Shortly after the railroad's arrival brought an economic boom to the Wills Point area, John E. Owens founded a private bank in 1879, and it received a federal bank charter in 1895. After a state and federal bank holiday in 1933, the First National Bank and the First State Bank merged and operated under the name First National Bank at facilities on North Fourth Street. For nearly fifty years it was Wills Point's primary financial institution, assisting families after natural disasters, meeting other financial needs, supporting community and civic organizations, and providing officers and staff who served on the school board and as county judge, mayor, city treasurer, and council members. In 1983 the bank moved to new facilities on Commerce Street, added electronic and technical improvements over the years, and continued serving the community for more than 100 years.