First National Bank and Trust has a long tradition of serving Ponca City. It opened for business on Feb. 1, 1902, as the Farmer's National Bank, and that same month its financial statement showed deposits of $33,390. By 1907 the bank needed a new and larger building, and construction began in October with prominent local builder O.F. Keck as contractor. The bank announced it would use as many local workers and Oklahoma materials as possible. In May 1908, after eight months of construction, the bank formally opened its new building with George Brett as president, J.J. McGraw as cashier, and Bob Jamison as assistant cashier. Its deposits totaled $326,903, by far the largest of Ponca City's three banks. In a town only 13 years old with a population of 2,529, the impressive, solidly built structure drew praise in newspapers as one of the best in the state. It was constructed of red pressed brick, with second-story horseshoe windows accented by Ponca City white stone trim and a front entrance featuring a recessed gallery with six granite columns from Granite City, Okla. The interior included a mosaic tile floor, marble vases for the bank counters, steam heat, and plumbing for water, gas, and sewage. The main floor was devoted to banking, while the second story contained offices, including rooms used by a real estate firm and by Dr. George H. Niemann. Advertisements invited people to inspect the fireproof vault, electric burglar alarm system, and other safeguards protecting deposits, and the bank also warned robbers not to attempt a holdup. Around 1910 the Farmer's National Bank surrendered its national charter, took out a state charter, and became Farmer's State Bank, but only briefly before converting back to a national bank. Around the same time, a rival bank, the First National at 101 East Grand, changed its name to the Oklahoma State Bank. In 1924 Farmer's National Bank became the First National Bank, though it had no affiliation with the former bank of that name.