The Story of Commercial Trust
Fayette, Missouri: 1903 and the Birth of a Tradition
At the dawn of the twentieth century, America’s landscape was rapidly transforming. In a time when trust was the most valuable currency, Commercial Trust Company was founded by a family who believed in the power of personal relationships and honest stewardship.
Our founder Lew Wallace Jacobs came to Fayette from Monroe City, Missouri, in the late 1800s as the Station Agent for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway Company, also known as the Katy Railroad. As a young man with business aspirations, he was one of a group of investors who acquired the Commercial Bank of Fayette in 1903, which became the Commercial Trust Company in 1922.
Opening on the corner of the Square in Fayette, Commercial Trust began serving local farmers, small business owners, and families, providing safe deposits, straightforward loans, and a reliable hand in times of uncertainty. Now with branches in Fayette and Harrisburg, Commercial Trust is pleased to serve the mid-Missouri area.
Family at the Helm: Guiding Values Through GenerationsThe community’s support and acceptance of the bank as a trusted community partner many decades ago continues today six generations later with members of the Jacobs family in Board of Directors, Management, and Operations positions.
Unlike large, impersonal financial institutions, Commercial Trust’s leadership has always remained within the family, passing from one generation to the next. This continuity has fostered a sense of stability and trust that resonates with clients old and new.
The bank’s leadership prides itself on knowing clients by name, understanding their unique needs, and making decisions locally—without the red tape of distant corporate offices.
Innovation and Adaptation: Embracing New Technologies
While Commercial Trust is anchored in tradition, it has never shied away from innovation. The second half of the twentieth century saw the introduction of new banking technologies—ATMs, online banking, and mobile apps—that transformed how customers interact with their finances. The bank’s leadership approached these changes with characteristic care, investing in secure, user-friendly systems that enhanced convenience without sacrificing the warmth and personal service that set it apart. Even as banking becomes increasingly digital, Commercial Trust maintains its reputation for personalized service and customers still find familiar faces at each branch.
At its core, Commercial Trust views itself as a partner in the success and well-being of the community. Over the years, we have financed countless first homes, small business launches, and local farms. We sponsor youth sports teams, support local arts, cultural, and 4-H organizations, and contribute to our schools.
Looking Ahead: The Next Century of Service
Today, the dedicated management team at Commercial Trust leads with the same passion and sense of duty that inspired its establishment in 1903.
As we look toward the next century, Commercial Trust promises to remain an unwavering ally to the people we serve, proof that in an ever-changing world, some values are timeless. Our doors are open, our staff is always ready, and our promise to put community first endures.
