“We’ve never strayed from our roots of offering the combination of friendly, almost old fashioned style service; traditional, consumer and commercial banking products; as well as the latest in...
History
As part of our Sesquicentennial Celebration, we thought it only fitting to take a look back at how far we’ve come over the last 150 years. Join us as we take a trip through time and explore not only the history of Century Savings Bank, but also our birthplace of Bridgeton, New Jersey and our country as a whole.
1840 America
Building and Loan Associations began in the United States.
1865 America Part 1
The New York Stock exchange opened its 1st headquarters. Lewis Carroll’s classic “Alice in Wonderland” is published.
1865 America Part 2
President Abraham Lincoln was elected to his second term while the Civil War was coming to an end.
March 1, 1865
The city of Bridgeton was incorporated.
May 29, 1865 – We’re Open For Business!
On May 29, 1865, the Bridgeton Savings Fund and Building Association was incorporated. It opened just a few days later opening its doors with $2,096.50 in assets.
May 10, 1880 Then & Now
The Bank offices are located on the second floor at 71 E. Commerce Street in Bridgeton.
1884
The city of Bridgeton gets electric service.
1889 – Did You Know?
Bridgeton Savings Fund and Building Association, along with other local building associations are accredited for making Bridgeton a “city of homes.”
1893
Bridgeton Savings Fund and Building Association now includes 657 Shareholders. Interestingly, the historical records include the fact that there were 417 male and 240 female Shareholders at this time...
1903
Down on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the Wright Brothers took their first flight.
1903 – Still Growing
As of May 31st, 1903, Bridgeton Savings Fund and Building Association amassed $160,737.53 in total assets. Bank officers of the time include President: Benjamin Hancock; Secretary: Barton F. Sharp;...
Nov. 18, 1903 – Bridgeton Building and Loan Association
The bank’s name changed from “Bridgeton Savings Fund and Building Association” to “The Bridgeton Building and Loan Association.”
1908
Ford Motor Company introduced the Model T which had a 20-horsepower engine, a top speed of 45 mph and cost $850.
1910
The Bridgeton Building and Loan Association accumulates $116,808.97 in total assets and 1,264 shares of stock. Bank officers of the time included: President: Benjamin Hancock; Secretary: Barton F...
1911-1912 Then & Now
The Bank moves to the second floor of 36 South Laurel Street in Bridgeton. The address was home to a butcher named Geo. Kinkle.
1920
Women received the right to vote.
1921
The first Miss America Pageant was held in Atlantic City.
1932
Francis Scott Key’s “The Star Spangled Banner” was approved by President Hoover and Congress as the National Anthem of the United States of America.
1934
New Jersey’s first zoo, The Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton opened its doors.
1934 – August
In August, our region is devastated by what is known as the “Bridgeton Flood”.
1935
After an exciting 21 year career, Babe Ruth announces his retirement from Major League Baseball.
1940 Then & Now
The Bank is currently operating out of offices located at No. 4 North Laurel Street in the heart of Bridgeton, a location which was once The Davis House, a local landmark.
1953
June 2 sees Princess Elizabeth formally crowned Queen Elizabeth II, monarch of the United Kingdom. The Korean War ends in July and the Bridgeton Building and Loan Association became federally insured.
1954 – Did You Know
The Bridgeton Building and Loan Association became federally chartered as “Bridgeton Federal Savings and Loan.”
1955
Rosa Parks, an African American seamstress, refuses to give up her seat on the bus to a white man, prompting a boycott that would lead to the declaration that bus segregation laws were...
1956 Then & Now
Bridgeton Federal Savings and Loan moved to 58 North Laurel Street in Bridgeton.
1959
>On January 3, 1959, Alaska is admitted to the United States as the 49th state soon to be followed by Hawaii on August 21.
1961
Bridgeton Federal Savings and Loan Association purchased the property at the corner of North Laurel & Washington Streets in Bridgeton. This location served as the bank’s headquarters until it was...
1962 – Did You Know?
Bridgeton Federal Savings and Loan merged with Elmer Savings and Loan Association, creating the second office.
1962
AT&T launches the world’s first commercial communications satellite. Eggs cost $0.32 a dozen, Gas was $.28 a gallon & the average cost of a home was $2,950.
