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Citizens Trust Bank honored with historical marker in Atlanta
Summary
Speakers at an Atlanta unveiling described Citizens Trust Bank, founded in 1921, as the city’s first Black‑owned bank and praised its role in financial inclusion and community support, including claims that it helped finance civil rights-era legal needs.
At an event in Atlanta, organizers unveiled a historical marker recognizing Citizens Trust Bank and its role in the city’s economic and social history, speakers said.
A Georgia Historical Society representative said the society "is honored to tell the story of this historic institution and its impact on our state," and described the bank as one of the most important financial institutions in Georgia’s history. The society framed the marker as a way to preserve the bank’s legacy for future generations.
Speakers noted that Citizens Trust Bank was established in 1921 and described it as the first Black‑owned bank in the city of Atlanta and among the largest Black‑owned banks in the country. An event organizer said, "Citizens Trust Bank has been, here with us since 1921. It is the first black owned bank in the city of Atlanta, 1 of the largest black owned banks in the country." The organizer added that the bank provided access to loans, savings and checking accounts for community members who had been excluded from other banks.
A speaker at the event said the bank "was the bank that financed the civil rights movement," adding, "when individuals like doctor King and Lowry, when these guys went to jail, somebody had to get them out. And that was what this bank was known for. It was basically finance civil rights movement." The remark was presented at the event as part of the institution’s remembered roles; the transcript does not cite supporting documentation for that claim.
A Citizens Trust Bank representative highlighted the bank’s longevity and recent performance, saying the institution is "resilient" and noting that in 2023 it was listed as No. 28 on a list of the 100 best‑performing banks in the country by S&P. A longtime customer offered a personal account: "Well, my grandmother brought myself and my siblings, to Citizens Trust Bank, to this branch, to open up accounts when we were in elementary school. ... I've always banked here."
Event speakers framed the marker as a permanent reminder of the bank’s founding mission "to create financial opportunities for those who were systemically excluded," and said it celebrates community development, financial education and support for local businesses.
Speakers concluded by noting the bank’s endurance through "every major economic and financial disaster in its last a hundred and 3 years" and said Citizens Trust Bank continues to build on its legacy so "generations of Atlanta, particularly those from communities like this, have financial opportunity and financial success in the city."
