Our history began long ago on a cold January day in 1916. Local businessman J. Earl Tanner and other members of the community gathered to form a bank. Andover was no more than a grocery store and field when we opened our doors on Main Street. In 1924, Tanner sold the bank to local farmer and rancher Fred D. Wilson.

The bank's beginnings were modest. Its board members weren't bankers; they were farmers. Meetings were held at 9 p.m. after the sun had set and the day's work on the farm was finished. They sealed their loans with a handshake, and they treated their customers like family.

During the fall of 1928, a robber stormed into the bank and held cashier Charles Bryant at gunpoint. But we look after each other in Andover, so the grocer next door came to the cashier's aid, and a Wild West shootout began.

The shootout spilled onto the streets of Andover. A lucky shot from the grocer struck the getaway car, shattered the windshield, and wounded the thief. While shootouts between bankers and outlaws are a thing of the past, Andover's community spirit is stronger than ever.