CoreFirst Bank & Trust

Commerce Bank & Trust, originally known as Commerce State Bank was officially chartered by the State Banking Department on August 4, 1959. In the beginning, the bank was a dream in the minds of several Topeka businessmen. The group was responsible for the development of a new shopping center and to complete the shopping experience they wanted to include a bank in the same area. Progress was slow until Emery Fager was persuaded to leave his position with the Kansas State Bank at Overbrook, KS and come to Topeka to become President and Chief Executive Officer of the proposed Commerce State Bank. Emery Fager accepted the offer and immediately became involved in the organization of the new bank. The bank was opened December 3, 1959, with a capital stock of $200,000, a surplus of $100,000 and undivided profits of $50,000. According to Fager, “Starting a new bank was indeed a challenge. I wanted this new bank to have a good image, character and a purpose. I did not want it to be just another bank. I dreamed the Commerce State Bank would be progressive, innovative and highly competitive. From the very beginning, we were a people-oriented bank - our philosophy was to serve the needs of all the people with the utmost convenience and with special emphasis on friendly, helpful, personal attention.”