HR1190

LRB094 20225 HSS 58212 r






1

HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, Soy Capital Bank in Decatur celebrates its 50th 
3
anniversary this year; and

 
4
    WHEREAS, Soy Capital Bank opened its doors on June 9, 1956, 
5
and was the first new bank to open in Decatur in 65 years; it 
6
was organized by a local attorney, Walter T. Morey, and 29 
7
other businessmen who decided that the East Eldorado location, 
8
rather than the downtown area, would be a great place to start 
9
a bank; and

 
10
    WHEREAS, The bank began with Ed Curtis as President until 
11
1958; Dwight Nelson took over from 1958 to 1966, Ed Arseneault 
12
from 1966 to 1989, and Frits Pronk from 1989 to 1994; Robert C. 
13
Smith has been President since 1994; and

 
14
    WHEREAS, Soy Capital was the first bank to provide many 
15
options to the Decatur Community, including interest paid on 
16
any size deposit on a savings account; credit life insurance on 
17
all installment loans with no charge to the customer; parking 
18
adjacent to the bank; extended banking hours, including Friday 
19
night hours; and the annual meeting included an invitation to 
20
news media (January 1963); it was the only bank in 1956 with 
21
all women tellers; the bank offered the "Soy Charge Plan" with 
22
local merchants; developed a product called "Auto Save", which 
23
allowed a certain portion of interest paid on a car loan to be 
24
given back to the customer once the note was paid; and senior 
25
citizens accounts; and

 
26
    WHEREAS, Soy Capital Bank was a very forward thinking new 
27
bank in 1956; over the years, the bank has expanded its 
28
financial services to include the following: a trust expansion 
29
and savings & loan acquisitions in 1990; a Raymond James 
30
Financial Services division in 1997; expanded branches in 
31
Decatur in 1998 and 2000; Ag Services in 1999; JL Hubbard 
 


 






HR1190
- 2 -
LRB094 20225 HSS 58212 r




1
Insurance and Bonds in 2002; a Bloomington and Forsyth branch 
2
in 2005; and it will expand in the Peoria area in 2006; and

 
3
    WHEREAS, The bank's vision for the future is to be the 
4
premier financial services provider in Central Illinois; 
5
therefore, be it

 
6
    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
7
NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
8
we recognize Soy Capital Bank on the occasion of its 50th 
9
anniversary; and be it further

 
10
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
11
presented to Soy Capital Bank as an expression of our esteem.