Verimore Bank Merges with Clay County Savings Bank, Strengthening Community Banking in the Northland
Verimore Bank's Merger Expands Northland Footprint, Enhances Community Banking Services Across Liberty, Kearney and Kansas City North
Combined institutions deliver expanded offerings, personalized service and continued local commitment
BROOKFIELD, Mo., July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- First Missouri Bancshares Inc., the holding company of Verimore Bank – a trusted full-service community bank since 1934 with locations throughout the Kansas City Northland and Northern Missouri – announces its merger with Clay County Savings Bank, a respected Liberty-based institution with a century-long legacy of service. Effective July 28, 2025, all Clay County Savings Bank locations reopened as Verimore Bank, extending Verimore Bank's footprint across Liberty, Kansas City and Kearney, Missouri.
The merger combines two community-focused institutions under one name and one mission: To provide personalized, local banking with the strength and resources that help customers thrive.
"This merger represents a significant milestone in our growth strategy," said Kristie Stuewe, president and CEO of Verimore Bank. "It allows us to expand our reach in the Northland while continuing to deliver the personal, community-centered service our customers have relied on for over 90 years. We are proud to welcome the customers and employees of Clay County Savings Bank to Verimore Bank."
Growing Together for the Northland
Verimore Bank's merger with Clay County Savings Bank makes it the second-largest branch network in Clay County, with over $600 million in total assets and eight branches across four Northern Missouri counties, including:
- Liberty | 1178 W. Kansas St.
- North Brighton – Kansas City | 8140 N. Brighton Ave.
- Kearney East | 303 S. Jefferson St.
- Kearney West | 455 S. Sam Barr Dr.
- Northtown – North Kansas City | 1925 Burlington St.
- Brookfield | 300 W. Lockling
- Milan | 101 S. Market St.
- Eagleville | 16023 Locust St.
Local People, Local Decisions, Local Impact
At the heart of the merger is Verimore Bank's deep commitment to community banking. All current Clay County Savings Bank employees will remain with the bank reinforcing Verimore Bank's commitment to its people.
Verimore Bank is known for empowering staff to serve their communities, including offering paid time off for volunteer work. The bank actively partners with local organizations such as Northland CAPS, The YMCA, Feed Northland Kids and Northland Therapeutic Riding Center, to name a few, through its community volunteering.
"Over the last few years, we've seen a shrinking number of true community banks in the Northland," Stuewe said. "At Verimore Bank, we believe there is still tremendous value in local banking – with experienced people, making timely decisions, for the benefit of the neighborhoods we serve."
Branch Renovations Signal Future Investment
As part of its investment in the community, Verimore Bank is renovating the former Clay Country Savings Bank Liberty and Kearney East branches to enhance the customer experience. Renovations are expected to be completed by late 2025, reaffirming Verimore Bank's longstanding commitment to serving Northland residents with modern, accessible banking services.
Two Banks, One Mission
The merger combines complementary strengths – Clay County Savings Bank's deep mortgage expertise and Verimore Bank's expanding commercial, agricultural, and retail offerings. With a shared dedication to personalized service, the partnership creates a more versatile and responsive banking option for customers and businesses throughout the region.
Verimore Bank was recently named the 2025 Gold Winner in the Best Bank category in The Kansas City Star's annual readers' poll, "Kansas City Favorites," and was recognized as one of the Strongest Mid-Size Banks in 2023 by the Kansas City Business Journal. It also holds a 5-Star rating from BauerFinancial, affirming its financial strength and reliability.
"Ultimately, our goal is simple," Stuewe said. "We want to be the trusted partner you turn to – whether you're growing a business, buying a home or looking for a community bank that truly supports you. We are a community bank in every sense of the word, and we're honored to now serve even more of the Northland."
About Verimore Bank
Verimore Bank, founded in 1934, is a full-service community bank with over $600 million in assets. As part of a network of banks in Northern Missouri, Verimore Bank provides friendly, affordable, personal and convenient banking and financial services to the communities it serves. With its main office that began its banking service in Brookfield, Verimore Bank also has branches in Liberty, Kansas City, Eagleville, Kearney, Milan and North Kansas City. Verimore Bank is one of the few financial institutions in the Midwest actively serving and growing in both rural and urban markets, with unique expertise in both commercial and agricultural lending. Verimore Bank earned a 5-Star Rating from BauerFinancial, which recognizes the strongest financial institutions in the country. For more information, visit www.verimore.bank or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X.
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SOURCE Verimore Bank