About Us

Blissfield State Bank traces its roots to May 5, 1873, when the first bank in Blissfield was established as a private institution by Arthur D. Gilmore, a recent University of Michigan Law School graduate, and David Carpenter, a leading local landowner. Known as Gilmore & Co., Bankers, the bank opened during a period of national financial uncertainty and was located along the River Raisin. From the beginning, the bank focused on farm and real estate lending—an agricultural commitment that remains a key part of Blissfield State Bank’s mission today.

In 1893, a group of local investors purchased Gilmore & Co., Bankers and reorganized it as a stockholder-owned institution. The State of Michigan issued a charter to Blissfield State Bank on May 31, 1893, officially establishing the bank with an initial capital of $15,000. Despite operating during a period of severe national financial panic, the bank remained profitable from the start and paid its first dividend in 1895.

Growth followed quickly. Within a few years, assets and loans increased significantly, and by the early 1900s the bank had expanded its capital, strengthened stockholders’ equity, and paid dividends exceeding its original capitalization—marking a strong and stable foundation that continues today.

By the early 1900s, Blissfield State Bank had reached major growth milestones, with assets nearing $1 million by 1920. Despite economic challenges in the early 1920s, the bank remained profitable and joined the Federal Reserve System in 1921, where it remains a member today.

The bank experienced temporary declines during the Great Depression but resumed steady growth beginning in 1934. By 2007, assets had grown to nearly $80 million.

In 1987, the bank adopted a holding company structure under the Blissfield Bank Corporation to ensure equitable ownership and long-term stability.