History
History & Mission
Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. was founded by three brothers – William, Robert, and Walter Reich, and opened its doors on October 16, 1958, with only six employees in a storefront facility at the Blue Ridge Mall. The Mall, also developed by members of the Reich family, sat on a parcel of land that was part of the family’s large produce farm. It earned acclaim as the first suburban shopping mall in the Midwest. Quickly becoming one of the area’s most popular retail and dining destinations, the Reich family determined the need for a community bank to serve the Mall’s many tenants and customers. In less than 10 years, Blue Ridge Bank had outgrown this facility and constructed a second branch.
“We feel that Blue Ridge Bank has an important stake in the development of Eastern Jackson County,” said the late William Reich, president, in 1968, “and we feel that we have an obligation and responsibility to that growth.”
Since then, Blue Ridge Bank has become one of the largest independently owned community banks in Missouri, currently with eight branches and approximately $800 million in assets.
In 2004, the Bank opened its new corporate headquarters, located on Little Blue Parkway. This facility provides the Bank with an expanded physical space and offers customers easy access in Independence’s vibrant east side. Blue Ridge Bank is unique among its peers in operating its own Trust Department, located at the corporate headquarters.
Blue Ridge Bank honors its historical roots as a bank designed to serve the needs of individuals and businesses alike in Eastern Jackson County, while continually seeking new technologies and services to bring the best of the industry to its customers. Descendants of the founding Reich family, along with members of the “bank family”, carry on the traditional values that were established when Blue Ridge Bank was chartered in 1958. It continues its commitment to the principles of its mission: “To enable people to acquire the financial resources to realize their dreams.”
Please visit one of our convenient locations or contact us at 816-358-5000 and let us assist you in achieving your financial goals.