It was September 15, 1904, in a one-story
frame building at Albion, Idaho, when a group of enthusiastic and
dedicated South Idaho pioneer businessmen, led by bank founder D.
L. Evans, met to organize and open the first bank in Cassia County.
State Senator, banker and merchant, D.L. Evans, called the stockholders meeting to order and
directors and officers were elected: Directors - D.L. Evans, L.L.
Evans and W.G. Jenkins all of Malad and Judge Drew W. Standrod of
Pocatello; Officers - D.L. Evans, President; A. Lounsbury, Vice President;
J. A. Givens, Treasurer/Cashier. The Bank was capitalized for $25,000
and has grown and prospered over the years despite the floods, drought,
fires and grasshoppers, which often meant disaster to its customers.
The recessions of the early twenties and thirties closed most other
banks in the county, but the D.L. Evans Bank with its resourceful,
dedicated and conservative management was able to survive the worst
financial disasters in our nation's history and continued to provide
its customers with essential financial services.
In the years
following, farmers and ranchers plowed the sage brush desert, and
irrigated new crops. The Cassia and Minidoka County communities
developed and with increased population, the demand for bank
services also grew. In 1910, the Bank moved to a larger two story
stone building in Albion, which served its needs for the next 55
years. On February 19, 1970, a new modern bank building was
completed in Albion, and expanded customer services were provided,
including a drive-in window and night depository.
On July 20,
1979, D.L. Evans Bank opened a new branch at Burley; first operating
in a bank trailer at 397 North Overland Avenue and then on December
24, 1979 moved into the -present large modern headquarters bank
building with John V. Evans, Jr., a great grandson of the founder
serving as Manager.
In January,
1987, former Governor of Idaho and grandson of the founder of D.L.
Evans Bank, John V. Evans, Sr. joined the bank as its President.
John V. Evans, Jr., who had served as Executive Vice President and
Manager of the Burley Branch, was elevated to Chief Executive
Officer.
The Bank's long
range plans had always included opening an office in the City of
Rupert. On December 6, 1989, the Rupert Office opened in a bank
trailer at 318 Oneida Street and on May 16, 1991, the Bank held its
grand opening in the new Rupert building.
In 1993, the
Board of Directors approved the recommendation of the Executive
Officers to apply for a branch charter in the City of Twin Falls. A
building was selected on Blue Lakes Blvd. and was purchased. After
receiving charter approval from the Idaho Department of Finance and
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the building was
remodeled into a suitable bank building. On December 1, 1993 the
Twin Falls Blue Lakes Office of the D.L. Evans Bank was
opened.
In the Spring
of 1996, the Board of Directors approved the leasing of the former
Cassia National Bank/Key Bank building in the South Burley Overland
Shopping Center and after receiving the Idaho Department of Finance
and FDIC Charter approvals, the building was appropriately
renovated. On March 17, 1997 the South Burley Office of D.L. Evans
Bank was opened for business.
Also in the
Spring of 1996, with the Twin Falls Blue Lakes Office overflowing
with customers and bank personnel, the Board of Directors approved
another branch expansion plan with the purchase of the former First
Security Bank building located on Main Street in downtown Twin
Falls. After receiving charter approvals from the Idaho Department
of Finance and the FDIC, the renovation of the new facility
commenced with the Grand Opening held on May 20, 1997. The
Downtown Twin Falls Office is also the Central Loan Processing
Center for the Bank where each office's loan files are
maintained.
During the
first quarter of 1998, the Board of Directors authorized the
Executive Committee to apply for an office charter in Jerome and to
negotiate the purchase of a suitable building site at 980 South
Lincoln Street in Jerome. On June 25, 1998 the Jerome Bank was opened
in a temporary facility pending the completion of the permanent
facility scheduled for opening in the Spring of 1999.
The Board of Directors authorized the purchase of
property in downtown Burley for an Operations Center. The 5,000
square feet building will meet the operations needs of the bank
for some years to come. Ground breaking on the building was on May
6, 1998 and the building was occupied on September 14, 1998.
In the fall of 1999, the Board of Directors authorized
the purchase of a former U.S. Bank branch, facility on West State
Street. On June 15, 2000, after a complete renovation of the building,
a Grand Opening was held with the Director of Finance Gavin Gee
delivering the dedication remarks. Chairman of the Board Don S.
Evans and President John V. Evans Sr. also spoke about the history
of the Bank.
The Bank was growing and long range plans included development
of Online Banking. In the first quarter of 2000, D. L. Evans Bank
offered free Online Banking to their customers and by October of
2000, the Bill Payment Service was adopted.
In November 2000, the Board of Directors recognized the growth
in the Boise valley and the potential to expand the Real Estate
Lending division. They approved a new branch charter and leased
additional property at 7207 West Franklin Road in Boise to open
a Real Estate office and future branch facility.
During the fall of 2001, the bank made a decision to open an additional
branch office in Boise. A strong management team was hired and the bank leased
space at the Vista Village Shopping Center in Boise. After receiving Idaho
Department of Finance and FDIC approval the bank opened its doors for business
on January 10, 2002. Eventually a suitable location was acquired, and the bank
now maintains a permanent branch site at 1600 Vista Avenue.
During the summer of 1999, the Board of Directors also authorized the
purchase of a building at the Cole and Emerald intersection in Boise,
which is just northwest of the Boise Town Mall. The bank realized additional
branches were needed in the Boise area and a temporary modular banking facility
was purchased for the Cole and Emerald site. Approval was received and the
temporary facility opened on May 6, 2002. Construction on a new permanent
facility was completed the following year, this new building also houses
the Boise Real Estate Division.
D.L. Evans Bank continues to look into the future to access the needs of
the communities it serves and also to those communities that would benefit
from the services the bank provides.
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