Centier Bank opens centennial Friday
Item
Title
Centier Bank opens centennial Friday
Creator
Post-Tribune
Date
April 18, 1995
Identifier
SN.01.824
Subject
Community, Michael Schrage, Centennial, Anniversaries, 100th Anniversary, Trolley
Original Format
newspaper
Text
The bank remains owned by the family that started it.
WHITING - Centier Bank will begin a week-long observance of its 100th anniversary on Friday, said Michael Schrage, president and chief executive officer.
"This anniversary is a pretty unique accomplishment in today's environment of larger, national banks taking over most of the smaller, community banks," Schrage said. "The bank has become a long-standing tradition in the Schrage family, and I believe our success will continue."
The bank, which was founded in 1895 in Whiting by Henry Schrage, has carved out a niche serving families and small business.
Henry Schrage was born in Germany and after moving to Northwest Indiana, opened the Bank of Whiting after Standard Oil bought some of his family's land. He kept the bank going during the Depression by using his personal assets.
Walter Schrage Sr. continued operating the bank and was later elected mayor of Whiting. His son, Walter Schrage Jr., took over the bank in 1960 after his father died.
He changed the name of the institution to First Bank of Whiting and expanded by opening offices in Highland, Dyer, Pine Island and Griffith. Michael Schrage became the fourth generation to head the bank when he took over in 1982. In 1991, the name was change to Centier to symbolize a century of service.
Today, the bank operates 18 offices in Lake and Porter counties and has more than $500 million in assets.
In the past year, Centier received the Small Business Lender of the Year designation from the Indiana Statewide Certified Development Corp.
The week-long observance begins at 9 a.m. on Friday with a ceremony that renames New York Street in Whiting to Centier Avenue.
Other observances:
■ All day Friday is Customer Appreciation Day at all Centier offices. At 8 p.m., a 100th anniversary celebration for employees and retirees will be held at the Radisson Hotel Celebrity Ballroom.
■ From 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, the Air Force Band of Flight Jazz Ensemble will perform at Whiting High School.
■ From 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, the Centennial Trolley will tour Crown Point.
■ At 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Schrage will visit the Whiting/Robertsdale Historical Society meeting at the Whiting Public Library to answer questions about the bank.
WHITING - Centier Bank will begin a week-long observance of its 100th anniversary on Friday, said Michael Schrage, president and chief executive officer.
"This anniversary is a pretty unique accomplishment in today's environment of larger, national banks taking over most of the smaller, community banks," Schrage said. "The bank has become a long-standing tradition in the Schrage family, and I believe our success will continue."
The bank, which was founded in 1895 in Whiting by Henry Schrage, has carved out a niche serving families and small business.
Henry Schrage was born in Germany and after moving to Northwest Indiana, opened the Bank of Whiting after Standard Oil bought some of his family's land. He kept the bank going during the Depression by using his personal assets.
Walter Schrage Sr. continued operating the bank and was later elected mayor of Whiting. His son, Walter Schrage Jr., took over the bank in 1960 after his father died.
He changed the name of the institution to First Bank of Whiting and expanded by opening offices in Highland, Dyer, Pine Island and Griffith. Michael Schrage became the fourth generation to head the bank when he took over in 1982. In 1991, the name was change to Centier to symbolize a century of service.
Today, the bank operates 18 offices in Lake and Porter counties and has more than $500 million in assets.
In the past year, Centier received the Small Business Lender of the Year designation from the Indiana Statewide Certified Development Corp.
The week-long observance begins at 9 a.m. on Friday with a ceremony that renames New York Street in Whiting to Centier Avenue.
Other observances:
■ All day Friday is Customer Appreciation Day at all Centier offices. At 8 p.m., a 100th anniversary celebration for employees and retirees will be held at the Radisson Hotel Celebrity Ballroom.
■ From 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, the Air Force Band of Flight Jazz Ensemble will perform at Whiting High School.
■ From 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, the Centennial Trolley will tour Crown Point.
■ At 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Schrage will visit the Whiting/Robertsdale Historical Society meeting at the Whiting Public Library to answer questions about the bank.