Banking on longevity: The Bank of Carbondale celebrates 100 years in southern Illinois

A southern Illinois financial mainstay has hit the century mark, and its leaders are banking on plenty of more years to come.

Late last week, employees at The Bank of Carbondale, along with other civic and business leaders, gathered at the bank to celebrate the institution's 100th anniversary of service.

The event included a ribbon-cutting with the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, appetizers, cold drinks and door prizes.

The bank's roots actually go beyond Carbondale's city limits.

Originally chartered as the Vergennes State Bank in 1919, the bank first was located on the corner of Hack Avenue and Main Street in nearby Vergennes.

In 1970, the charter was transferred and established as The Bank of Carbondale, with its location in downtown Carbondale.

The bank is locally owned and operated and now operates at five locations: its central office on Main Street in downtown Carbondale, along with other branches in Vergennes, Murphysboro and Carterville, along with an dditional drive-thru facility in Carbondale.