History and Family

Historical Timeline

• 1910 - Bank chartered as Ridgefield State Bank.
• 1936 - E.W. Firstenburg starts working at the Bank. Becomes shareholder.
• 1945 - E.W. Firstenburg becomes the majority shareholder of the State Bank of Battle Ground.
• 1947 - E.W. Firstenburg merges the State Bank of Battle Ground and Ridgefield State Bank.
• 1954 - Hazel Dell office constructed and opened as the Head Office.
• 1954 - Ridgefield, Battle Ground and Hazel Dell merged to become First Independent Bank.
• 1960 - Downtown Vancouver office opens and becomes Head Office.
• 1966 - Trust Department established.
• 1984 - First Independent Bank purchases The Columbia Gorge State Bank (Stevenson, Bingen, and Carson).
• 1991 - Head Office expands to new location at 1220 Main St., Vancouver, Washington.
• 1998 - Woodland Financial Center opens in September.
• 2003 - 23rd branch opens inside the Waterford at Fairway Village.
• 2004 - Commercial and Wealth Management office opens in Portland, Oregon.
• 2005 - E.W. Firstenburg retires from the board after 69 years
• 2005 - Firstenburg Family Office established
• 2006 - Opening of International Branch Office on 4th Plain Boulevard (late fall)
• 2008 - Opening of The Quarry and Glenwood Place retirement banking centers, and Salmon Creek financial center.
• 2010 - First Independent celebrates its 100 Year Anniversary. Ready for The Next 100.
• 2010 - Jeanne Firstenburg named First Independent's first female President and Chief Operating Officer
• 2010 - E.W. Firstenburg passes away at age 97.

The Firstenburg Family came to the SW Washington area in 1935. They have deep roots in the communities of the region. E.W. Firstenburg began working at the Ridgefield State Bank and became a stockholder in 1936. He became the majority stockholder in the State Bank of Battle Ground in 1945 and merged both banks in 1947. In 1954 the Hazel Dell branch was constructed and opened as the Head Office when all three banks were merged to become First Independent Bank. E.W. Firstenburg remained chairman of the board of directors until November 2005. E.W. worked with clients at the Waterford branch office until he passed away at age 97.