SIKESTON'S OLDEST BANK TO MERCANTILE

SIKESTON -- After more than 100 years of serving customers in Sikeston, the city's oldest private bank will soon join a four-state banking partnership.

AmeriFirst Bank will merge with Mercantile Bank of Sikeston Oct. 26.

But customer services will not change, said Stephen Matthews, senior vice president with AmeriFirst Bank.

"We will still be serving them with the same and improved services," Matthews said, adding that the larger bank can offer more services to its customers.

Although the bank doesn't have to notify its customers of the merger, AmeriFirst sent letters to bank customers explaining how they will be affected by the merger.

"It's official upon the computer conversion," Matthews said, adding that both AmeriFirst sites will remain open.

Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. owns 52 institutions in Missouri, Eastern Kansas, Southern Illinois, Northern Iowa and Arkansas.

AmeriFirst Bank, formerly the Bank of Sikeston, was founded in 1887 by C.D. Matthews with only $20,000 in capital. Although none of Matthews' descendants works at the bank, they still serve on the board of directors.

AmeriFirst Bancorporation now has more than $160 million in assets. Mercantile Bank of Sikeston has assets of $39 million and Mercantile Bank of Cape Girardeau has more than $170 million in assets.

The Bank of Sikeston was incorporated in 1916. In 1934, a new building was built at New Madrid and Center streets, the site of the current building.

In 1990, AmeriFirst Bank opened in Cape Girardeau. The bank's board of directors agreed to merge with the Bank of Sikeston and changed its name.

AmeriFirst Bank employees 64 people and operates two sites in Sikeston and one in Cape Girardeau.