Dream First Bank Has Deep Roots In Southwest Kansas

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Dream First Bank might be a new name, but the bank has deep roots in Southwest Kansas and played a key role insole in bringing the dairy industry to the area.

Dream First Bank got its start as First National Bank of Syracuse in 1906, expanding to Johnson in 1995, Garden City in 2006, Ulysses in 2016, and Hugoton in 2022. The bank changed its name to Dream First Bank in September 2022, and in 2023 expanded to Elkhart, Rolla, Arlington and Attica.

Caleb Woods said the Ulysses Branch opened October 5, 2016.

“For me, it’s a great place,” Woods said. “We started with two tellers and we’ve grown to about nine of us here, so it’s been a great community for us to be in.”

Woods talked about the Cub School Bank for fourth grade students at Sullivan Elementary School every Wednesday morning.

“We’ve got a president, vice-president, tellers, customer representatives, a marketing team,” Woods said. “Kids are able to make deposits. It all comes here, they can come here and withdraw it whenever they want; it’s a great program, we’ve been doing it (in Ulysses) for about five years (but) the bank’s been doing it for longer than I’ve been at the bank.”

The kids fill out an application and the teachers hire the students like a regular job.

“It’s a lot of fun just being here in the community,” said bank President and CEO Chris Floyd. “I think Caleb does a good job, and the rest of the staff they just do awesome, a really good job caring for our customers and trying to make a difference for them everyday.”

The bank offers personal banking services such as checking accounts, savings accounts, loans and digital banking services. Business banking services include checking, loans and digital services, and the Ulysses branch is located at 1110 West Oklahoma Avenue with office hours Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Upcoming Events

Chamber Director Marita Hauser discussed upcoming events, including an American Red cross Blood Drive on Monday, October 14 at the Cultural Hall of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from noon-6 p.m.. Visit www.redcrossblood.org to schedule and appointment.

•Big Orange Boosters will have a hamburger feed before Friday night’s homecoming football game. Serving begins at 5:30 p.m. and cost is $7 and includes a hamburger, chips, cookies and a drink.

•The Society of Human Resource Management will have a conference for human resource management October  14 in Garden City; Fall Fest is October  12 on Main Street with a plethora of activities, including three events for Grant County Gives (a Cornhole Tournament at 2 p.m., a donut eating contest, and an adult tricycle riding contest).

Core Community graduation is at 6:30 p.m. October 14 at the Church of Christ and six will be graduating; Women of Purpose Ladies Night is at 5:30 p.m., October 17, at Bear Creek Coffee; Grant County Senior Center will have green enchilada dinner at noon, October  12.

•A drawing for a 1987 IJ Jeep by Southwest Miracles will be at 6 p.m., November 2, at Grant County Civic Center as part of the Second annual Southwest Miracles Shindig. Tickets for the Jeep drawing are $100 per ticket. Limited tickets are available. Call 620-952-3563 for more information. Tickets for the Shindig and steak dinner are $25 and contact is 620-952-3563; the 21st Annual Trick or Treat Trail takes place from 4-8 p.m., October 31 in downtown Ulysses.