Metamora State Bank has a new name and brand identity, Bank419, marking a milestone in the institution’s 80-year history.
“This is an exciting day for everyone at Metamora State Bank – our leadership team, employees, board members, investors and customers,” said Kate Fischer, president and CEO.
The bank opened July 1, 1944, in Metamora, Ohio, and has since expanded beyond its original location. It has operated in Sylvania for 30 years and opened a branch in Maumee nearly seven years ago.
“As we continue to grow and serve more people in more communities, we felt this was the right time to make a change,” Fischer said.
“Our name needs to reflect who we are – a community bank committed to northwest Ohio and Michigan. We want to have a name that can grow with us while keeping us grounded in what matters most: this place, these people, this community,” she pointed out.
“The name is intentionally simple and clear. And it is rooted right here in northwest Ohio. It represents our commitment to this region, past, present, and future,” Fischer noted, calling the name change “a pivotal moment” in the bank’s evolution.
The Bank419 name is derived from the area’s 419 telephone code, signifying a continued commitment to northwest Ohio and southeastern Michigan, rather than to a single town.
“Bank419 mirrors who we are today — a community bank committed to this region,” she said.
While the name has changed, Fischer emphasized the bank’s mission and core values remain the same: local ownership, local decision-making, and personal service.
“For eight decades, we’ve been there for the moments that matter — first mortgages, business launches and retirements,” she said. “When customers call us, they speak with someone who knows their name.”
“The bank remains locally owned and operated, with decisions made in northwest Ohio,” Fischer said. “There is no corporate headquarters elsewhere. There are no Wall Street investors. Just neighbors serving neighbors.”
Fischer thanked employees, customers, and the community for supporting the bank since its founding. She is also most appreciative of the help through the rebranding transition process that she received from Emily Zarecki of Clarion Communications.
“Eighty years ago, local leaders opened a small bank because they believed this community deserved better,” she said. “They believed in personal relationships, local decision-making, and doing right by your neighbors. That vision hasn’t changed; it’s just getting a new name.”