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Duane Carder, senior vice president at Peotone Bank and Trust Co. in Peotone, celebrated 40 years of service on Sept. 1. His son, Scot, now works at the bank, too. 'Being able to meet and deal with people is what I love,' Duane said. photo by Tracy Ahrens
40 years of service is rewarding  Share
Three ownership changes, a building addition and computerized banking have made Duane Carder's time of service dynamic at Peotone Bank and Trust Co. On Sept. 1, Duane celebrated 40 years of service at the bank at 200 W. Corning where he now serves as Senior Vice President. On Aug. 31, fellow employees hosted an in-house gathering with an array of food. ''I've helped a lot of customers,'' Duane, 65, said with a smile in his office that is now part of a new addition at the bank. Peotone Bank and Trust was chartered in 1916, Duane said. The bank was first located at the corner of Main St. and N. Railroad St. In June of 1962 it moved to the current location on Corning.
Duane joined the bank team in 1969. The first bank president he worked under, Bill McFadden, ''insisted'' that Duane buy a home in Peotone when he moved to the area. Duane and his wife, Clem, purchased a home on E. North St. where they still reside. Married 45 years, Duane and Clem raised two boys, Scot, 43, and Chad, 41. Scot was 3 and Chad was 1 when the family moved to Peotone. Scot now also works at Peotone Bank and Trust as a retail lender. ''I was still in college when I got married,'' Duane said. Initially, Duane was a teacher for four years in Ashton and Atlanta, Ill. He taught math, drivers education and physical education, and was a coach. His wife worked as a teller at a bank in Bloomington and suggested that Duane explore banking as a career. His time at Peotone Bank and Trust has been ''great,'' Duane said. ''If you treat people the way you would like to be treated, then things will work out.'' Duane has assisted countless customers at Peotone Bank and Trust, he said. ''I've seen many employees come and go, too,'' he said. Several current employees have served at the bank for 30 years. He remembers the days when banking wasn't computerized and all paperwork had to be typed. ''Now, things are printed instantly by computer,'' Duane said. ''Being able to meet and deal with people is what I love,'' he said. He has received many thank you notes. ''If you help someone out they do not forget it.'' Each morning, Duane arrives at work by 6:30 a.m. and stays until the end of the work day. ''I haven't missed much work,'' he said. His wife manages a pain treatment clinic on E. North St. called It's Time to Stop the Pain. ''I have no desire right now to retire,'' Duane said. ''I enjoy this line of work and I hope I can stay and be a benefit to this company. I have been treated fairly here and I love the town. This job has been very rewarding.'' Tracy Ahrens is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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