1963
The Civil Rights march on Washington, D.C., culminated with Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
1964
Beatlemania hits the shores of the United States with the release of “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, which became the Liverpool group’s first #1 hit in North America.
1965 – 100th Anniversary
We celebrated our 100th anniversary as Bridgeton Federal Savings and Loan and acquired First Savings and Loan of Vineland, at 7 N. 6th Street, which became our third branch.
1965! A New Century, A New Name
100 years ago, Bridgeton Savings Fund and Building Association was founded. The name of the bank was changed to Century Federal Savings and Loan Association to commemorate a century of service to the...
J. Alan Woodruff: Strength
J. Alan Woodruff, Century Savings Bank Board Chairman: “I think about the day I first joined the board of directors in January of 1970. I looked around the room, and honestly, I was in awe of...
Our First Century
During our first 100 years in business, Century Federal Savings and Loan Association had grown from just over $2,000.00 in assets to over $18 million in assets.
1967
Century Federal relocated its Vineland office to 1005 E. Landis Avenue. This location was the former Vineland Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.
1969
The Apollo program completes its mission and Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon.
More Mergers = More Growth in 1972
Century Federal Savings and Loan merged with Gibbstown-based Paulsboro Building and Loan.
1973 – Hello who’s calling?
April 3rd 1973, Dr. Martin Cooper invented the first mobile cellular phone.
1976
Jimmy Carter is elected president as The United States celebrates its Bicentennial.
1977
The movie Star Wars is released to great critical & public acclaim, setting box office records.
1981
President Ronald Reagan nominated Judge Sandra Day O’Connor as the first woman on the Supreme Court.
1981 – Another Growth Spurt
Century Federal Savings and Loan Association merged with Mullica Hill Building and Loan Association making this its 2nd location in Gloucester County.
1983 – Five Stars
Bauer Financial, Inc., an independent bank rating company, awarded Century Savings Bank their highest honor, a 5-Star Rating. Less than 10% of the nation’s 7,000+ banks have been awarded this 5-Star...
1984
The Olympic Games are held in Los Angeles CA... Read More
More Growth in 1989
Century Federal Savings and Loan Association purchased the assets of Cumberland Savings and Loan.
J. Alan Woodruff: Stability
J. Alan Woodruff, Century Savings Bank Board Chairman: “Century Savings Bank started in 1865…years before cars, TVs or iPhones even existed. If that doesn’t say something about our...
1990
The Simpson’s first episode aired on TV and Anti-Apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was freed after spending 27 years as a political prisoner. Century Federal Savings and Loan assets grew to $153...
1990
Tim Berners-Lee submitted his proposal for the World Wide Web which ushers in our current digital age.
1997
J. K. Rowling publishes the first Harry Potter book.
1998 – Becoming Century Savings Bank
In 1998, the bank converted its charter to a mutual savings institution and became Century Savings Bank.
Did You Know – What A Mutual Bank Is?
Mutual banks were created to be perpetual institutions serving the communities in which they are located. Century Savings Bank is a mutual bank, which means its depositors, or “members”...
1998 – Google It
Google introduced their search engine to the Web.
September 11, 2001
The Nation mourns as over 3,000 are killed in a terrorist attack.
2004
Social networking Web site Facebook takes off.
2005
The first video was posted on YouTube. Currently, over 300 hundred hours of video are uploaded every minute.
2007
Apple Computer released the “iPhone.”
2007 – June
Century Savings Bank opened the doors to its 6th location and corporate headquarters in June of 2007 at the corner of Sherman Ave. and Orchard Rd. in Vineland.
2008
Illinois Senator Barack Obama wins the Presidential election to become the first African-American President in U.S. history.
2010 – April
Century Savings Bank moved from the 75 N. Laurel St location to a brand new state of the art office located at 53 Cornwell Drive.
Paul Cooper: Trust
Paul Cooper, Century Savings Bank Board Member: “When it comes to how you describe your bank, there’s one word that may be a bit more important than all the others. That word is trust...
2013 – More Than a Century of Community Service
Century Savings Bank was honored with the New Jersey Bankers Association Community Service Award. This award recognizes the significant impact New Jersey banks have on their local communities...
Celebrating Our Sesquicentennial
"As we celebrate our 150th Anniversary, we look back at our founders’ dream of creating an institution that could serve as the catalyst in generating prosperity and homeownership throughout the...