Family banking tradition expands into the Valley

Copper France, President & CEO of the Bank of Commerce, has been part of a family banking tradition in Wyoming dating back to 1873 when his great-great-great uncle, James France, built a building in 1873 on the North East Corner of Front and 5th Street in Rawlins.

France ran a grocery store and dry goods business out of one side of the building while the other side is where France opened the first banking house in Rawlins, the James France House of Banking. In 1884 J.W. Hugus & Co. purchased the grocery store and dry goods business from James France. Then the Hugus Co. Bank was chartered as Ra...