1

Royal Bank -1912
1912
Bentley, Alberta

Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

2

Union Bank
1919
Bentley, Alberta

Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

3

Leach's Variety Store & Bank of Montreal
Late 1940's
Bentley, Alberta

Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

4

Bentley Parade - Bank of Montreal in background -2000
May, 2000
Bentley, Alberta

Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

5

75th Bank of Montreal Anniversary
1993
Bentley, Alberta

Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

6

Bank of Montreal building sold to Credit Union
May, 2000
Bentley, Alberta

Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

7

Banks in Bentley
A bank first opened in Bentley, on December 16, 1918 as the Merchant's Bank of Canada, managed by Mr. Primrose and operated in a building known as Palmer's Poolroom. A new bank building was erected in 1919 and then in 1921 the Merchant's Bank was amalgamated with the Bank of Montreal.
The Union Bank, another bank in Bentley was taken over by the Royal Bank which moved the branch to Alix about the same time as the Merchant's Bank and Bank of Montreal amalgamated. The Bank of Montreal took over the Union Bank building in 1923 under manager W.B. Cairns and operated from that premise until March 1978.
In the late 1970's the bank acquired the property from the Gheseger Estate which had been an automotive repair shop. Prior to the repair shop the property was home to a hardware store , Morrison and Johnson , which replaced the burned Alexander Hotel livery barn, that relocated across the street. In September, 1977, construction began and March 22, 1978 was the official Grand Opening of the new building. With the new building came the introduction of computers, to staff and customers alike.
July 1st, 1990, Bank of Montreal participated in Bentley's 75th Anniversary by hosting a Fashion Show with children of staff members and some customers modeling clothes from the 1890's to what the future wardrobe might look like in the twenty-first century. The oldest former living manager, Mr. Charles (Hayward) Smith, was in attendance to present an anniversary cake to the mayor of Bentley, Betty Knull. Instead of an expected crowd of 150, somewhere between 300 and 400 people attended the show.
December 17, 1993 former bank managers and staff helped the Bank of Montreal celebrate their 75 years of service to Bentley and area customers . A Customer Appreciation Day was held with Oscar Skjonsberg, the bank's oldest customer at that time, cutting the anniversary cake with Vice-President, Les Peddle.
Bank of Montreal introduced the first automated banking machine in Bentley, April 19, 1995.
A retirement coffee party was held August 20, 1998, for long time employee, Margaret Martin, after 33 years of dedicated service.
February 18, 2000, The Bank of Montreal undertook an aggressive restructuring and refocusing program selling the Bentley Bank to Parkland Savings and Credit Union (now Servus Credit Union). The sell off was to provide more benefits for the community than just closing the doors. Employees were part of the package, retaining the same jobs, and were grateful to stay in the community to continue serving their customers. Gayleen Wine, Norma Lowery, and Lorraine Connolley joined the staff at Parkland Savings on June 1st, 2000. The Bank of Montreal building was remodeled and upon completion, the entire Credit Union relocated back to the once Bank of Montreal building on October 16, 2000.
The Bank of Montreal is no longer a physical presence in Bentley, but retired Bank employees continue to give back to community projects by way of the Volunteer Grants Program which was introduced by Bank of Montreal, in 1995.
Branch Managers in order of succession were: D.A. Kerr, J. Primrose, W.B. Cairns, J.O.A. Letourneau ,Ken M. Barss, Wm. H. Beacom, Scotty R. McKay, Joe D. Walbridge, Fergus J.E. Downey, W. Hayward Smith, Tom Hives, Lyal Kennedy , R. Holmes, Warren Sparks, J. Anderson , Herb A. Erickson, John D'Archangelo , Gordon Mydland, Robert Harper, Ron Ducheminsky, Harold Spensley, Murray Hallworth, Gayleen Wine, Al Fuchs and Gayleen Wine

8

Parkland Savings & Credit Union located in Sunset Plaza
late 1900's
Bentley, Alberta

Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

9

Servus Credit Union
2010
Bentley, Alberta

Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

10

SERVUS CREDIT UNION LTD.
Parkland Savings and Credit Union opened their doors in the Village of Bentley in 1978. Parkland Savings rented space from Garries Hardware, on the west side of the hardware. (5016 50 Ave.) This space is now occupied by Savannah Salon & Spa.
In 1986 the Credit Union moved a few doors to the west into the newly constructed Sunset Plaza, # 2 - 5018 50 Avenue. The Sunset Plaza was built by owners Ken Argue and Ted Johnson and housed the Bentley Drug Store and Parkland Savings & Credit Union.
In 2000, the Bentley Branch was on the move again. This time they moved east, purchasing the Bank of Montreal property and building on the corner of 50 Ave and Dick Damron Drive,( 4942 50 Ave.). This resulted in Bentley losing the only charter bank in our community. After extensive renovations they opened their doors, in November of 2000. Bentley folks saw some familiar Bank of Montreal staff as they came on board with Community Savings.
November 1, 2000 saw the merger to form Community Savings. This new merger resulted in the new name - Community Savings & Credit Union Ltd, new logo, one billion dollars in assets, and four regional offices.
In July, 2003 Community Savings hit one and a half billion in assets. February, 2004, Community Savings was the Platinum sponsor of the Scott Tournament of Hearts. In the same year CEO, Herb Der was named as Chair of Red Deer College. July 2004 saw CEO, Herb Der, named as one of Alberta's fifty most Influential People
On November 1, 2008, Community Savings amalgamated with Common Wealth Credit Union and Servus Credit Union to become Canada's first province-wide credit union," Servus Credit Union Ltd".
Servus Credit Union provides the citizens of Bentley and area with personalized financial service along with online banking, personal banking, business banking, and regional offices that include Agricultural and Commercial specialists.
Some of Bentley's managers over the years have included Mel Zemliak, Allan Dyer, Linda Kind, Mike Mitchner, Kim Lewis, Alan Grant, Devan Bell, Stewart Oke, and presently Gail Lekas.
Mr. Albert Goldade was for many years part of the executive leadership and held the role of CEO for some years. Also recently deceased Louis Cabelka held a position on the board of directors for many years.
For many years the staff at the Bentley branch hosted a pancake breakfast on the Saturday of the Rodeo in town. The breakfast was enjoyed by many people for the cost of a donation to a local cause. In recent years this event has switched to an afternoon barbecue with members of our Community Council, Brian Lenz, and Roger Giesbrecht lending a hand with the burger cooking. You will see the staff of the Bentley Credit Union judging 4 H events and reading the" fat cat" story to school children.

.