Sid Jones (left), former Home State Bank CEO and president, is retiring after 39 years with the local company. Jones is seen here in 2022 with his Jefferson Matters: Main Street Above and Beyond the Call award for civic service.  He's seen with the 2020 winner, Harry Ahrenholtz.  BRANDON HURLEY | JEFFERSON HERALD

Sid Jones, former CEO and president of Home State Bank retires

Special to the Jefferson Herald

A staple of the local business community is hanging it up.

Home State Bank in Jefferson recently announced the retirement of Sid Jones after more than 39 years of distinguished service at the bank as CEO and bank president.

At the recent Feb. 17, annual meeting, the board voted to transfer CEO duties to president, Bob Allen.  

Jones joined Home State Bank in 1983 and was elected president and CEO in 2009. Prior to joining Home State Bank, Jones was an examiner for the Iowa Division of Banking from July 1976 to August 1983.
Employees can attest to Jones’s strong ethics, direction, and values, but Jones attributes success to the bank’s culture. It is through this culture that Home State Bank was honored by The Extraordinary Banking Institute as the 2016 Extraordinary Bank of the Year in the U.S.A. Nurturing and expanding relationships with customers, employees, the community, and the bank’s stockholders were always priorities for Jones.  
Jones has served on many organizations in the banking industry including the American Bankers Association, Iowa Bankers Association, and Community Bankers of Iowa.  

Locally, Jones has served as a board member and president of the Greene County Development Corporation, past chamber board member, treasurer of Greene Community Schools, president of Greenewood Center and Greenewood Homes, Jefferson Rotary Club member, and past president. Jones received the Professional of the Year Award in 2019 from the Jefferson Rotary Club and the Above and Beyond the Call Award from Jefferson Matters Main Street and Chamber in 2022.  

“Sid has been a fabulous leader for all of us in the bank and in the community,” Liz Garst, owner of Greene Investments said. “His focus on culture, trust, transparency, communication, forward-thinking, and big ideas has benefited all who are in his sphere. He delivered outstanding financial results at the bank, and happy customers and staff while supporting a community that is thriving.  I am especially impressed and proud of his work at the Greene County High School and Iowa Central Community College Career Academy here in Jefferson, among many other examples.”

Throughout his career, Jones has collected many accolades including being named Outstanding Leader in the Small Companies category of the Des Moines Register’s 2016 Top Workplaces Award program. Home State Bank was rated in the top 15 best workplaces since 2016. His most recent accolade is the recipient of the Robert D. Nixon Founder’s Award 2022, for his vision and commitment to the community banks of Iowa.

“Sid will assume Doug McDermott’s position as secretary and treasurer of Greene Investment Co, the holding company for both Home State Bank and Raccoon Valley Bank,” Garst said. “Sid will remain on the Board of Directors of Home State Bank and will join the Board of Directors of Raccoon Valley Bank, located in Perry, Grimes, Adel, and Dallas Center.

The Garst Family is lucky to retain his wise counsel on a part-time basis for both banks and the holding company.”

Newly named President and CEO, Bob Allen is a 1998 Jefferson-Scranton High School graduate. Allen joined Home State Bank in 2012.  

ABOUT HOME STATE BANK

Founded on October 1, 1934, by Warren Garst, Home State Bank is known as an agricultural bank. Now, the bank is owned by a multi-bank holding company comprised of Warren’s grandchildren.  Home State Bank currently employs 49 people, serving customers in 43 states.  

Home State Bank is expected to open a second location in Polk City in late 2023, offering services, including but not limited to commercial real estate, construction development, agricultural lending, home mortgage, small business accounts, personal checking and savings, and more.

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