Citizens Bank of Kansas is celebrating 100 years of family ownership in 2022, culminating in an Open House at all 10 branch locations on Friday, December 2, 2022, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The public is invited.

The family story starts in 1922 in Cowley County, Kansas. “My great-grandfather Herbert H. ‘Bert’ Smith and his cousin C.V. Foust purchased The Citizens State Bank in Atlanta, Kansas — the predecessor to Citizens Bank of Kansas,” said Jane Deterding, Chairman of the Board of CBK and fourth-generation banker. “Ray J. Deterding was Assistant Cashier at the bank and continued in that position under Bert Smith. In 1925, Ray Deterding married Inez Smith — the banker’s daughter — and became president of the bank shortly thereafter.”

The third generation joined the Bank In 1962. After working as a bank examiner for the FDIC for five years, Max S. Deterding, son of Ray and Inez Deterding, purchased the controlling stock of another rural Kansas bank, Turon State Bank. After Ray’s death in 1963, Max purchased the Citizens State Bank stock of his grandfather, Bert Smith, to maintain controlling shares for the family. Max Deterding was the visionary for the future of the Bank, acquiring several community banks in south central Kansas. He was active in the Bank for over 40 years.

Continuing the tradition of family ownership and management into the fourth generation, Mark Keeny — husband of Max and Shirley Deterding’s daughter, Amy — joined the Bank in 1993 after four years as a bank examiner with the Kansas State Banking Department. Mark served as Cashier and Executive Vice President; he became President/CEO in December 2002 and currently serves as CEO. Jane Deterding, daughter of Max and Shirley Deterding, joined the bank in 2001 as General Counsel, Executive Vice President/Chief Strategic Marketing Officer. She is also Chairman of the Board of Directors for CBK. Sarah Keeny Moon, daughter of Mark and Amy Keeny and fifth-generation banker, joined CBK in 2019 as an Accounting Analyst.

Jane Deterding issued an invitation to help the bank celebrate: “CBK is excited to share this family milestone with our friends and customers with an open house at all 10 branch locations on December 2, 2022, 2:00 to 4:00 pm.”