BUSINESS OF THE MONTH–Pictured are some of the Buena Vista National Bank Red Bud branch employees: Cole Stenzel, Joy Prigge, Rhonda Hooten, Crystal Lance, Kim Zimmer, Kaitlan Schoenbeck, Jane Fithian and Kim Phillips.
The Red Bud Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Month for February is Buena Vista National Bank.
Buena Vista National Bank started back in 1882 as “Grandma’s Room,” run by Doris Gilster and her two sons LH and Henry Gilster. It was originally banking services provided in conjunction to the Gilster brothers’ general merchandising business and to help meet a community need.
The brothers dissolved their partnership in 1891 and the bank became L.H. Gilster and Company, a private banking entity. The bank grew and reorganized into a copartnership between 16 people in 1916. At this time, it also took the name of Buena Vista, meaning beautiful view, to reflect the bank’s evolving vision and aspirations.
For more on Buena Vista, please see this week’s print edition.