In the 1840s when one-sixth of St. Louis’ population was connected in some way with river trade, a small group of men decided it was time to encourage those citizens to exercise a little thrift with their earnings – so they set up a savings institution. This was only a few years after a massive depression had wiped out a number of financial institutions, businesses, and individuals. Their enterprise flourished, however, and is today the oldest bank still operating west of the Mississippi River.
