Armbrust to retire after 44-plus years in banking

[January 06, 2011]  Ask someone what their favorite bank is and you could get numerous answers. Ask them why a specific bank is their favorite and they will often tell you it's because of a certain person or people working there. They are the people who make us feel comfortable as we deal with our sometimes complicated and worrisome financial situations.

Marilyn Armbrust has been a familiar and oftentimes comforting face in the local banking industry since 1966. First with the First National Bank of Lincoln, she's now with Regions Bank, the latest in a line to own and operate the bank at 303 S. Kickapoo.

After 44 1/2 years in the local banking industry, Marilyn is ready for retirement, with her last day at Regions being this Friday.

When asked what she planned to do in her retirement years, she applied some of that dry humor she is known for: "There is always laundry."

And then she poignantly said: "I'm not sure what I am going to do, or whether that's good or bad. I haven't ever done this (retire) before."

Marilyn came to our area like many of us: via circumstances that initially had nothing to do with what her lifelong career ended up being.

Born and raised in Benson, Minn., Marilyn had a sister in Farmersville, Ill., who needed help raising her six children. Her sister, Audre Neuhaus, needed Marilyn to baby-sit the children at night so Audre could work as a waitress. The evening hours were better for tips, and Marilyn agreed to move in with her sister to help her get on her feet financially.

Marilyn had the days open and began working part time at the dress factory in Girard, "making pockets," as she said.

When the dressmaker closed, Marilyn's sister was in better finances and Marilyn went to Springfield, where she began her banking career as a proof operator at the then-Marine Bank.

Marilyn said the next step up in banking was to be a teller, but her boss didn't want to lose her from his department. "I was fast, good and accurate," she said.

When the Town and Country Bank in Springfield had an opening that paid more, Marilyn switched banks but still worked nights for her boss at Marine, proofing revenue deposits.

It was while she was in Springfield that she met her husband of 44 years, Dave Armbrust.

At a Marine Bank Christmas party Dave and a friend were at the bar. His friend bet Dave the blond girl wouldn't dance with him. "Dave won the bet," she smiled.

In June of 1966 Marilyn came to Lincoln and started working as a teller at First National Bank, and on July 30 of that same year she and Dave were wed.

"We had a short honeymoon because Dave was a volunteer parking cars at the Logan County Fair," she said.

Marilyn went along with Dave. Wilbur Lehman, who was also with the fair association, said that since she was always there anyway, why not work the ticket booth.

For the next four decades Marilyn and Dave were mainstays with the fair volunteer group, with Marilyn managing the ticket booth for many of the fairs.

Marilyn and Dave have one daughter, Sara, who lives in Nashville, and one granddaughter, Hayden, who is 2 years old. Dave is retired from Eaton, and they have a mobile home and plan to do some traveling, especially to see their family in Nashville.

Marilyn is a longtime member of Zonta, has been an ALMH Foundation board member and enjoys being active in her church, St. John United Church of Christ. She was also active for years with the American Cancer Society.

Marilyn admits that there will be a big adjustment, with Dave and now she being retired. "We always were someplace else, at least for eight hours a day," she said. "We have a big basement and a three-car garage to help get away from each other if we have to."

She does like to sew and bake as well as work in the garden. Her baking is a popular treat not only at her church but also at city council meetings, where Dave is an alderman.

Marilyn was practical when explaining her decision to retire.

"I'm 69 and have been getting Social Security for four years. I always felt that if the bank ever had to make a cutback, I would volunteer to leave. Unemployment is at 10 percent, and I don't want to take away the opportunity for some other mother to feed her family."

Marilyn said the biggest difference in banking she has seen in her four-plus decades is the paperwork.

"I used to lend money at the teller window," she said. "Loans were simple: I did, I will, I promise. Now there are so many government regulations and disclosures that have to be done for a loan."

Asked if there was a certain person who made more of an impression over the years, she preferred not to rate or rank all her friends and associates.

"There have been so many staff and managers over the years," she said. "I really couldn't single out one or two in fairness."

Donna Boyd, vice president and general sales manager at Regions, said: "You don't replace someone like Marilyn. It's impossible. I knew it would come someday, but I was hoping it would be much later. She will have worked 44 1/2 years and is clearly a foundation of our organization. We will obviously experience quite a void for a long time as we wish her well."

Boyd wanted to let the community know the bank will have an open house for Marilyn on Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and invites everyone to stop by and wish Marilyn well as she retires.

[By MIKE FAK]