The History of WCF Financial Bank
More than 100 Webster City, Iowa businessmen and local residents subscribe to shares in a financial institution called the Webster City Federal Savings and Loan Association in April 1934, about a month after the organization was chartered. The business is little more than a borrowed desk inside an office space inside the Wensell Groceteria, 638 Second St., Webster City.
The first home loan is issued for $800. Additional costs include a $1 application fee, a $3 (plus 5¢ per mile) appraisal fee, a $1 recording fee and a $5 charge for an abstract examination.
Webster City native W.A. Miller is elected secretary-treasurer and eventually becomes the president and, finally, chairman of the board before retiring at age 98 in 1986.
A permanent office space is established at 538 Second St.
The savings and loan association makes conservative growth during the Great Depression and during the war years that follow, encourage customers buy war bonds to support their country.
More than 500 single-family dwellings with construction costs totaling about $10 million are built in Webster City. Webster City Savings and Loan finances many of these new and existing homes purchased in the community.
Webster City Savings and Loan has outgrown its single-front bank building on Second Street. The association announces plans for a new facility in tandem with its 25th anniversary. At this time, assets total $5 million.
The savings and loan association moves into its new building at 820 Des Moines St. A formal open house is held the following month.
Following a decade of growth (during which assets tripled), the parking lot is expanded, and the drive-up service is modernized. Another parking lot expansion occurs in 1982.
On the association’s 50th anniversary, a growth of services required another building expansion. A complete remodel of the branch included an electronic sign. Four years later, a new vault for safe deposit boxes is added.
The bank is renamed Webster City Federal Savings Bank to better reflect the association’s expanded services. Throughout the decade, the bank gains national recognition as a top-performing community-based lender.
As the bank embarks on its 80th anniversary, with assets greater than $91 million, construction begins on a new two-story, 15,880-square-foot building that incorporates green building materials.
The bank acquires Independence Federal Bank for Savings in Independence, Iowa.
Webster City Federal Savings Bank also changes its name to WCF Financial Bank to reflect ongoing changes and growth.
WCF Financial Bank opens its new state-of-the-art building in eastern Webster City.
WCF Financial Bank opens a new full service branch in Tama, Iowa.