Legends Bank in Linn held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 12 to commemorate the completion of a new addition to its headquarters that had been planned since pre-COVID.

“We had a groundbreaking on this on January 28 of 2020,” said Board Chairman John A. Klebba. “Within a month, the entire world shut down due to COVID. So, you can imagine what that did to our plans. At least, here at the end, we are going to be on time.”

Klebba said he was excited to show off the building project and was grateful it was finally completed, citing space restraints from the bank’s continued growth.

“We were literally sitting on top of each other with no room at all,” said Klebba. “We have been fortunate to acquire an adjacent building.”

During his speech, Klebba gave a brief history of the bank, saying his grandfather established the institution in 1913, in Rich Fountain, as the Rich Fountain Bank.

He went on to say that it was one of four banks out of 19 to survive the Great Depression and its move to Linn in 1936 was due to the request of the Missouri bank commissioner to the board of the Rich Fountain Bank so the county seat of Osage County would have a financial institution.

“In 1936, according to my grandfather, on a Friday night after they closed, they were able to pack the bank in the trunk of a car and move it up to Linn,” said Klebba. “So, we have actually been in this location since 1936, and every time that we have had a need for additional space, an adjacent building has become available for us. We were able to tear it down and continue to build. This is actually our fourth business expansion.”

Legends President Tom Klebba praised the hard work of employees as a factor in the bank’s success. 

“All of our network of 10 banks are supported by operations here,” said Klebba. “Most people come in and see the lobby and five or six people that are here, but there is a team of people that make all of our locations run seamlessly through here.”

St. George Church Pastor Father Colin Franklin blessed the building before the ribbon was cut.

According to Shelley Klebba, a steady crowd throughout the day led to an estimated 500 individuals taking the tour of the new space. 

Raffle winners were Jerry Holloway (Blackstone Griddle), Irene Werdenhausen (Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler), and Bryan Strohmeyer (JBL Portable Bluetooth Speaker).