“Banking your way. Quality, customized solutions servicing the community since 1893.” That’s the motto of The State Bank. With over 80 years of banking experience between them, Al and Tricia Kreps know what makes banks successful.”We offer a community-friendly, personal service,” Tricia Kreps said. She is a third generation Colorado banker. Al Kreps grew up on a farm east of Greeley, and, after graduating high school, he joined Greeley National Bank. He then moved on to First National Bank in Denver where he learned to write systems software. He missed working in the trenches and eventually left the data processing end to return to the operations side of banking. While attending an FDIC meeting in Denver, he met Tricia, and in 1981, they became partners in marriage and business.The State Banks have been controlled by three families since opening in1893. R.A. Steen was the original owner and the president from 1893 to1929 in La Junta, Colo. He then sold the bank to John Richert Sr. who became the president. Richert had been a cashier since 1923. After he passed away in 1953, his son, Owen Richert, became president.The younger Richert sold the banks to Tricia Kreps family in July 1975. Kreps father, Wence Goodwin, was president for six months before she replaced her father in the top job.Goodwin began his banking legacy when he joined Commerce Bank of Oklahoma where his father-in-law, A.D. Poteet, was president and owner. Poteet, a grocer, purchased the bank in the early 1930s when, while he was making a deposit one day, the bank owner offered to finance and sell the bank to him. He also purchased Bankwest in Kansas, with branches in Goodland, Colby and St. Frances, Kan., along with one in Idalia, Colo. Those banks are owned by Tricia Kreps brother and his children.Tricia has double masters’ degrees from Northwestern and Stanford universities. After completing her education, she returned to La Junta and began working in the family business.With the purchase of The State Bank of La Junta, they also acquired the State Bank of Rocky Ford. Tricia and Al Kreps visited Falcon in 2000 and recognized its potential for growth. Falcon fit the banks “community atmosphere” – a theme the banks have been built on.In 2001, they opened The State Bank of Falcon in a modular that replicates a train. They added a post office as well.The Krepps hope to break ground early summer on their new building, planned for the lot next to where they are currently located.The Krepps have two daughters. Lora Rose, a Harvard University and University of California at Berkeley graduate, who is the chief financial officer for The State Bank. Lora Rose’s husband, Brad, is the bank’s information technology guru. Daughter Deborah Goldberg is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and, while not active in family banking business on a day-to-day basis, she sits on the board. Goldberg is currently working on her doctorate.The family legacy continues. The State Bank of La Junta, Rocky Ford and Falcon are owned by Arkansas Valley Bankshares Holding Company – Tricia Krepps and her two daughters own 100 percent of the shares. Currently, they employ 40 people, many of whom have been with The State Bank for several years.”We are like the old time doctors who made house calls,” Tricia Krepps said. “We truly care about our customers and offer all the amenities of a large bank, such as on-line banking, loan servicing, investments, business banking etc., but we maintain the personal touch.”
