Our Story
About Us
Thumb Bank & Trust has been providing customers with fast, efficient, outstanding service since 1895. Whether we are the new face in your town or an old friend you can count on, know that we believe in building for the future. At Thumb Bank & Trust we actively participate in the communities we serve and strive to meet the challenges of tomorrow. We take great pride in our personal involvement and investment in our communities.
Thumb Bank & Trust combines traditional banking with modern technology, products and service. We provide our customers with a complete array of up to date financial services. When you add in our skilled and dedicated group of staff, officers, and board members our service is untouched by any other financial institution. We encourage you to give us feedback about our site, our products, and our staff. We welcome all questions and comments.
We also wish to extend our sincere gratitude for contacting us on our website. We try very hard every day in every way to earn your confidence and your banking business.
History
Banking Excellence since 1895
The origins of Thumb Bank & Trust date back to 1895 to the dusty downtown streets of Pigeon, Michigan. The Farmer’s Bank of Frank W. Hubbard was founded by four partners in 1895. On August 21, 1906 a second bank was chartered on the corner of Main Street and Michigan Avenue in Pigeon and was called the Pigeon State Bank. Local customers now had two banking choices and each bank tried its best to attract more customers through friendly and honest dealings. A mere two years later, Pigeon State Bank was bought by the Farmer’s Bank and the resulting name was Pigeon State Bank.
During the national bank holiday in 1932, Ernest Clabuesch sought out and received enough local capital to reorganize the bank early in the U.S. depression. On June 14, 1934, Ernest Clabuesch led the reopening of the bank and emerged as President and Chairman of the Board, positions he would hold for 25 and 41 years respectively. Clabuesch’s son, E.J. started working at the bank in June of 1939. He was named President of the bank in 1959 and when his father retired from the Board in 1974, E.J. assumed the position of Chairman of the Board.
In 1970 application was made for a national charter and the Pigeon State Bank became Thumb National Bank & Trust Co. It became the first and only bank in the entire region to assume full trust powers at the time.
E.J. Clabuesch’s son, Paul, began his banking career at Thumb National in 1973. Upon the death of his father in 1984, Paul assumed the title of CEO and soon after, Chairman of the Board.
In 1978 the bank opened its Cass City office. In 1989 the Caseville office officially opened. In 2003, the Wilder Road office opened in Bay City. Four years later in 2007, the Bay City Center Avenue office opened.
Upon Paul Clabuesch’s retirement in 2009, the Board of Directors named veteran employee Jay Dubey as the bank’s new President and CEO. Along with the appointment of Jay Dubey as President and CEO in 2009, the Board also named David McCormick as Chairman of the Board. David joined the Board in 1987 and remains as the current Board Chairman.
In 2016, Thumb Bank & Trust opened a new office in Bad Axe which expanded the bank’s market area to include the entire Thumb.
In 2018, Jay Dubey retired after a forty year banking career at Thumb Bank & Trust and long-time employee Ben Schott was named as the bank's new President and CEO. Ben began his banking career at Thumb Bank & Trust as a co-op student in 1991. Prior to being named CEO, Ben held positions in credit administration and financial planning and most recently served as Chief Operating Officer.
In 2022, Thumb Bank & Trust opened its first office in Sanilac County in Marlette. The office expands the bank's footprint to four counties, Huron, Tuscola, Sanilac, and Bay.
Today, Thumb Bank & Trust is a healthy community bank that offers full Trust and Financial Services out of its seven office locations. In recent years the bank has posted record earnings and receives outstanding support from its shareholders. The bank now employs over 80 full and part-time employees and remains very active in the communities it serves. Bank assets now total over $375 million.
From its humble beginnings in 1895 to today’s high tech banking environment, Thumb Bank & Trust remains committed to providing state-of-the-art banking products to its loyal customer base. Our employees are committed to providing exceptional service knowing full well that customers have several choices where to do their banking. If you currently are not a customer, we invite you to stop by any of our seven office locations or join us online. You will be glad you did.