HISTORY: Dakota Heritage Bank of North Dakota

On July 1, 2005, the Security State Bank of Hunter and the First State Bank of Hope merged into the Dakota Heritage Bank of North Dakota. 

The Security State Bank of Hunter was officially organized on October 20, 1944 by a group of local citizens. Mr. Carl Howells was perhaps the most influential in getting the bank started as the records show that he did most of the ground work. The bank was organized to replace the First National Bank of Hunter which was owned and operated by a Mr. Parkhurst and who voluntarily closed this bank sometime in 1943 or early 1944. The Security State Bank of Hunter officially opened for business on or about February 1, 1945, purchasing the building, furniture and fixtures, equipment and supplies from Mr. Parkhurst for $4,000.00. Capitalization of the bank was $35,000.00. Chief executive officers of the bank were as follows:

On September 20, 1968, a paying and receiving station was opened at Galesburg, ND which continues to be a vital addition to this bank. Managers of the station since its opening were as follows:

On January 1, 1992, the bank established an office in Grandin, ND. This office was formerly operated as a branch office of the Wells Fargo Bank, Hillsboro, ND.

On December 3, 2001, the bank purchased a branch office in Hillsboro, ND. This office was a branch office of the Bremer Bank, Grand Forks, ND. This office was initially operated by Vice President Jason B. Hauff and is currently managed by Branch President Donald Foss.
 

The First State Bank of Hope began its business as the State Bank of Pillsbury on June 20, 1911, with J.D. Brown, M.B. Cassell and F.W. Erid as shareholders.  Its starting capital was $10,000.00. On July 11 of the same year the name was changed to Pillsburg State Bank with J.D. Brown as President, H.P. Rice as Cashier and H.J. Hunt as Assisant Cashier.

M.G. Pederson became cashier of the bank in May 1916 and also became a shareholder.  He then became a director of the bank in 1922.  The bank closed between January 1924 until 1926.  A reorganizational meeting was held in July to reopen the bank.  It was then reopened on July 29, 1926.  The Pillsbury State Bank continued in business until June, 1931 after a certificate which was filed for permission to move its corporate headquarters from Pillsbury to Hope was granted.  On July 1, 1931 the bank opened its doors in Hope as the First State bank of Hope.  M.G. Pederson was elected cashier and Maurice Harrington was named cashier.  The First State Hope was managed by the Pederson family, including M.G. Vincent, R. Paul and Richard Pederson working here at various times and in various capacities.

In 1985, the bank was purchased by the Hunter Holding Company whose directors were W.O. Brown, Robert Dawson, James Dawson, Robert Lauf and Darvin Hauff.  The current directors are Darvin Hauff, Jason Hauff and Roy Daschendorf.  Mr. Daschendorf is the President of the bank.