By Joshua Phillips
Northeast News
July 2, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – With partnerships and participation in the community, one financial institution has been central to the Historic Northeast community.

Since it opened on Truman road in March 1951, Central Bank of Kansas City, Mo., has spent its time operating for the residents of the Northeast community.

“We try to reach out to the Northeast community at least once a month,” said Sarah Cousineau, marketing director of Central Bank of Kansas City. “There is a mutual relationship between us and the Northeast area and it is a great way to be a part of the community.”

The bank was originally chartered in August 1950 as a state banking corporation, then moved in 1975 to a larger facility on Independence Avenue. Central Bank of Kansas City has three branch locations: its main bank at 2301 Independence Ave.; the Valentine Shopping Center at 3600 Broadway Blvd.; and 3740 Truman Road;

Central Bank not only offers local banking opportunities for Northeast residents, it also supports financial education programs such as “Money Smart Month Kansas City” held in April each year. Central Bank of Kansas City was a founding partner in the Money Smart Month Campaign that started in 2008. Each year the campaign grows and reaches more of the Kansas City community. In 2014, Central Bank hoted a total of 20 events to over 350 participants including; youth at Garfield Elementary, Scuola Vita, Academie de Ninos, Wendell-Phillips and the Boys and Girls Clubs, seniors at Don Bosco Senior Center and Phoenix Family, young parents at St. Mark’s Child Development Center and the residents at the women’s center at Kansas City Rescue Mission.

“Money Smart KC is a great way for Central Bank to get involved and help teach people how to be smarter about their money,” Cousineau said.

Volunteering in the community is very important to the officers at Central Bank. Last year, staff organized a team for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, as well as held a bake/craft sale. During the school year, officers from the bank read to students – Lead to Read – on their lunch hour at Wendell-Phillips Elementary.

“It lets them [the students] know that someone cares enough to read to them and helps give them a jump on their reading skills to help them score better on reading tests,” Cousineau said.

Since early in 1951, Central Bank has served businesses in the Northeast area with all of their financial needs, including business accounts and loans for working capital, equipment purchases, business expansion and commercial real estate. Central Bank is a member of the Northeast Chamber of Commerce, and supports the Chamber in their efforts to help businesses grow.

“We have been a part of the Northeast since our inception,” Cousineau said. “Northeast residents like to bank local because we know their names … (and) we have a different feel than larger banks. For 63 years, Central Bank of Kansas City has promoted itself as a deeply involved banking institution in the Northeast community and looks to continue that tradition.”