Fidelity Bank is committed to providing exceptional service to all of our customers. As the second largest locally owned financial institution in Wichita, Kansas and a growing presence in Oklahoma City and Overland Park, we provide customers with a wide array of quality financial services.
The forerunner of Fidelity Bank–The Fidelity Investment Company — opened its doors for business in Wichita in 1905 as a mortgage lender. In 1942 Homer C. Bastian, Kansas’ first director of the Federal Housing Administration, recognized Wichita’s growth potential as a trade area. He left the FHA and purchased one-half interest in Fidelity Investment.
Homer Bastian’s son, Marvin, after serving in the Army Air Force during World War II, joined his father at Fidelity as a mortgage counselor in January 1946. Homer and Marvin Bastian purchased the company’s remaining stock in 1947. Using their government loan experience, they set out to meet the heavy postwar demand for housing and home loans.
AIR CAPITAL ACQUISITION
In the late 1960’s, Marvin Bastian became the chief executive officer of the Fidelity companies. He acquired Air Capital Savings, a $32 million asset savings and loan association, in 1975. Over the next 20 years, the company experienced exceptional growth as a thrift institution known as Fidelity Savings Association of Kansas.
FACILITIES AND LEADERSHIP EXPAND
By the 1980’s, Fidelity had outgrown its downtown headquarters at 229 South Market Street in Wichita. Recognizing the importance of a vital downtown area, the Bastian’s remained committed to the heart of the city. Next door, at English and Market streets, Fidelity constructed a $6 million, five-story office building–a state-of-the-art facility that opened in 1986.
The company’s leadership expanded with the addition of Marvin Bastian’s sons-Clark in 1976 and Clay in 1980. Clark is CEO and Chairman of the Board of Fidelity Bank. Clay is president of the holding company, Fidelity Financial Corporation. In 2009 Clark’s son, Aaron Bastian, became President of Oklahoma Fidelity Bank. Aaron was named president of Fidelity Bank in 2014.
FIDELITY TODAY
Since the acquisition of Air Capital Savings in 1975, Fidelity has grown from $32 million to more than $1.0 billion in assets and over 400 employees. There are currently thirteen retail banking locations in Wichita and Derby. Recently, Fidelity opened its newest office in Overland Park, Kansas. Since 2004, Fidelity Bank has opened six branches in the Oklahoma City area.
Voted Best Place to Work in Wichita in 2004, Fidelity Bank continues to offer employees a great place to work so that we can continue to provide dedicated service to our customers.
For the organization that began in 1905 as the Fidelity Investment Company, Fidelity Bank’s philosophy has remained the same. Our focus is on the customer and providing them service, convenience and the opportunity to grow financially.