The oldest bank in Lavaca County has operated continuously on this city block since Friench Simpson (1848-1923) and Carey Shaw (1854-1944), former employees of the J. H. Simpson Bank in Columbus, established it. Shaw was also one of the original officers of the Texas Bankers Association, founded in 1885. In 1888, as the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad was being built through Hallettsville and the S. A. A. P. construction gang reached the town, the need for a local bank became apparent, and Simpson and Shaw organized The Lavaca Bank as a private institution, opening for business in the southeast corner of the Kroschel General Merchandise Store in this block. In 1890, they chartered the Lavaca County National Bank of Hallettsville and took over the entire Kroschel Building. In this bank, Shaw was president, T. Y. Hill vice president, Friench Simpson cashier, H. M. Tippett assistant cashier, and Joe Kahn and T. H. James directors. The present name was adopted at the bank's rechartering on May 21, 1910. Carey Shaw continued as a director until 1909, and Friench Simpson until October 13, 1914. Succeeding generations of the Simpson family also served in the staff and management. A new building erected in 1973 occupies the original site and adjacent lots.