First National Bank of Omaha

First National Bank Omaha is a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska. It is recognized as the largest privately held bank in the United States with $17 billion in managed assets and 5,000 employees. The bank's history is credited for paralleling that of the city of Omaha and the state of Nebraska.

Chartered and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, First National provides corporate banking, investment banking, retail banking, wealth management and consumer lending services at locations in Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Texas, Kansas and Illinois. With the upcoming new branch opening, there will be a total of 93 branches.

History

In 1856, a group of settlers from Kanesville, Iowa crossed the Missouri River to picnic in the newly named Nebraska Territory. One of the visitors, Thomas Davis, helped found Omaha when he donated $600 in gold dust for an official charter. He eventually served on First National Bank's Board of Directors. Two immigrant brothers from Ohio, Herman and Augustus Kountze opened Kountze Brothers Bank in 1857. Omaha's first bank opened its doors and started trading primarily in gold dust and buffalo hides. Kountze Brothers Bank received national charter #209 in 1863. Today, theirs is the oldest national bank west of the Missouri River. In 1863, they also began doing business as First National Bank of Omaha and brought in additional investors, including Edward Creighton, who served as president.