Serving as the bank's first officers were Homer Goodwin, Chairman; Albert E. Merrill, President; Gustavus Graham, Vice-President; Henry Graefe, Secretary and Cashier.

Henry Graefe had been associated with another financial institution in the City and used this background to become the Operations Officer of the new bank. His father Philip Graefe and brothers, William and Charles, were all respected medical practitioners in the community and provided a background of trust and confidence upon which the bank would grow. Because of this association it was common during the first half-century of operation that the community referred to Citizens as the Graefe Bank.

The bank first began operations in rented rooms in the Sloane Block on Columbus Ave. while awaiting the construction of a new building on West Market St. east of the William Schade store. The bank would maintain these quarters until they moved into their Feick Building quarters in 1924.

In 1934 as the bank observed its golden anniversary, President Charles H. Zimmerman also observing his 50th anniversary with the bank stated "all that financial institutions have to sell is service". From this it would appear that banks have really not changed and would be hard pressed to improve on such a basic premise.

In 1924 as the City of Sandusky was observing their 100th anniversary a commemorative booklet disclosed that Citizens Bank was Sandusky's and Erie County's largest banking house and continues to maintain this position today. In commenting on the success of Citizens Bank a most respected president of another Sandusky bank attributed Citizens' success to the making of home mortgage loans. He stated that as a National bank they were not permitted for years to make home mortgage loans and without that ability was not able to attract the saver who becomes the main source of growth for a community bank. Citizens had surrendered their National Charter in 1898.

Throughout the years Citizens has prospered with the savings - home mortgage combination and opened their first full service branch office on W. Perkins Ave. in 1960. Further customer accommodations were offered with the Wayne St. drive-in, walk-up office five years later. The full service East Perkins office was first offered to the public in early 1978.

The Citizens Banking Company is proud to be a part of the development of downtown Sandusky and became the leader when they purchased a vacant lot in the heart of downtown for a $3 million investment in a new main office. The beautiful, three-story downtown office overlooking the Sandusky Bay, opened in May, 1986 and quickly became the jewel of the downtown.

The stability, growth and a desire to service our communites with quality banking is evident now and into the future.