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About Us

Who We Are at Bank of Herrin

Bank of Herrin has been serving Herrin, Illinois and the surrounding communities since we opened our doors. What started as a single bank located on Park Avenue in Herrin, has grown into five locations throughout Williamson County serving customers throughout southern Illinois. Bank of Herrin has offices in:

  • Herrin
  • Carterville
  • Marion
  • Energy
  • Cambria

Stop into our offices to speak with a member of our staff about your banking, lending or trust service needs. We’re ready to help.

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Bank of Herrin History

The Bank of Herrin where banking is still a people business is far-reaching in our service to the cities and people we serve, and we think it shows. The Bank of Herrin is one of the oldest and most trusted banks in southern Illinois for personal and business clients.

Established in l937 in the former City National Bank on the corner of East Monroe and North Park Avenue (now Baldwin Piano and Organ Center).  Our next step was to purchase the lot where the Herrin Elks Lodge was located at 101 South Park Avenue in 1963.     It is a centerpiece to the downtown district.

A holding company was formed that brought Carterville State and Savings Bank together with the Bank of Herrin in l997.  In 2007 the banks merged to form one bank The Bank of Herrin. The charter of Carterville State and Savings Bank was retained for Bank of Herrin, making the Bank of Herrin the oldest bank in Williamson County with a charter date of 1904.

The bank has grown not only in locations throughout Williamson County, but in services they offer.   There are five locations to serve customers; Herrin, Marion, Carterville and two drive-ups, one in Energy and one in Cambria.  The bank’s dedicated staff consists of men and women who know about banking, who care about customers on a personal level and seek to help in every aspect of their working day, who understand technology and the progress it has made for banking customers.

The Bank of Herrin and each of their banking centers offer the newest technology banking applications for those who prefer to bank at home or traveling via their phones or home or office computers.  We offer competitive loan rates and assistance buying a home, opening a new business or personal loans.  Our customers realize the importance of a community bank and the excellent service we are able to provide.  The Bank of Herrin’s continued success is without doubt a reflection of the unparalleled efforts from our employees and the direction from their Board of Directors.

Our Trust Department has been an integral part of the Southern Illinois region since 1945 with the goal to build long-term relationships to help you achieve financial security.  The Bank of Herrin Trust Department is staffed with knowledgeable and experienced personnel to help you with all of your financial and Trust needs and when acting as your agent, you are assured of professional and trustworthy advice to you, your family, and your heirs.  The premier trust department is legendary and has helped hundreds of families and businesses to establish working trusts. Within the Trust Department a couple of significant Foundations are managed that share unique ties to The Bank of Herrin (Carl Bruce and Fred G. Harrison were instrumental in starting the Bank of Herrin in 1937 and were both original employees and members of the Board of Directors).

Julia Harrison was born January 4, 1903, married her husband Carl Bruce in l927.  They would share their prosperity with others by establishing the Julia Harrison Bruce Foundation.  Their lives were long, and their foundation has helped hundreds of projects and touched many lives.   The Foundation has funded charities throughout the region from ball parks to swimming pools to libraries and city development. 

Through Carl Bruce’s partnership with his brother-in-law,  Fred G. Harrison, a second foundation was established in the name of Fred G. Harrison at the Bank of Herrin.  Fred G. Harrison, a University of Illinois graduate, organized the successful Collegiate Cap and Gown Company in Urbana, IL.   He was instrumental in organizing several banks, including the Bank of Herrin, the Bank of Marion and the reorganization of the Carterville State and Savings Bank.

These Foundations are representative of the legacy of business acumen and philanthropy of Fred Harrison and Julia Harrison Bruce, brother and sister

Our Board of Directors are community leaders, men and women who share the bank’s mantra to help others, to be good stewards for the money that is placed in the banks, to maintain excellence, privacy and knowledge of the financial world in our city, state and the country to better serve customers. Their roots run deep into the communities they serve.  The current members are as follows:  Chairman Kent Smith, Vice-Chairman Jeffrey Gentry, Carl Goodwin, Stephen Heckel, Malcolm Zwick, Stephanie Bishop, Patrick Brewster, and Jason Henson. John Crawford is currently serving as Director Emeritus.