The Starion Bank story is one of small-town principles, commitment to our communities and genuine concern for our customers.
Back in 1969, Frank Larson, a young Valley City lawyer, was introduced to banking when he became involved in the legal transactions of a bank sale. His interest sparked, he eagerly responded to a friend’s invitation to visit Oakes and tour the local bank for sale there.
The First National Bank of Oakes had been a cornerstone of the business community since being chartered in 1886, when Dakota was still a Territory. What Frank saw was a prosperous, thriving small town. Yet the eager faces of young store owners up and down Main Street stood in sharp contrast to the ultra-cautious businessmen running the bank and holding the reins on progress.
Seeing pent-up potential, Frank and JoAndrea Larson purchased the Oakes bank in 1969, and the First National Bank & Trust Company in Ellendale, ND, a year later. The Larsons placed their banks in the hands of managers with energy and enthusiasm and operated them for 20 years before purchasing the well-established First Southwest Bank of Mandan in 1989.
