|
|
American Gateway Bank has been a part of the economic and social growth of the Baton Rouge metropolitan region since 1905. We put our primary focus on our customers and we pride ourselves on the level of responsive and personal attention we give to each and every one.
Today’s banking environment is vastly different than it was even five years ago. Internet banking, internet bill pay and debit cards have eliminated a lot of the personal attention that most banks used to offer. At American Gateway Bank, we strive every day to not only offer all of the latest banking products and services, but to also treat you the way we want to be treated – like a friend and neighbor.
As we begin our second century of service, we promise to continue our one-on-one personal service as we look to the future of banking and all the conveniences of new products and services. We are our community’s largest, locally owned bank and we are here to stay.
Thank you for patronage. We look forward to seeing you in one of our branches real soon.
Sincerely,
Don Ayres
President/CEO
|
|
 |
NEW!
 |
|
|
|
American Gateway Bank was founded as Bank of West Baton Rouge in 1905 by sugar cane farmers and community leaders, to better serve the needs of the community in Port Allen, Louisiana. A state banking charter was issued for the bank to begin operating on November 1, 1905 but this was apparently moved one day because of All Saints Day. Old minute books and other records indicate that the first stockholders meeting was held around the middle of 1905 at which time a Board of Directors was elected who in turn elected officers of the bank. The first board members were A.V. Dubroca, President, Henry Cohn, Jr., Vice President, J. Bradford Laws, A.W. Norman, David Devall, H. Wilkinson and Olga Mary.
William L. Bernard was named the first cashier of the bank at a salary of $75 per month. Bank President Dubroca’s salary was set at $100 per month.
Since that time the bank has had 7 presidents; A.V. Dubroca, Thomas Erwin, L.T. Bernard, Irvin L. Mouch, T.W. Thibodeaux, Herman J. “Monday” Lowe and current president and CEO, Don W. Ayres.
The bank first located on the ground floor of the Masonic Blazing Star Lodge paying $15 a month rent. This building still stands in Port Allen, Louisiana and is now the Early Bloom Day Care facility. In 1933, the bank purchased all of the assets and the building and property of the Port Allen Bank and Trust Company. This building no longer stands. It was eventually torn down when the levee of the Mississippi River was moved.
The bank moved to its present location in 1958, constructing a new building. This building has seen several additions including the most recent one completed in 2002.
In 1991, the Bank implemented a long range plan of “Investing in the Future”. American Gateway Bank has more than doubled in asset size in the last 10 years. This growth also included branching into East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Ascension parishes, and has allowed American Gateway Bank to become the largest community bank in the entire Greater Baton Rouge area. |
|
|
|
|
Equal Housing Lender - Member 
-