Larry Hahn Larry D. Hahn retired from the First National Bank in Wadena Dec. 31, completing nearly 50 years in the banking profession.

Larry began his banking career Oct. 10, 1960, at the Marquette National bank in downtown Minneapolis. He left his family’s home north of Verndale (Central area) riding down to the cities with a family friend.

It wasn’t until Larry received his first paycheck that he was able to rent a room for $8 a week from a widow in South Minneapolis. He rode the bus back and forth to work until he could afford a car of his very own.

He began as a bank messenger, the lowest paid position with a starting salary of $195 a month. After three months, he was promoted to the safe keeping department, which he says was a very interesting job. After three years he was promoted to the loans and discount department.

In June 1965, he accepted an offer from Alan Pettit at the First National Bank in Verndale. He was employed in Verndale for 26 years.

On April 9, 1992, he accepted a job at the First National Bank in Wadena, working for both Alan and his son, Scott Pettit. His position there would be an Ag Loan Officer, keeping that position for nearly 18 years.

After 49 years and three months, Larry felt it was time to retire from the banking business. With all the projects he had kept on hold for a number of years, he felt it was time to “take some time” and get those jobs done. He will admit he doesn’t know how quickly he’ll get to them though.

Looking back, Larry reminisces about all the changes in the way banks are doing business. He said, “it’s hard to believe all the work was accomplished without computers.” All loans were typed up on a typewriter (if you can still remember what those looked like).

The interest accumulating on loans was calculated using a simple adding machine. Larry says that it was an “unwritten rule” to always have someone else double check the calculations to make sure they were right.

All in all, with the many years in his work, Larry said it was a great education and learning experience. He would say the the opportunity to meet so many “good” and hard working people over those past 49 plus years was a bonus to his job. He will miss the every day communication with those customers and his fellow employees.

He’d like to know that he contributed to the local community and that he helped make a difference in the lives of his many faithful customers and friends.