Anchor Bank founder dies

Northwestern Financial Review, Mar 15-Mar 31, 2003

Winton Jones, the man who founded Wayzata, Minn.-based Anchor Bank, passed away on February 9. Born in Minneapolis on Oct. 31, 1924, Jones was in high school when he enlisted in the army. He served in World War II and received his high school diploma while serving in Czechoslovakia.

Jones graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1949 with a bachelor's degree in history, which became a life-long interest. He began his banking career at the 1st National Bank in Minneapolis in 1949 and later held several positions at other financial institutions. He purchased the North Shore State Bank in 1967, which became Anchor Bank. Under his leadership the organization grew to include five banks under a single holding company, Anchor Bancorp, the eighth-largest holding company in Minnesota.