KAYSVILLE — The letters on the two-story building at 1 N. Main are worn and faded. The words "Barnes Block" are barely visible on the southeast corner of the brick structure.
The building's original occupant has been gone almost 50 years. And yet the company, which John R. Barnes started 115 years ago, is still a central part of the local community.
In 1891, Barnes founded Barnes Banking Co. in downtown Kaysville with a few family members and local associates. Although the company left its original brick-and-mortar structure decades ago, the community-oriented bank is still in the heart of Kaysville across the street at 33 S. Main.
The bank will celebrate its 115th anniversary today.
"There's not a lot of companies that have been around this long anymore," said Curtis Harris, chief executive officer of Barnes Banking Co. "We like to show the stability and that we're here for the long run."
The bank's initial investment, more than a century ago, was $25,000 and came from profits made from the Kaysville Cooperative Mercantile Institution. Today, the company has more than $600 million in assets.
"We've grown quite a bit," Harris said.
In commemoration of the anniversary, old pictures of the bank will be on display in the Kaysville office during the month of January. An original oak depository table used by John R. Barnes, old bank ledgers, ink pads and blotters will also be featured in the bank's lobby.
The original bank which started on Main Street in Kaysville has grown to include nine other branches statewide. Offices were opened in Layton (1992), Bountiful (1994), Syracuse (1997), Roy (1998), South Ogden (2000), Salt Lake City (2001), Midvale (2003), St. George (2005) and Orem (2005).
But despite the growth, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Douglas C. Stanger said each Barnes Bank Co. office is still community-oriented. He said the company tries to hire local people to work in the branches.
"Barnes Bank is different in the way it treats customers and employees," Stanger said. "We pay personal attention to their particular needs and at Barnes Bank people still have names and faces. We enjoy seeing people who come in every day and shaking their hands."
Stanger has worked at the bank since 1979 when he started as an officer trainer who managed teller lines and bookkeeping areas.
"I like working here because you have a chance to get in touch with people," he said.
Laurie Criddle grew up in Kaysville and remembers when she opened up her first savings account at Barnes Bank. She said she was so young that she couldn't sign on the account, so her parents opened it for her.
With the expansions, Criddle said the bank has changed a little bit but it is still centered around the community.
"There's still the community thing. People come in and they know my parents, and they know my grandparents, and say, 'You're the little Morton girl,' " Criddle said, adding that her father has had a Barnes account for more than 50 years.
Criddle started working as a teller at the bank in 1992 and now works as the new accounts supervisor at the Kaysville branch.
"The best part about working here is the people," Criddle said. "It is such an up place to be. There's still the kind of community spirit even though we branched out."
Harris said the company wants all of its 250 employees to be involved in the community. The bank, he added, gives donations to local educational institutions and tries to teach area students how to understand their finances.
"We just want to give back to what so many people have given to the bank," Harris said.
Harris said one of the bank's biggest challenges today is catering to both younger and more mature customers. The younger generation wants things done quickly and wants fast access to account information via the Internet. The mature generation prefers personal customer service.
"Our goal is to take care of our customers," he said, adding that the bank provides both online services while at the same time still provides great customer service by doing things like answering its telephones with a live person.
Harris said he isn't sure what the next 115 years will have in store in respect to future expansions. He said the company wants to make sure its current locations are successful, but will look into other opportunities as they present themselves.
Harris has worked at the bank since 1983. He said he loves his job.
"I love to come to work because I love dealing with people and seeing employees grow and develop and enjoy what they are doing, too," Harris said. "(I also enjoy) having a business that's successful."
E-mail: nclemens@desnews.com