BUILT TO LAST | FIDELITY STATE BANK & TRUST CO.
Fidelity State Bank & Trust Co. | main branch group officers and marketing team | Seated L to R: Irene Haws, Debbie Orr and Kristen Narron | Standing L to R: Shelly Apodaca, Lonnie Wild, George Maxwell, Allan Towle, Mark Kossler, Troy Gilbert and Amber Paynte | Photo Submitted
“The bank that people like.”
That was the phrase on the original logo of Topeka institution Fidelity State Bank & Trust Co.
The expression seems very appropriate today as the bank celebrates 100 years of business—its official anniversary was April 29.
So, how did Fidelity make it to this point?
You can’t spend any amount of time talking about the bank and its history without one name popping up again and again—Anderson “Andy” Chandler.
Former long-time owner, president and chairman of the board, Chandler and members of his family moved to Topeka in 1958 after purchasing Fidelity.
For the next 51 years, he was the face of the local, family-owned community bank, serving as both president and chairman until 2009. In May 2018, the 60th anniversary of his joining the bank, he retired as chairman of the board and remained chairman emeritus until his death a year later at the age of 93.
Allan Towle | Chairman, President and CEO of Fidelity State Bank & Trust Co. | Photo Submitted
Chandler and his family paved the way for what Fidelity is today. Allan Towle, Fidelity’s current chairman, president and CEO, joined the bank in 1996 and gleaned decades of institutional knowledge from the then-70-year-old Chandler.
“I learned very quickly how dedicated (Chandler) was to the greater Topeka community,” Towle said. “His commitment through community service and his expectation for all bank officers being committed and involved in the community was amazing.”
Towle became president in 2009, CEO in 2014 and chairman in 2018.
While Chandler made Fidelity a household name for generations of Topekans, it was a man named J.H. Collingwood who founded the bank in 1922. He was the longest continual president and owner of a bank in Topeka, until selling to Chandler, and oversaw the bank becoming a charter member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in 1933.
In 1947, the bank celebrated 25 years in business with the distinction of being the only bank in the capital city which was operated continuously during that time under the same name and the same president.
“I am certain (Collingwood) would be proud of the success of the bank and the legacy he started, which was continued by Anderson W. Chandler,” Towle said.
If you’ve lived in Topeka for any amount of time, you’ve heard Fidelity’s motto sung in a catchy jingle.
“We do business right here at home,” Towle said. “There are two very important statements here. Taking care of customers by doing business right and taking care of the community because it is home for us and our customers.”
While the bank, like any business, has had its ups and downs and challenges it has overcome over the years, Towle said, right now, business is good.
“During Covid, deposits went up, and as the government poured dollars into the economy, many businesses did well and paid down loans. Others struggled,” Towle said. “The standard items of supply chain, workforce and increasing cost have impacted our community, but optimism is still apparent.”
Fidelity has 32 of the most dedicated associates a business could have, Towle said, adding they care about each other, but more importantly, they care about the customers.
“The success of our customers is what I am most proud of,” Towle said. “By knowing our customers and structuring banking services of deposits, loans, and cash management services to best meet the needs of our customers, we are able to be part of their success.”
Today, the bank has two locations, its main branch at 600 S. Kansas Ave., which sits on land that was once Kansas’ first State Capitol, and the Westridge Branch at 5926 SW 21st.
“We have remained a small community bank so that we never lose track of the value we provide the customers and the community,” Towle said. “Our focus is quality of growth and providing the extra service of experience and customer success.”
Towle said Topeka has provided an excellent opportunity for Fidelity to thrive, but more importantly the bank has helped finance the development of thousands of business and consumer opportunities for the capital city.
“Topeka is an amazing community,” Towle said. “I am a lifelong Topekan and love where we are as a city. Talking to so many people that moved here from other places has opened my eyes to how special this community really is.
“We are excited to have helped shape Topeka over the last 100 years and are positioned to continue this for the next 100 years.”
