Baxter Springs News, May 10, 1917 that an application had been made for a charter for the American National Bank.

Just a month after the United States entered World War I, a number of Webb City and Joplin capitalists including R.L. Walker, president of a bank in Webb City, George Moore and Tom Coyne and several Baxter Springs men including W.T. Apple, L.L. Card…