In 2006, Citizen's State Bank of Cortez, became a part of the larger network of Community Banks of Colorado.
"This merger will benefit our customers, our stockholders and our community. Our customers will benefit because of the additional capabilities and products we will be able to offer without sacrificing our level of service or our local decision making."
- Slim McWilliams, Chairman, Citizen's State Bank
Citizen's State Bank of Cortez has the proud heritage of being the oldest bank in Montezuma County. For over seventy years we've promoted community growth by supporting and financing many local businesses. We're actively involved in improving health care and the quality of education. We believe in sensible stewardship of our environment. Many of our customers are ranchers and farmers. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that protecting our natural resources is a passion of ours.
We take great pride in our relationships with the agricultural community. During the recent droughts in southwest Colorado, every one of the bank's farm and ranch customers were able to continue operations, and every one of them is still in business today.
Companies that use innovation to help with our environmental challenges are of special interest. For example, Muscanell Millworks produces the highest quality wood flooring available anywhere in the nation. We financed the company's new technology investments producing a positive and lasting impact on the local environment. These included a high efficiency boiler fueled with waste sawdust, and machinery that compresses excess waste wood fiber into fuel logs. The sawdust-fueled boiler produces only slight emissions, while heating the plant, warehouse, and drying the wood before milling. The machinery that compresses waste wood fiber into fuel logs doesn't require toxic additives. These logs are used by the Durango/Silverton Narrow Gauge railroad, helping to reduce toxic coal emissions.
The balance between people, places, and performance is something that we have taken to heart since the bank's beginnings in the 1930's. Lifestyle banking is a term we use to describe the kind of legacy we're creating in our community. We're working hard to be the best bankers we can be, and plan to serve the best interests of all our communities for a long time to come