First National Bank was organized on the first day of October, 1866, by David Auld, with the following as the first board of directors: David Auld, Henry Kuhn, H. H. Moulton, George Scarborough, C. G. Foster, D. C. Newcomb, and J. M. Linley. David Auld was elected president, George Scarborough, vice-president, and W. R. Stebbins as cashier. For thirty- eight years this bank was under the careful and conservative management of David Auld, who died in October, 1904, and was succeeded by his son, David Auld, Jr. The bank began business in July, 1867, and since that time has been one of the strongest financial institutions in the West. It has always had the benefit of the services of experienced men in the banking business, and has followed a conservative policy during the whole of its existence. In 1910 the controlling interest in the First National Bank was purchased by the Commercial State Bank, which was organized in Atchison in 1906 by Sheffield Ingalls and O. A. Simmons. In the merger that took place the Commercial State Bank was absorbed by the First National Bank, and has continued under the latter name to maintain its high standard of conservatism, and with the introduction of new blood and new methods, it embarked upon a policy of service which has redounded to the lasting benefit of the community. The present officials of this institution are as follows: Edward Perdue, president; J. H. Barry, chairman of the board; O. A. Simmons, first vice-president and manager; J. M. Schott, second vice-president; Charles Linley, cashier; George H. Edwards, assistant cashier; F. J. Ledoux, assistant cashier. The directors represent varied business interests of this city and county, and are as follows: Edward Perdue, J. H. Barry, O. A. Simmons, Charles Linley, J. M. Schott, C. C. McCarthy, August Manglesdorf, Leo Nusbaum, Sheffield Ingalls, A. E. Mize, M. Noll and W. T. Hutson. The Atchison Savings Bank claims the distinction of being “The Oldest State Bank in Kansas,” having enjoyed a continuous corporate existence of over forty-six years. R. A. Park was its organizer and first cashier, and in June, 1869, it opened its doors for business in a brick one-story building at the northwest corner of Fifth and Commercial streets. At that time most of the business was centered close to the river, and this was considered quite an “up town” location, but time has vindicated the judgment of its early director in anticipating the westward growth of the town. With the expectation of building thereon the bank early acquired title to the lot at the southwest corner of Fifth and Commercial streets, but subsequently disposed of it to the late Ex-Governor John A. Martin, who built the _Champion_ building thereon, and the bank moved to its present quarters, which it had acquired, and still owns, at the southeast corner of Fifth and Commercial.