At our May Board meeting in 1975 news of Exchange’s refusal to renew our line of credit brought an idea from Derry. He said he thought his friends at the small, Farmers and Traders Bank of California, Mo. might be interested in becoming our banker. So, at the June 17th meeting, its president, Paul Kuester, and cashier, Dave Hampton, came to our Board Meeting, and said they would be willing to finance us with a line of credit of $120,000. Of course, the note would require the personal guaranty of each of the shareholders. We all agreed to this. Further, our checking account and other banking activities were moved from Jefferson City to California, Mo.
That began a rather long and mutually profitable relationship. Further, Paul Kuester became a close personal friend.