in December 1992, which ultimately transitioned into Bank of America. The Community Bank journey began in August 1997, when Phil Light and Cliff Haltom announced plans to start a new bank in Liberal. They believed that the rise of large corporate banks would shift decision-making and accountability away from local communities and into out-of-state authority, resulting in slower service and less flexibility for customers. In October 1997, the application for The Community Bank was approved by the Kansas State Bank Commissioner. On April 3, 1998, a charter authorizing The Community Bank to open effective April 6, 1998, was officially issued. The Community Bank was also the first state-chartered bank in western Kansas in 25 years, and the first bank chartered in Liberal since Peoples State Bank in 1914. The Community Bank opened in April 1998 with $2.6 million in assets and grew to $28 million in assets by the end of its first year, surpassing all projections. Growth continued steadily over the years, reaching $57 million at five years, $75 million at 10 years, $98 million at 15 years and $159 million at 25 years. The bank’s original facility was a triple-wide building formerly used by Exchange Bank of Leawood, Kansas. The Community Bank began with 12 employees who had previously worked together at Peoples National Bank. Original directors included 17
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