Nickolay receives Legacy of Community Banking award

Lucille Nickolay, Vice President with the State Bank of New Prague, recently was presented with the Legacy of Community Banking Award from the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota (ICBM). The award recognizes 50 or more years of service to the banking industry.

Nickolay has spent 70 years in banking-all of them at the State Bank of New Prague. After her high school graduation, she was offered a scholarship to a secretarial school, but couldn't afford the cost of room and board. A few months later the bank needed a bookkeeper and contacted the high school for possible candidates. Lucille started work on December 19, 1940.

As the years passed, she added teller, secretary to the president, loan officer, and customer service to her job duties and currently is a Vice President. She says she's done nearly every job, including watering the plants.

Lucille has been active in the Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society, and St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. She golfed all her life-the New Prague Golf Course is built on what was her father's farm.

ICBM started the Legacy of Community Banking Award in 2008.