By Jason Clay Jansky

There aren’t many businesses in South Texas that hang around long enough to celebrate their 100th birthday. After all, having started up shop that long ago means a business had to survive the great depression and other historical hardships.

Falls City National Bank not only survived the hardships of 100 years, they’ve remained mostly owned by the same family all that time.

It all started with, not a bank, but a general store in Falls City in the early 1900s. Maria Schulz, her sons, and sons-in-law ran the Schulz Mercantile, providing area residents with items to meet their basic needs.

People often needed a place to keep their money or a small, short-term loan. Schulz’s enterprising mind picked up on the need and began operating a bank-like business from her store.

"They would lend money and help people out and as time went on, it was like doing banking out of the store," Bank Director Forrest Balser said.

The bank wasn’t chartered, being just a few private deals between individuals, but as time went on, the need to get a charter became more apparent. Having successfully tested a pilot version of a bank, Schulz shopped the idea of a full-fledged bank around to a few local investors.

It didn’t take long to get the support she needed, and as of March 23, 1907, Falls City National Bank became official.

Schulz, her son John G. Schulz, her sons-in-law John W. Moczygemba and Frank P. Moczygemba, John C. Goode, Oscar S. Dewees, Joseph W. Culpepper, and Albert F. Pawelek served on the original board of directors.

Banking continued at the Mercantile until the bank building was finished a few months later. The current bank headquarters in Falls City, aside from a few small additions, is that same old building built back in the early part of the 20th century.

"As you go through Falls City, if you’ll look from Highway 181, you’ll see a part of the building which is made of red brick. That is the original building," Balser said.

The family lines have survived the 100 years, along with the building. Balser’s wife, Maryjo, is also a director and is Maria Schulz’s granddaughter. Maryjo’s sister, Elizabeth Repka, and her husband, Frank J., also serve on the board of directors.

"It’s been in the same family. Very few banks around in the area (are). I think there’s only 16 (banks) still family-owned," Elizabeth Repka said. She and her sister and Frank Paul Nieschwietz are the remaining members of the original families that owned the bank back when it first opened.

The bank continues to grow to this day and has enjoyed success particularly in the past 20 years. Two new branches were established, one in Poth in 1991, and another in the Eagle Creek area north of Floresville in 2000.