From:  Nebraska

Term:  June 2024-2026

Collects: Cast iron still banks (most anything but architectural – no room for more!)

Why I collect banks:  I have always been enamored with anything cast iron.  When I realized there was a world of CI banks out there, I was hooked.

My favorite bank:  Wow, that’s hard to say.  I probably have two; the Basset Hound and the Hippo.

Why I belong to the SBCCA:  The amount of knowledge I have gained from my membership has been amazing.  I have also been able to acquire some wonderful banks at member gatherings.  Plus making new friends from every corner of the country makes belonging a slam dunk.

From: Florida

Term:  June 2024-2026

Collects: Primarily Spelter and Cast-Iron Figural Banks.  Also collect Mechanical Banks and Celluloid Banks.

Why I collect banks:  I love the history each bank tells as well as the workmanship that has gone into them.

My favorite bank:  Hard to pick but both the Kingfisher and “Happy Hippo” compete for a top position!  The attention to detail on the Kingfisher bank is spectacular and the Happy Hippo character makes me smile every time I look at it.

Why I belong to the SBCCA:  Being a member of the SBCCA is an educational adventure.  Nowhere else could I meet so many knowledgeable collectors who are so willing to give their time and expertise.  Just as importantly, membership in the club has introduced me to people I now consider lifelong friends.

From: Illinois

Term: Have served as Treasurer since 1992

Collects: Primarily cast iron architectural (building), figural and safe banks, and an assortment of other types that I like. Also have a large collection of dime celluloid pocket banks and a collection of Charity/Collection boxes (mostly from England).

Why I collect banks: I like the variety of types of building banks and the color variations of the painted building, figural and safe cast iron banks. The graphics on the front of the dime celluloid pocket banks and the promotional advice to savers on the reverse side of many of them are fascinating. I also find the variety of subject matters and types of materials (lithographed paper, wood, molded composite material) of the Charity/Collection boxes very interesting.

My favorite bank: Impossible to choose just one! For sure, the painted cast iron building, figural and safe banks are favorites. The condition and the color variations of the banks are more important than the rarity.

Why I belong to SBCCA: I deeply value the bank collector friendships that I have fostered over the past 40 years. I have grown from a novice collector who had the required 5 banks needed to join the Club in 1983 to an experienced advanced collector today. It has been a fantastic learning and most enjoyable experience that I would not trade for anything else. My wife and I especially enjoy the opportunity to visit other member’s homes during our annual convention to view their collections and see how they are displayed.

From: Missouri

Term: Elected 2024 

Collects:  Cast Iron, Ceramic, Lead & Tin

Why I collect banks:  I was drawn to still banks by the variety of materials
and endless subjects that manufacturers used to make them.

My favorite bank:  I like any bank that presents a window to the past and
the intention to teach thrift with an attractive presentation.

Why I belong to SBCCA:  In the SBCCA you can make contact with collectors who are friendly and willing to help grow your collection. Every level of collector is welcome. If you join, I would urge you to attend the annual convention where you will be welcomed to learn more about the hobby, buy, sell, trade banks and make new friends.

From: Indiana

Term-Appointed

Why I Collect Banks: The find, after the thrill of the hunt.
My favorite still bank: Is the bank that was used in our church Sunday school class to collect coins from birthdays and regular donations.

Why I belong to the SBCCA:  The hunt for banks and the and annual meeting, where new friends are met and old friendships are rekindled.

From: Kansas

Term-Appointed

Why I Collect Banks: I collect banks because my husband got me started.

My favorite still bank: My favorite bank is a Spelter Dog lying down.

Why I belong to the SBCCA:  I enjoy seeing the variety of banks, the friendships I have gained and the travel to various cities across the United States to see wonderful collections.

From:  Missouri

Term:  Have served as Editor since 2021

Why I Collect Banks:  I like the look of cast iron banks, especially the architectural and animal banks, and I like the history related to them.  Plus, there is always the thrill of the hunt!

My Favorite Bank:  My favorite bank in my collection is the large Statue of Liberty bank.  One of my favorite banks that I do not own but hope to one day is the General Butler bank.

Why I Belong To The SBCCA:  I was introduced to the SBCCA by Ken Russell at a Kansas City toy show shortly after I discovered cast iron banks at an antique auction.  Through the years the benefits of being a member have truly outweighed the costs.  The club and club members have provided much more knowledge than I could have acquired on my own and the friends found through the group are priceless.

From:  Texas

Term: 2023-2025

Collects:  cast iron building banks, cast iron mechanical banks, early American tin building banks, early American trade signs, early Texas pottery and furniture, antique Caucasian carpets

Why I collect banks:  I have been a collector my entire life.

Favorite Bank:  Boston State House, City Bank with Chimney

Why I belong to the SBCCA:  Making contact with fellow collectors, buying and selling opportunities, learning more about banks, establishing life-long friendships.

From: Pennsylvania

Term: 2024 - 2026

Collects: Still & Mechanical Banks, Toy Soldiers, and Tin & Wind-up Toys

Why I collect banks: All my life I've been a collector, but my interest in banks was inspired by my Uncle Ray Haradin who built one of the best bank collections in the world.

My favorite bank: Impossible to choose just one! My favorite banks are always animals, specifically Pigs.

Why I belong to the SBCCA: I was introduced to the club while working alongside my Uncle Ray and I have been an active member for 8 years. I belong because I have enjoyed every minute of traveling to view spectacular collections and I've met great people who have shared valuable information about banks that you simply cannot acquire anywhere else. I've also learned some life lessons along the way too!

From – Illinois

Term: June 2024 – 2026

Collects: Still Banks, primarily cast iron and ceramic.  I also collect cast iron mechanical banks

Why I collect banks:  I view them as works of art.

My favorite bank:  Hard to pick just one, but I give the nod to the Two-faced Boy.

Why I belong to the SBCCA.  Learning what I don’t know, sharing what I do.  Visiting collections around the country, seeing new places and collecting collector-friends.

From:  Virginia

 Term:  2023-2025

 Collects:  I collect all types of cast iron banks

 Why I collect banks:  The best answer to this question I have heard was from an old collector a long time ago who said, "I just like to look at them."

 My favorite bank:  Polish Rooster

 Why I belong to the SBCCA:  I joined the club to meet fellow collectors that share my passion for still banks.

From: Pennsylvania

Term: 2023-2025

Collects: Cast iron, Tin, Glass, Porcelain, and Spelter (my recent pursuit interest)

Why I collect banks: It more or less started when I would empty the coins out of my pockets into banks at the end of the day.  I had an early job that involved travel, so I would buy cheap souvenir banks.  I didn’t always have enough banks, so I still have soda cans full of coins—pennies in one, nickels & dimes in another, and quarters in another.  Since I did like antiquing, I got a few that way.  However, it is difficult to find many different banks in central Pennsylvania.  But behold!—the internet and eBay!  I was off to the races.   

My favorite bank: Spelter U-boat

Why I belong to the SBCCA: A good friend and SBCCA member, Harry Ward, who I knew years, finally convinced me to join.

From:  New Jersey

Term: 2024 - 2026

Collects: Still & Mechanical Banks and American Folk Art

Why I collect banks: I collect banks for several reasons. Their beauty and charm, their historical significance and because they were used by children to save for Their future, to reach for their dreams.

 My favorite still bank:  The Old South Church bank.

 Why I belong to the SBCCA: I belong to the SBCCA because I truly enjoy being in an organization of folks who share my collecting PASSION!