Our Story

Who We Are at First Citizens Bank

First Citizens Bank is a community bank, committed to delivering exceptional financial experiences that focus on the success of our customers and communities. From origins in the 1800s, First Citizens is in its second generation of providing financial leadership to North Iowa and Mora, Minnesota. In December of 1994, O. Jay Tomson, Chairman of the Board, announced a corporate merger of its four subsidiary banks. Citizens National Bank (Charles City), Citizens National Bank (New Hampton), Osage Farmers National Bank, and First National Bank (Clarion) merged their assets and moved the remaining bank charter into Mason City. In 2014, Kanabec State Bank (Mora, MN) merged into First Citizens Bank.

collage of images from our bank history

The result is one bank, headquartered in Mason City, with eight locations serving North Iowa and Mora, Minnesota. Currently, the bank has over $1.3 billion in assets and employs over 215 people. The bank is uniquely positioned as a locally owned community bank with enough size to compete technologically while still being able to provide exceptional personal service.

By positioning the bank as a larger community bank, First Citizens has been able to lead the way in providing its customers with the latest in technology--online & mobile banking, bill pay services, mobile deposit, eStatements, contactless debit cards--coupled with the quality service that community banks are so well known for. In 1999, the bank was named the first FSA preferred lender in the state. We strengthen our local communities and economies by channeling loan dollars back in the neighborhoods where our depositors live and work. Through the First Citizens Charitable Foundation, we have made substantial donations to local causes in each of the communities we serve. Besides the financial backing, our employees volunteer many hours of service in their communities.

The Meaning Behind Our Logo

The blue area of the First Citizens logo represents a flag. This originated in 1994, when plans of a merger were announced. It signifies the unity of our family of banks, flying under one flag. This is also true of our merger with Mora in 2014.

The waves in the flag represent movement and action. First Citizens is a progressive organization, always moving forward in technology, vision, and passion.

O. Jay Tomson

First Citizens Financial Corp.
Chairman of the Board

Marti T. Rodamaker

First Citizens Bank
CEO/Chairman of the Board

Jeff Gribben

First Citizens Bank
President

Bank Charters

1856

Osage (Farmers) National Bank
Osage, Iowa

1887

First National Bank
Clarion, Iowa

1892

Citizens National Bank
Charles City, Iowa

1908

Farmers State Bank
Kanawha, Iowa

1912

Kanabec State Bank
(fka Quamba State Bank)
Mora, Minnesota

1929

Alta Vista State Bank
Alta Vista, Iowa

1955

First (Latimer)Bank & Trust
Latimer, Iowa

How We Became One

1973

O. Jay Tomson purchases controlling interest in Kanabec State Bank in Mora, Minnesota.

O. Jay Tomson purchases controlling interest in Citizens National Bank in Charles City, Iowa.

1981

O. Jay Tomson purchases controlling interest in First National Bank in Clarion, Iowa.

1987

First National Bank purchases controlling interest in Latimer Bank & Trust in Latimer, Iowa, and Farmers State Bank in Kanawha, Iowa, merging them into First National Bank of Clarion.

1991

O. Jay Tomson purchases controlling interest in Osage Farmers National Bank in Osage, Iowa.

1992

O. Jay Tomson purchases controlling interest in Alta Vista Bancshares, which owned a bank in Alta Vista, Iowa, and a savings and loan in New Hampton, Iowa.

1994

All the above Iowa banks were merged into one bank, First Citizens National Bank, and the Charter was moved to Mason City, Iowa.

2006

Kanabec Credit Company merged into First Citizens Financial Corp.

2014

Kanabec State Bank merged into First Citizens National Bank.

2016

Name changes to First Citizens Bank.