Chamber Celebrates renovation with First State Bank and Trust

GREATER STILLWATER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE / PRESS RELEASE Chamber Celebrates First State Bank and Trust      
Jason Howard cuts the ribbon at the Chamber ribbon cutting celebration on April 17th, 2025.

Bayport, MN. The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce celebrated local business First State Bank and Trust on April 17th, 2025. President Jason Howard cut the ribbon, celebrating their 111th Anniversary and a recent renovation for the Bayport location along with colleagues, friends, and vendors. Greater Stillwater Chamber ambassadors, and staff gathered for the celebration.

We are proud to celebrate this beautiful renovation for First State Bank and Trust as a valued partner.  They are a community-focused financial institution with more than a century of experience and a legacy of trust, innovation, and personal service.

Founded in 1914 as First State Bank of South Stillwater, the bank has grown alongside its community, evolving into First State Bank of Bayport in 1923 and ultimately adopting the name First State Bank and Trust in 2003. This change reflected not just geographic growth, but a significant expansion in services—including comprehensive trust, insurance, and investment offerings—designed to meet the complex needs of individuals and businesses alike.

Today, First State Bank and Trust proudly manages over $6 billion in trust assets through its Trust Services Department, which was established in 1987. With full-service branches in Bayport, Oak Park Heights, and Hudson, and a part-time office at Boutwells Landing, the bank continues to be a strong financial presence across the region.

What sets First State Bank and Trust apart is its unwavering dedication to personal service and community values. Despite its growth, the bank remains locally owned and managed, just as it was when its first officers—L.E. Torinus, E.L. Hospes, and James Schow—and directors like Edward C. Kroger, Fred S. Lammers, and Fred C. Andersen laid the foundation over 110 years ago.

We are honored to collaborate with a partner whose deep roots and forward-thinking approach mirror our own values. Together, we look forward to building a stronger financial future for the communities we serve.

First State Bank and Trust
950 N Highway 95
Bayport, MN 55003
First State Bank and Trust