About Us

History

Iroquois Farmers State Bank (IFSB) opened in 1919 with capital and surplus of $25,000 and assets of $400,000. The bank was formed by local residents of Donovan, Iroquois, Sheldon, and Watseka, Illinois. IFSB was established to fulfill the needs of the local communities, a tradition that continues today.

During the Great Depression, IFSB never closed their doors since they were in a strong financial condition. Descendants of one of the founding families wholly owns and operates the Bank today. They believe local banking continues to play an important role in maintaining and strengthening the local economy.

Serving the agricultural community along with individuals and businesses has been the mission of the bank since its inception. When the Bank opened in Iroquois, it was the first and remains the only bank to operate in Iroquois. The Bank has continued to expand both services and locations over the years. In 1980, S & H Holdings, Inc., a bank holding company, was formed and wholly owns IFSB. The name of the holding company was selected to represent the names of the families which own and operate the bank. In 1982, the bank opened a branch in Beaverville, IL to serve the many customers of that area. IFSB maintains a Board of Directors with representation of the communities it supports.

In 1988, S & H Holdings, Inc. purchased Central Bank of Ashkum and Gilman. Central Bank, like Iroquois, had a rich history in agriculture and serving local communities. Each Bank was operated separately until 2010 when they merged to form one entity, IFSB. In 2016, S & H Holdings, Inc. purchased Sumner National Bank (SNB), a bank which was owned and operated by the Sumner family since 1902. SNB had locations in both Sheldon and Watseka. Like IFSB, Sumner has a long history of serving the local community.

With the merger of SNB, IFSB has now grown to assets of $145 million with capital of over $11 million with 6 locations in Iroquois, Ashkum, Beaverville, Gilman, Sheldon and Watseka, serving all of Iroquois County. IFSB continues its local focus lending to area residents and businesses, providing local college scholarships, and donating to local causes. Being family owned and operated, IFSB prides itself on exceptional customer service and separating itself from the megabank mentality of banking.