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About Better Banks

Banking Made Better - Since 1898 The rich history of Better Banks dates back to 1898 with the founding of Dunlap Bank. Since then, we’ve expanded to 10 communities serving Peoria, Dunlap, Morton, Chillicothe, Bartonville, Wyoming, Glasford, Astoria, and Camelot. We continue to remain true to our founder's philosophy to “remain a strong, locally owned, community bank” with a full line of financial solutions aimed at providing efficient, convenient, and friendly service so you can spend more time doing what you love. In 1957, B.F. "Chip" Backlund, a Senior Bank Examiner, joined Dunlap Bank as an Executive Vice President. He became President of the bank in 1967 and later Chairman. Chip could see the importance and need for locally owned community banks and organized the purchase of Wyoming Bank in 1967 and Bartonville Bank in 1970. Bartonville Bank, founded in 1918, and Wyoming Bank, founded in 1935, boasted the same banking philosophy as Dunlap; to be pillars of strength and stability and serve the banking needs of their respective communities with loyalty, honesty, and dignity. Seeing the need for additional locations, enhanced services, and more products, Steve Backlund, Chip’s youngest son, directed the opening of the Bartonville Bank II on Garfield in 1982 and Dunlap Bank II on North Knoxville in Peoria in 1990. While further strengthening the bank overall, the combinations of the banks allow us to offer customers an enhanced line of products and services while providing additional locations and ATMs for added convenience. Better Banks has deep roots, and as we grow, we continually reflect on our history and how it has brought us to where we are currently.

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