A Brief History

1890 – Roots established in Chestertown

Although Chesapeake Bank & Trust Company was formed in December, 1986, our roots in Kent County go back more than 100 years. We were established as The Second National Bank of Chestertown in May 1890. The original Board of Directors rented two rooms in the Masonic Temple while the first bank building was being constructed on land purchased from T.W. Eliason. R. K. Pippin & Son completed the new structure in February 1891, and the following month the new bank opened at 239 High Street, several doors down from our present location.

1910 – we move to building we now occupy

In 1910, the bank was renamed The Third National Bank of Chestertown, and, shortly thereafter, we moved to the large brick building we now occupy at 245 High Street. During the Depression, our name changed again, to The First National Bank of Chestertown. A 1951 merger with the Kent County Savings Bank, which had been chartered in 1893, resulted in yet another name change to The Kent County Bank in 1954.

1950’s to 1986 – a part of Maryland National Bank local branch network

The Kent County Bank merged with County Trust Company of Maryland in Glen Burnie in 1959. Just two years later, the County Trust Company of Maryland and Baltimore National Bank merged to become Maryland National Bank. For the next 25 years, Maryland National Bank maintained two locations in Chestertown, the main office at the corner of High and Cross Streets, and the drive-in branch on Philosophers Terrace.

1986 – Chesapeake Bank & Trust is formed

In December 1985, Michael Macielag, a local resident with a background in banking, learned that Maryland National intended to sell its Chestertown operation. He began a year-long campaign to purchase the two branches and organize a locally-owned bank. Macielag successfully attracted an initial group of 27 investors who collectively made the purchase possible. In September of 1986, the general public was invited to invest in the Bank through an initial public offering of stock. The offering was oversubscribed at 200,000 shares for a total of $4 million in capital. On December 15, 1986, Chesapeake Bank and Trust Company opened its doors with assets of $33 million. In May of 1991, Chesapeake Bank and Trust Company formed a Bank Holding Company, Chesapeake Bancorp. Many of the Bank’s original investors are still shareholders in Chesapeake Bancorp.