Imagine walking down North Main Street in the winter of 1910.
The dirt roads are buried under packed snow, and the crunch of wagon wheels echoes against the storefronts. The mining boom that had once brought thousands of hopeful prospectors to the valley was fading into history.
Gunnison was redefining itself. It was becoming a town of resilient, forward-thinking neighbors (about 1,000 people total) who believed this valley was worth building a future in.
It was at this pivotal moment that Charles W. Winslow chartered The Gunnison Bank and Trust Company. Opening our doors at 101 North Main Street, we opened to serve the local people who stayed behind to lay the foundation of the community we love today.
Who were the original customers walking through our doors?
They were shopkeepers supplying the town with dry goods, clothing and hardware. They were blacksmiths and livery stable hands keeping transportation moving.
They were also the first educators and students at the State Normal School of Colorado, now Western Colorado University, which opened its doors to its inaugural class in 1911.
By keeping local deposits here in the valley, those early customers weren’t just saving money; they were building a town. Every dollar deposited went back out to help a neighbor expand a storefront, buy tools or weather a tough winter.
More than 115 years later, the wagons are gone and Main Street looks a bit different. But the core philosophy remains the same. We are still banking on the people of Gunnison, keeping your hard-earned money local to build a stronger valley for the next generation.
Gunnison Bank and Trust is part of the Gunnison Country Times Community Connect sponsored content program.
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