CENTIER BANK CELEBRATES 100th ANNIVERSARY
Item
Title
CENTIER BANK CELEBRATES 100th ANNIVERSARY
Creator
The Whiting-Robertsdale Trumpeter
Date
May 30, 1995
Identifier
SN.02.499
Subject
Anniversaries, 100th Anniversary, Henry Schrage, Whiting Branch, Community, Schrage Family Scholarship Foundation, Walter E. Schrage Sr., Michael Schrage
Original Format
newspaper
Text
CENTIER BANK CELEBRATES 100th ANNIVERSARY
Whiting-Centier Bank, Lake and Porter counties' local, family-owned bank, marked its 100th Anniversary on April 21, 1995. Founded by Henry Schrage in 1895 in Whiting, Indiana, the Bank has specialized in serving Northwest Indiana families, small, businesses and their communities and intends to continue this tradition into their next century of service.
"This anniversary was a pretty unique accomplishment in today's environment of larger, national banks taking over most of the smaller, community banks," stated Michael Schrage, president and CEO of Centier Bank. "The Bank has become a longstanding tradition in the Schrage family, and I believe our success will continue. The friendly, personal service our local staff can provide is something we're very proud of .... and something our customers have come to expect from Centier. We want to be more than just a place where people do business. We're involved in our communities and really try to make a difference in the lives of those around us."
A series of celebrations planned for the Bank, included the renaming of New York Avenue in Whiting to Centier Avenue on the morning of April 21st, an employee and retiree gathering at the Radisson Hotel that evening, and a public performance of the "Air Force Band of Flight 'Night Flight' Jazz Ensemble” in Whiting on Sunday, April 23rd. Additionally celebrations are being planned for each of the Bank's communities during the summer of 1995. In recognition of the Anniversary, Centier established a Schrage Family Scholarship Foundation which will annually award a $2,000 scholarship to one student at each of ten public high schools in Centier's market areas. The Bank also purchased a "Centennial Trolley" which will be visible in Lake and Porter counties throughout this year, and a moonwalk to be used at public events and festivals.
Created created a limited edition savings bank, which is a replica of the original bank building on 119th Street in Whiting, and a "Centennial Cookbook" with over 500 recipes from NW Indiana residents. Both items can be purchased at any Centier office.
A Brief History
Centier Bank is rich in history, with four generations of the same family owning and managing the Bank throughout the past century. Henry Schrage, a native of Germany and the Bank's founder, was able to open the "Bank of Whiting" after Standard Oil purchased some of his family's land. Henry was so dedicated tom ensuring the Bank's success that, in fact, during the depression years he used his personal assets to keep the Bank solid when many loans had gone bad.
Walter Schrage, Sr., the family's next generation, continued the Bank’s success while being very active in the Whiting community. As Mayor of Whiting, Walter helped transform the areas from a community of sandhills, wooden sidewalks and unpaved streets to a city that was modem in every respect.
One hundred years after Henry Schrage first dreamed of opening his own bank, Centier remains an independent, family-owned-and family-managed financial institution with 18 offices serving Lake and Porter counties and over $500 million in assets.
Whiting-Centier Bank, Lake and Porter counties' local, family-owned bank, marked its 100th Anniversary on April 21, 1995. Founded by Henry Schrage in 1895 in Whiting, Indiana, the Bank has specialized in serving Northwest Indiana families, small, businesses and their communities and intends to continue this tradition into their next century of service.
"This anniversary was a pretty unique accomplishment in today's environment of larger, national banks taking over most of the smaller, community banks," stated Michael Schrage, president and CEO of Centier Bank. "The Bank has become a longstanding tradition in the Schrage family, and I believe our success will continue. The friendly, personal service our local staff can provide is something we're very proud of .... and something our customers have come to expect from Centier. We want to be more than just a place where people do business. We're involved in our communities and really try to make a difference in the lives of those around us."
A series of celebrations planned for the Bank, included the renaming of New York Avenue in Whiting to Centier Avenue on the morning of April 21st, an employee and retiree gathering at the Radisson Hotel that evening, and a public performance of the "Air Force Band of Flight 'Night Flight' Jazz Ensemble” in Whiting on Sunday, April 23rd. Additionally celebrations are being planned for each of the Bank's communities during the summer of 1995. In recognition of the Anniversary, Centier established a Schrage Family Scholarship Foundation which will annually award a $2,000 scholarship to one student at each of ten public high schools in Centier's market areas. The Bank also purchased a "Centennial Trolley" which will be visible in Lake and Porter counties throughout this year, and a moonwalk to be used at public events and festivals.
Created created a limited edition savings bank, which is a replica of the original bank building on 119th Street in Whiting, and a "Centennial Cookbook" with over 500 recipes from NW Indiana residents. Both items can be purchased at any Centier office.
A Brief History
Centier Bank is rich in history, with four generations of the same family owning and managing the Bank throughout the past century. Henry Schrage, a native of Germany and the Bank's founder, was able to open the "Bank of Whiting" after Standard Oil purchased some of his family's land. Henry was so dedicated tom ensuring the Bank's success that, in fact, during the depression years he used his personal assets to keep the Bank solid when many loans had gone bad.
Walter Schrage, Sr., the family's next generation, continued the Bank’s success while being very active in the Whiting community. As Mayor of Whiting, Walter helped transform the areas from a community of sandhills, wooden sidewalks and unpaved streets to a city that was modem in every respect.
One hundred years after Henry Schrage first dreamed of opening his own bank, Centier remains an independent, family-owned-and family-managed financial institution with 18 offices serving Lake and Porter counties and over $500 million in assets.