What’s in a Name? Plenty!

 The small town of Tightwad, Missouri (really small: area = one square mile and population = 63) made headlines in 1984 when Tightwad Bank came into being. At that time it was thought that the new Truman Lake would attract residents and the town would have a boon of sorts. But the boon never happened. In fact, the town has only grown by eight in the years since.

 Tightwad, Missouri was named a century ago when a postman got into an argument with a store owner. As the story goes, the store owner charged the postman an extra 50 cents for a better watermelon (or rooster depending on who is telling the story). Watermelon or rooster, it doesn’t really matter. Tightwad was born. 

 The bank that put the town on the maps, however, is no more. ****UMB Bank-Kansas City, MO closed the struggling Tightwad Bank branch in January 2007, urging residents to do their business in nearby towns.

 Never fear Tightwaders, *****Reading State Bank, Reading, Kansas bought the old bank property and is re-opening Tightwad Bank. Not only has the name changed from Reading State Bank to Tightwad Bank, it is re-branding itself as just that. The bank will tout low fees and competitive rates for the frugal. That’s all well and good, but we’re just happy to know that people, near and far, can once again order Tightwad checks.