Area News | Home | Marketplace | Community

Return to Archived Stories


Paynesville Press - Nov. 5, 2003

Zumwalde celebrates 40 years

By Michael Jacobson

Jan ZumwaldeJan Zumwalde has worked at Farmers and Merchants State Bank for 40 years, longer than the bank has existed in Paynesville.

The bank used to be known as the First State Bank of Roscoe before it was purchased by a group of men, including three Paynesville businessmen and moved to Paynesville in March 1964.

Zumwalde, a 1963 graduate of Paynesville High School, started working in the bank while it was still in Roscoe and in the process of moving to Paynesville. One of the bank owners, Lloyd Peterson, asked her father if she might like working in a bank, said Zumwalde, and she decided to switch from her grocery story job because she thought the bank would offer a better chance for advancement.

The Roscoe bank was very small, recalled Zumwalde, and everything was done by hand with the only help being a couple adding machines.

During her 40 years with the bank, Zumwalde has done bookkeeping and some work as a teller. Currently, she is the bank's internal auditor, insuring compliance with the FDIC, and also handles IRAs, CDs, and new accounts. "I never thought I would be here that long, but I enjoy it," said Zumwalde. "Hopefully, I can stay a few more years until I retire."

The bank will host an open house celebrating Zumwalde's 40 years of service on Friday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Jan and her husband, Jerome, live in the same house in Paynesville where Jan grew up. They have three grown children. In her free time, Jan likes to walk, scrapbook, rubber stamp, and bake. She also uses her financial skills in volunteer work, including as co-treasurer for the charity fund drive for seven years and on the finance committee at St. Louis Catholic Church.



Contact the author at editor@paynesvillepress.com   •   Return to News Menu

Home | Marketplace | Community