We opened on September 17, 1948 as Bainbridge Island Bank on Winslow Way in the retail district of Winslow on Bainbridge Island. Our staff consisted of Louis H. Goller, President and Carl W. Berg, Cashier. Today, Carl Berg is a member of our Board of Directors.

Before we opened, the nearest banking for Bainbridge Island's 6,000 residents was a ferry ride away in Seattle. Paychecks were cashed at the local grocery or the hardware store. Opening a bank on Bainbridge Island was a dream of Lou Goller's, who worked with a group of local businessmen to make it happen.

Our founding board of directors included Hjalmer Anderson, Walter Keys, Louis H. Goller, E.S. Olson, and Robert B. Rodal. At the end of our first year we had deposits of $322,560.

Big changes were in store for Bainbridge Island when the Agate Pass Bridge opened, ushering in the 1950s. The bridge gave Islanders easier access to the Kitsap Peninsula, as well as giving peninsula residents access to downtown Seattle by way of the Winslow ferry.

In 1952, we did some remodeling at the bank, including removal of the pot-bellied stove. Carl Berg succeeded Walter Keys as Director in 1957. After 10 years of business, the bank's deposits had grown to $2,544,000.

Our staff had grown to 16 by 1964 and we added computerized bookkeeping, becoming one of the first banks in the State to do so. Another milestone took place in 1968 when our very own Terrie Takemoto Sua opened our first branch office at the Winslow Village Shopping Center, becoming the first woman bank manager in Washington State.

American Marine Bank became our new name in 1970, as we expanded beyond Bainbridge Island into other Puget Sound communities. In 1973 we celebrated a grand re-opening of our remodeled Main office in Winslow, which included the first resident Trust department in Kitsap County.

We made our first venture into Seattle in June of 1983 with a branch at Third and Marion. In 1984 we made a significant investment in computer equipment, opening our own Data Processing Center. In 1988 we sold the seven Kitsap County branches to Seafirst Bank.

Our current President/CEO Rex Townsend joined the bank in 1990 as an Assistant Vice President/Manager of the Real Estate Loan Department. Bess Alpaugh was named CEO in 1992 and became Chairman of the Board in 1997. In 1995 we expanded back onto the Kitsap Peninsula by opening an in-store branch at the new Central Market in Poulsbo. We also added telephone banking that year. A new holding company, AMB Financial Services Corporation was formed in 1997. All American Marine Bank stockholders became stockholders of the new holding company.

Our Internet banking system launched in 1998, giving customers the convenience of banking at any time of the day or night. In 1999, we again brought American Marine Bank to downtown Seattle, with our Business and Professional Banking Office at Second Avenue and Spring Street. That same year, we formed a new subsidiary, Community Mortgage Company, offering mortgage services throughout the Puget Sound area.

The year 2000 began with the grand opening of our new American Marine Bank office in Port Ludlow, Jefferson County. We also expanded into Silverdale when Silverdale State Bank became a subsidiary of AMB Financial Services Corporation in April of 2000. Deposits experienced strong growth at $183,811,000 by year-end, an 18% increase from the previous year.

2001 brought continued growth for American Marine Bank. With a very low interest rate environment and relatively strong home sales, the Community Mortgage Company increased 2001 net earnings by 33% over 2000, originating over $133 million in mortgage loans in 2001. In October of 2001, Silverdale State Bank became American Marine Bank dba Silverdale Bank and its Information Systems activities were combined with those of American Marine Bank. 2001 also marks the year that a new bill pay system was released to customers.

A remodel and addition began early in 2002 and continues through 2003 with plans to significantly update and improve the American Marine Bank flagship office as well as provide a beautiful new anchor for downtown Bainbridge Island. Deposits grew to $244,968,000 at the end of 2003.

2004 brought new spaces at 4 American Marine Bank locations. The newly remodeled and expanded home office in Bainbridge opened in April to rave reviews. In June, American Marine Bank returned to the Kingston market in a temporary building on Lindvog Road while construction began on the bank's permanent building, completed in 2005. The downtown Seattle office completed its move to a newer and larger location in the same building. Also new, the Business Loan Center on Highway 305 NE in Poulsbo was the second AMB office to offer customers a dedicated location for loans.

In August of 2004, American Marine Bank announced its plan to partner with Safeway to open 4 new in-store locations. The new Safeway offices of American Marine Bank offer full service banking providing personal checking and savings products, loans, mortgages, trust & wealth management services and business banking products. By March of 2005, all 4 in-store offices were opened and operating in Sequim, Port Angeles, Belfair and Port Townsend bringing the number of branches to 11.

In July of 2005, the Kingston office construction was completed and the office celebrated its grand opening. The branch also houses the loan servicing & merchant credit card departments, with space for business bankers and real estate lenders.