Welcome To Great American Bank

Headquartered in De Soto, Kansas, Great American Bank is a local institution with local decision makers, committed to serving the financial needs of consumers and business owners in and around Kansas City.

Stop in and see our friendly and knowledgeable service firsthand.

About Us

Great American Bank was originally established as De Soto State Bank in 1901. It was founded by a group of De Soto citizens that felt their growing community needed a Bank. The Bank had several managers in those early years, until Harry Miller became president in the late 1920s. Mr. Miller guided the Bank through the turbulent 1930s and until his death in the early 1950s. Arthur Gabriel, who began his employment with the Bank in 1933, became the new manager. He was President and then Chairman of the Board until his death in 1990. Arlen Gabriel (Arthur’s son), who had worked at the Bank since 1963, succeeded Arthur as President and Chairman of the Board until the bank was sold in 2005. At that time, De Soto State Bank and the Charter name was changed to Great American Bank. Arlen remained a key employee and officer of the Bank until his retirement in 2011.

On July 31, 2008, Lawrence-based First Financial Bancshares, Inc., which consists of a group of local investors, purchased Great American Bank. First Financial Bancshares also owns Lawrence Bank, another local community bank. As a part of First Financial’s acquisition of Great American Bank, Travis Hicks was named President and CEO of Great American Bank. Travis originally grew up in the De Soto area and is a graduate of De Soto High School. First Financial Bancshares and Great American Bank are very excited to be a part of the De Soto community and carry on the tradition started by De Soto State Bank.