SAVANNA – There are a lot of candles on First Savanna Savings Bank’s birthday cake this year – but only four CEOs in its history.

The bank marks 130 years in 2016, and was celebrated Oct. 4 with a business after hours from the Savanna Chamber of Commerce. First Savanna Savings was formed in May 1886 to provide loans to homes.

Steve McIntyre, the present-day secretary and the fourth CEO, said, “It started out only with savings accounts and mortgage loans.”

J.S. Greenleaf was the first managing officer, serving until 1938. Russell Ward then became the CEO, succeeded in 1965 by George Siedenburg. Siedenburg retired in 1992, and McIntyre took the CEO position.

History on the bank’s website stated that a dozen men applied for a charter on behalf of the Savanna Homestead Loan Association. The charter was received in May, and had 21 initial subscribers with a mutual stock issue of 129 shares.

In 1896, the name was changed to the Savanna Savings Building and Loan Association. The bank merged in 1972 with the Home Building and Loan Association, and moved to its current location at 301 Main St. After a rechartering in 1992 into a savings bank, First Savanna took on its current name.