With only $15,000 in capital, Sparta State Bank was incorporated in 1898. After purchasing a lot in 1902 for $1,200, the main bank office opened to the public on the corner of Division and Union Streets. Meanwhile, the nearby Kent City Banking partnership had started up with an initial $10,000 in capital, and in 1910 became the corporation known as Kent City Bank. Fast forward almost a century and these two small town banks would join to become the ChoiceOne of today.
In the 90s, 24-hour, automated phone banking was introduced for the first time. Valley Ridge branches continued to open in Coopersville, Grant, Newaygo and White Cloud. Meanwhile Sparta State Bank opened its first branch office, a couple miles from its headquarters, in Sparta, followed by more branches in Cedar Springs, Plainfield and Alpine. In 1996, the Sparta State Bank holding company and its subsidiary bank both took the name “ChoiceOne”. At this time, ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies was established.
Technology continued to advance in the early 2000s with new imaging systems to replace the outdated proofing machines. Electronic management services were made available to retail and commercial customers for the first time. A branch of Valley Ridge opened in Fremont while a ChoiceOne branch opened in Rockford. ChoiceOne continued to expand its offerings as ChoiceOne Mortgage was established.
In 2006 ChoiceOne Financial Services and Valley Ridge Financial Corp came together along with their subsidiaries, all retaining the “ChoiceOne” namesake. This merger resulted in 14 branch offices, numerous ATM locations and a widened array of products and services to serve west Michigan communities.
ChoiceOne Bank
109 E Division
Sparta, MI 49345
(616) 887-7366
(888) 775-6687
