By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Bank of Hays celebrated its 20th anniversary on Dec. 19 with an office filled with customers, employees and local business leaders.
Randy Walker and John Clarke both worked to start the Bank of Hays.
"We knew early on that it was going to take a lot of money and a lot of people," Walker said at the celebration on Dec. 19. ... "The core investors and all of our stockholders planted the seed."
He said if it weren't for the community investors, Bank of Hays would not be here today.
Bank of Hays opened as a branch of Hanston State Bank in a modular building on Dec. 20, 2004.
The bank broke ground on a permanent building on Dec 9, 2005. Bank of Hays opened in their new location at 1000 W. 27th St. in Hays on Jan 2, 2007.
The bank's charter was moved from Hanston to Hays in 2008.
By 2012, the Bank of Hays had $200 million in assets.
Today, Bank of Hays and its branches have $350 million in assets.
The bank has branches in Hanston, Jetmore and Lewis.
Many of the bank's employees, some of whom have been with the bank for its entire existence, attended the celebration.
"You don't go from zero to $35o million without a lot of hard work," Walker said.
Joe Jeter, chairman of the board, said, "I can't tell you how wonderful the citizens of Hays have been in terms of accepting this bank and allowing this to happen, and it's just been a great run. I'm very proud of you guys."
Sarah Wasinger, president of the Chamber in Hays, said so many people in the crowd have been important to many good things that have happened in Hays.
"The idea was to have a local bank so the money would stay in the community," Walker said," so we could continue to give back, and it has happened how we had hoped."
Clarke said, "When our stockholders get dividend checks, they have more money to give to local charities in the community."
As the bank enters its next 20 years, Walker said the future looks bright.
He said each year, the bank goes through a strategic planning process.
Clarke said the bank is working through succession planning as he plans to retire soon.
One of the customers closed the event by saying Bank of Hays is "exceptional."
"The fact that your employees have been here so long shows that this is a nice place to work, too, and you must treat people right," she said.