Lindsborg's First Banks

Lindsborg's 2nd bank to open was the Farmer's State Bank, which was established in 1886. The brick block in this photo wasn't constructed until 1887, as the original location was the 25'X30' wood structure built for Lindsborg's 1st apothecary by Dr. J.B. Curtis. 

In 1887 this building was erected with multiple businesses in mind. The bank just used the corner and basement, the rest was leased out to drug stores, attorneys, even the Lindsborg Phone Co. placed upstairs at one time.

Ebba started as a bookkeeper for Farmers State Bank in 1906, in 1911 she was promoted to Assistant Cashier, and in 1923 Cashier. She served on the board of directors from 1915 until she retired, and was promoted to Vice-President January 1929 and President 1931.

In 1929, the stock market crashed which started the great depression, the President of the bank, Louis Nordberg, became quite ill, and Ebba took command of the bank during some dark days. When word got out that First National Bank was closing their doors on Oct. 30, 1930, Ebba quietly made plans, acquiring funds from both McPherson and Kansas City, while adding her own as well as what other board members promised. She had no intention of allowing Farmers State Bank to close. As expected, Monday morning came and the other bank closed, creating a rush of Lindsborg residents to pull theirs out of the other two banks while they could. Ebba and other board members were up all night getting prepared, and each person that came in received their money. Lindsborg took notice to this, and some businesses started making deposits, then people started coming back wanting to deposit theirs back in. By the close of business, the bank actually came out $1,800.00 ahead.

September 1, 1931, Louis Nordberg passed away, and Ebba was elected President. In an interview some years later, Ebba had this to say:

"I've been criticized by bankers for being too big-hearted," she says with a defiant lift of her head. "But regardless of that I know my notecase is absolutely sound. This bank kept Main Street open during the darkest days of the depression. We risked money to do it – but I knew these people. Of course, the problem is a different problem here from what it is in some communities. There is a sound, basic honesty in a Swedish community which is something strong and fundamental that you can tie to. We won't lose a thousand dollars of all we loaned to Main Street in those hard days. And it was many times worth it to keep the people working, hopeful, happy and achieving."
- Ebba Fornberg from The Kansas City Star, July 23, 1939

On February 9th, 1954, C.A. Abercrombie was instructed by the board to negotiate a purchase of two lots on North Main St., in order to erect a new bank building. By this time, drive-thru business was the new convenience and the old bank couldn't offer that. December 11th, 1955 Farmers Bank opened the doors for the open house.

The former building, along with some furniture and contents, were sold to Lindsborg City for $9,000.00, where city offices are still at today.

The bank prospered for many years, and upon its 104th anniversary decided to sell to Emprise Bank, who already had 14 branches throughout Kansas. The announcement was made in February 1990 and was sealed by September. Farmers State Bank permanently closed that December.