Submitted photo Citizens Bank of West Virginia employees and board members gather in the bank’s lobby in Elkins Monday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the financial institution.

ELKINS — A local banking institution celebrated its 100th anniversary Monday.

Citizens Bank of West Virginia celebrated the milestone with a special event featuring cake and a cash giveaway in the lobby at all branch locations, along with an employee luncheon.

“We are proud of our history and longevity of serving our customers and communities,” Citizens Bank of West Virginia President and CEO Nathaniel S. Bonnell said. “Our 100th anniversary gives us a chance to reflect on our humble beginnings, celebrate the communities we have helped to build over those many years, and rejoice in knowing we have helped countless individuals and businesses achieve their financial dreams over the last century.

“There is no doubt that former Governor Kump, our bank’s first president, along with the original organizers would be so proud of the bank they started with just two employees, that now employs nearly 100 and is 100 years strong,” he added.

Citizens Bank plans to offer “centurian events, random acts of kindness, and special 100th partnerships” throughout the year, officials said.

“As we mark this once-in-a-lifetime achievement, we are incredibly grateful to all who have made Citizens Bank a success as we acknowledge our past and look to the next century of community banking,” Bonnell noted.

Citizens Bank of West Virginia was founded in 1924, “during the era that ushered in following World War I,” a company press release states. “Its founders focused on the mission of assisting the financial needs of its depositors, large and small, who were mostly employed in the prospering timber, coal, and railroad industries in Randolph County.

“Immersed in a century of historical significance of providing quality financial products and services for the communities it serves, Citizens is extremely proud of its many bank firsts it brought to the region including the first drive-in window, trust department, drive-thru, ATM, and mobile banking.”

Citizens Bank of West Virginia, with assets of $651 million, is headquartered in Elkins. From six office locations in North Central and northern West Virginia, the bank provides integrated financial services including retail and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage services.

Citizens Bank was recognized for the third consecutive year by American Banker magazine in the Top 200 Publicly Traded Community Banks Under $2 Billion of Assets in the Nation, ranking 26th on the prestigious list and No. 1 among West Virginia banks.

Citizens was also named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Banks 2023 list as the Best Small Bank in WV, 2023 SBA WV Community Lender of the Year, The Inter-Mountain’s 2023 People’s Choice Best Bank, ranked No. 7 as one of the 2023 Best Banks to Work For in the nation by American Banker, and was recently named 2023 Best of West Virginia Corporate Citizen by WV Living.