Just three years after the close of the Civil War, Nodaway Valley Bank was founded in Maryville, Missouri, in 1868, by George S. Baker. It was originally called George S. Baker and Company, Bankers. The bank occupied a frame building on site of the present bank on the northwest corner of Third and Main Streets.

In 1873, the capital stock of the bank was acquired by two associates of Mr. Baker, James B. Prather and Theodore L. Robinson. The name of the bank was changed thereafter to Nodaway Valley Bank. Although Prather was president of the bank, he had outside interests, so Robinson, who held the title of cashier, was given full charge of the day-to-day management of the bank. A member of the Robinson family has been at the helm of the bank ever since.

Theodore L. Robinson was named President of the bank in 1889 and served until his death in 1894. He was succeeded by his two sons, James B. Robinson, who served from 1894 to 1932 and F. P. Robinson, who served from 1932 to 1936. Two of Theodore L. Robinson’s grandsons, Chilton Robinson and James B. Robinson, served from 1934 to 1964 and 1964 to 1977, respectively. Theodore G. Robinson, a nephew of James B. Robinson, became president in 1977 and served until 1995, when he became Chairman of the Board. His son, James G. Robinson, representing the fifth generation of Robinson family to have an active role in the management of Nodaway Valley Bank, became the President and Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2005.

Theodore L. Robinson who served until his death in 1894,	James B. Robinson from 1894 to 1932	F.P. Robinson, from 1932 to 1936	Chilton Robinson, 1936 to 1964
James B. Robinson, from 1964 to 1977	Theodore G. Robinson, from 1977 to 2004	James G. Robinson, from 2005

By 1891, the bank had outgrown its original building, and a new building was erected on the same site. In 1894, the bank obtained a state charter, having operated as a private bank for its first 26 years. In 1896, the bank’s footings stood at $307,000. By the end of World War I, the bank’s assets had increased more than threefold to $967,000. In 1917, the bank installed a modern posting machine, and by 1924, had eliminated book balancing.

By 1933, the bank had once again outgrown its space. The interior was rearranged and the entrance was moved from the corner to the middle of the building on Third Street. New fixtures, featuring the latest bandit-resistant and bullet-proof designs, were installed. The safe deposit vault was lined with armor steel-plate and fitted with a six inch-thick door. By 1938, the bank was already using a modern “Recordak System” to photocopy all checks for better record keeping.

By the start of World War II, the threat of bank robbery had diminished. The bank was remodeled again in 1942, and the all-metal fixtures were replaced and contributed to the nationwide scrap metal drive. In the previous year, Nodaway Valley Bank became one of the first banks in the area to employ an agricultural advisor, and was the first bank in Nodaway County to offer FHA loans. By 1943, the bank’s footings had more than tripled again to $3.8 million. During World War II, four of the bank’s officers and employees took leaves of absence in order to join the military, including the bank’s president, Chilton Robinson.

1960's Recordak System	Modern Proof Operations

By the 1960’s, the bank had once again outgrown its space. The second building was demolished and on the same site, a new, larger building featuring contemporary design was built in 1966. A prominent feature of the new building was a 24’ long mural behind the teller line, depicting 100 years of history in Nodaway County.The bank also built the first modern drive-up facility at Second and Buchanan Streets in the late 1960’s, and later a walk-up bank at 1303 South Main. Nodaway Valley Bank was the first bank in the area to offer ATM service. The bank now offers its own personalized credit and debit cards.

The bank’s first expansion outside of Maryville came in 1989, when a full-service bank was opened in Hopkins, Missouri. In 1990, a full-service facility was opened in Savannah, Missouri. In 1995, the bank opened the doors to a brand-new bank facility in St. Joseph, located on the Belt Highway and Cook Road. The bank introduced Online Banking in 2001 and Check Imaging in 2002.

During this time, the original bank at Third & Main underwent a multi-million dollar renovation program which lasted two years. The building was expanded 22’ to the north and the entrance was moved to the corner, where it had been one hundred years before. The bank continued to operate from this site during the project. The large mural remains a prominent feature of the new lobby.

In 2002, the bank formed Nodaway Valley Investment Services, to provide comprehensive financial planning and brokerage services for its customers. Also in 2002, construction began on a new 11,000 square foot, full-service facility at Riverside Road and Mitchell Avenue, near the Mitchell Woods Business Park in St. Joseph.

In 2003, the bank merged in The Heritage Bank of St. Joseph, adding four full-service facilities in St. Joseph, and creating the largest privately-owned bank in Northwest Missouri, with assets in excess of $500 million. In 2007, Nodaway Valley Bank acquired the Exchange Bank of Mound City and now serves Northwest Missouri with nine locations and 19 ATM’s.