The History of Signature Bank

In 1970, a small group of local businessmen organized to form First National Bank of Bad Axe in order to provide an alternative for local businesses and residents in what was then a "one bank" town. Upon receiving approval from all the regulating agencies, the bank opened for business in December 1970. This was the bank’s Main Office, which is located on the corner of East Huron Avenue and North Port Crescent Street in downtown Bad Axe.

A branch office was added on the northern outskirts of Bad Axe in 1976. Further expansion saw the opening of a branch in Harbor Beach in 1980 and in Sebewaing in 1983.

The holding company, First of Huron Corp., was formed in 1981, of which First National Bank of Bad Axe was a wholly-owned subsidiary.

In November of 1991, the holding company purchased the State Bank of Port Hope. On June 25, 1993 State Bank of Port Hope and First National Bank of Bad Axe merged under the name of "Signature Bank." The combined bank operated under the 1895 charter of State Bank of Port Hope. 1993 also saw the construction of a new Main Office facility.

In 1995, a full service office was opened in Ubly.

In 1997, Signature Bank added the convenience of "banking where you shop" with the opening of new offices inside the Farmer Jack stores in Sandusky and Caro.

A new Operations Center was opened near Cass City in 1999. It was believed that the strategic location of the new Operations Center would increase opportunities to expand market boundaries.

A Loan Production Office was opened in Sandusky in 2000.

In early 2001, Farmer Jack closed their Caro office just after we opened our new office in downtown Caro which was purchased from TCF Bank.

In 2002, we opened our new Sandusky office consolidating Sandusky Farmer Jack and the Loan Production Office. Also in 2002, we opened a new Mortgage Center on the west side of Bad Axe, which has a Drive Up ATM.

In 2003, we expanded our Sandusky office.

In 2004, we added a Loan Center Office in Frankenmuth.

In 2005, we became a full service office in Frankenmuth and in 2006, we opened the second Frankenmuth office on North Main with "walk in", "drive-up", and a drive-up ATM.

In 2009, we opened our new Frankenmuth office on West Genesee.

Signature Bank is proud to continue the tradition of being a locally owned community bank.

We’re "Looking forward… reaching higher!"

Timeline
1970 First National Bank founded
1976 North Van Dyke branch opens
1980 Harbor Beach branch opens
1981 Holding Company, First of Huron Corporation formed
1983 Sebewaing branch opens
1991 First of Huron Corp. purchased State Bank of Port Hope
1993 Merged with State Bank of Port Hope under Signature Bank
1993 New Main Office branch office opens
1995 Ubly branch opens
1997 Supermarket branches in Farmer Jack in Caro and Sandusky opens
1999 New Operations building in Cass City opens
2000 Loan Production Office in Sandusky opens
2001 New downtown Caro branch opens, Supermarket branch closes
2002 New Sandusky branch office opens, combining Loan Office with Supermarket location
2002 Mortgage Center opens
2003 Addition on Sandusky branch built
2004 Loan Center in Frankenmuth opens
2005 Frankenmuth office became full service
2006 Frankenmuth North Main office opens
2009 New Frankenmuth office on West Genesee
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