Longest-Lived: Ohio Community Bank Has Same Name and Charter Number After 150 Years

The First National Bank of McConnelsville in southeastern Ohio is the oldest national bank still operating under the same name and the same OCC charter—number 46, to be exact.

The McConnelsville bank is shown on the town square in 1880 (right). The county courthouse (left) arose in 1858 and still stands. (McConnelsville National Bank)

Today, the bank has several branches in neighboring towns. But McConnelsville remains about the same size—fewer than 2,000 inhabitants—as in 1863. Bank accounts and shares of stock have been handed down through families from the time the bank was launched.

The bank opened its doors in the same year Congress created the national bank system and the North defeated the South in the battle of Gettysburg. Founded with capital of $75,000, the bank greeted customers at its original location—32 East Main Street, on the town square—for more than a century. A Greek Revival-style courthouse, standing across the street from the bank in 1863, is still there today.

On April 19, 1864, a federal examiner visited the newly created bank and sent a report to Comptroller of the Currency Hugh McCulloch in the Washington headquarters. “Dear Sir, I have today examined The First National Bank of McConnelsville,” he wrote, where he found $224,744.67 in assets, a “stone and brick vault,” and a “burglar-proof safe.” “The directors are mostly in active business and are men of moderate means.” The examiner said he instructed the bank on matters involving lending and recordkeeping.

The entire report filled two handwritten sheets of paper. A sheet of about eight-by-eight inches listed the bank’s assets and liabilities; another of about eight-by-ten had the comments. Two pages, one man, one day—that was the typical community bank exam in the 1860s.

First National Bank of McConnelsville has grown exponentially since 1863. But its name and number remain the same.