About Us

History of First Citizens State Bank

First Citizens State Bank has a very long and rich history dating back 160 years to 1863. Just months after the National Banking Act of 1863 was enacted First National Bank of Whitewater, Wisconsin was granted a bank charter.

Our bank survived the Great Depression and in 1931 merged with the Citizens State Bank, a savings bank in Whitewater, to form First Citizens State Bank of Whitewater located at the corner of First and Main Streets.

In 1964 the bank moved to a newly constructed single-story building at 207 West Main Street, which was expanded in 2004 into a three-story building at that location. In 1998 a branch bank was acquired and opened at the corner of Tratt Street and Main to expand our service in the community. Our expansion continued in 2001 when we opened a new branch office in East Troy at 2546 East Main Street. That was followed by transitioning the sister bank of Palmyra State Bank into the First Citizens State Bank family in 2016.

During this growth process the latest in bank technology has been utilized to provide our customers the option to bank the way they choose—be it in person, online, or from a mobile device.

Over the bank's history, it has served as a catalyst to promote economic development as well as having our staff personally involved as volunteers in the respective communities that we serve. This commitment has earned the bank an OUTSTANDING rating by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for Community Development activities as noted in our latest Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) exam. Our bank’s strong capital position and other key factors have earned us a 5 Star rating from Bauer Financial, an independent financial institution rating firm. The 5 Star rating is the highest rating they award.

Our success and growth have been attributed to the outstanding community support and loyalty we have enjoyed from our customers and the communities we serve. We are proud of the role First Citizens State Bank has played and continues to play in serving its vibrant and caring communities.

Mission Statement

The mission of First Citizens State Bank is to provide a broad range of high-quality financial services to the residents of Whitewater, Palmyra, East Troy, and the surrounding trade area. To provide a fulfilling and challenging work environment for its employees with appropriate compensation and benefits, and to deliver a fair and proper return to its stockholders.

We will accomplish our mission by continuing a leadership role in customer service and community development. The mission is to be achieved in an ethical and honorable fashion within the regulatory environment of banking.

As Walworth County’s oldest and largest independent community-based financial institution, it is our mission to retain this leadership position while maintaining a sound and stable financial base for our customers and stockholders.

We seek to prosper and grow by offering quality and competitive services, both existing and new. Our mission is to accomplish this growth both internally and externally by acquisition or mergers when such actions are in the best interest of our community and stockholders.

These foundations, reflected over a century of continuous financial services, will be the appropriate basis to build for the future.