By Coben Scott
The State Bank is inarguably one of the most iconic structures in Falcon, Colorado. The building stands out from the rest of the modernized establishments in town as the exterior and interior design for the building, along with the logo, are inspired by an older time, specifically the late 1800s when the business was established.
The origin of The State Bank starts with the Steen family, who, along with many others in the mid-1850s, decided to travel west out of their quiet Pennsylvanian town. Their travels took them across the plains before settling in Missouri and then Kansas. The family most likely moved because of the Bleeding Kansas period, where both abolitionists and anti-abolitionists flocked to Missouri and Kansas to tip the scale for the states’ stances on slavery.
The most notable representation of this period was John Brown, a staunch antislavery advocate who persuaded hundreds of families to move to Kansas — the Steens most likely included. One of the eight Steen children was Robert A. Steen, who married in Kansas, and then traveled the Arkansas River west with his wife. Some time in the 1880s, the two eventually called La Junta, Colorado, home. Steen became an active member of the community, becoming town mayor and Otero County Commissioner. By 1893, Steen chartered the La Junta State Bank and operated as its president until 1929. After 36 years of operating the bank, Steen retired and sold to the Richert Family.
John Richert Sr. was a first-generation American as his grandparents immigrated to America from Russia, with all 12 of their children, in the summer of 1874. Richert settled in Rocky Ford, got married and had three children. His oldest son, Olin “Ollie” Richert became the bank president once his father retired in 1953. While owning the La Junta State Bank, the Richert family also owned and operated the Empire State Bank in Rocky Ford. In1975, the Richerts sold both banks to Patricia “Trisha” Kreps.
John Richert Sr. became the bank president for the next 24 years. Similar to Steen, Richert was a Kansas man who also traveled the Arkansas River to settle in Colorado. Unlike Steen, Richert was a first-generation American as his grandparents immigrated to America from Russia, with all 12 of their children, in the summer of 1874. Richert settled in Rocky Ford, got married and had three children. His oldest son, Olin “Ollie” Richert became the bank president once his father retired in 1953. While owning the La Junta State Bank, the Richert family also owned and operated the Empire State Bank in Rocky Ford. In1975, the Richerts sold both banks to Patricia “Trisha” Kreps.
Kreps came from a line of bankers as her grandparents, Alonzo Byron “A.B.” and Lettie M. Poteet, started the tradition. Just like the other families, the Poteets lived in the Kansas area for most of their lives. During the early 1900s, however, the two moved to Commerce, Oklahoma. A.B. purchased the First State Bank of Commerce and served as cashier until its sale in 1948. Around the same time, A.B. and Lettie moved back to Kansas and purchased the Citizens Bank of Galena (roughly 30 minutes away from Commerce). He renamed it the Citizens State Bank of Gelena while serving as a cashier and later president of the bank. The role of president was passed to their son, William “Bill” Poteet, until his retirement in 1978.
After the passing of A.B. and Lettie, their granddaughter, Trisha Kreps, was able to pursue her banking journey with inheritance money. After her purchase of the La Junta State Bank and Empire State Bank, the Kreps family operated both under separate charters. In 2001, the family expanded their banking ventures to Falcon. After a recommendation for the growing area and the suitability for the bank’s operating philosophy, there was no better pick than Falcon. The initial location was 7475 McLaughlin Road (the current location for Falcon Urgent Care) but in 2006, construction was completed on the current building that towers over Falcon proper today. In 2006, a change in Colorado’s branch banking laws allowed the two southern locations to merge with the Falcon location. Once the separate boards merged, the bank was renamed as The State Bank.
Today, The State Bank is 100% family owned. Trisha Kreps has been both president and chief executive officer since June 1975; her husband, Al Kreps, has been senior vice president since 1981. Their daughter, Lora Rose, is chief financial officer, and her husband, Brad Rose, is vice president of information technology.
In a written statement to the NFH, Trisha Kreps said, “The family is honored to be part of the community in Falcon. The longtime staff members have embraced the community minded banking model of the founding families. They establish a warm and receptive environment for every customer and visitor entering the doors. The Kreps and Rose Family invite you to come visit the Falcon Branch today and discover the small town personal banking experience.”
This year marks 131 years of the operation of the original La Junta State Bank, which eventually became The State Bank of today. In celebration of this, a community festivity will be held at the Falcon location Sept. 20.
