Thank goodness for Drive-Thru's, right?
We proudly offer drive-thru service at virtually every Centennial Bank location, from the Ozark Foothills to the Florida Keys. Of course, technically, some of our 24/7 ATM-only locations are walk-thru's, but still…
Silliness aside, drive-thru’s have become pretty engrained into the banking experience. Can you imagine using a bank that didn’t offer drive-thru services?
That got us to thinking. When were drive-thru’s first used? Well, after some exhaustive research (Wikipedia), the first drive-up window teller, and essentially the first-ever drive-thru, debuted right here in America in 1928 at City Center Bank in Kansas City.
Two years, later, Grand National Bank of St. Louis, not to be outdone by its western Missouri cousins, opened a drive-thru and added a slot for overnight deposits. That spawned drive-thru use throughout the '30s at carhops and beyond. (A drive-thru concept was used at a Texas barbecue stand as early as 1931, reports Wikipedia/descendant of guy who owned the joint.)
- Of course, banking drive-thru’s were for "deposits only" in the beginning. My, how our mobility has gone, well, mobile.)
So, next time you're in the Centennial drive-thru, be grateful for those American pioneers who found new uses for our cars back in the days of the '30 Nash and other beauties.
