Today, Community Bank of Louisiana (CBLA) announces the celebration of its 125th anniversary, marking a milestone that few financial institutions in the region can claim. Founded in 1901 and headquartered in Mansfield, Louisiana, CBLA has grown from a single location in Logansport into one of the most successful locally owned and operated community banks in Louisiana, now serving customers across 12 branch locations throughout the Northwest Louisiana region with more than $850 million in assets.
The anniversary reflects not only the bank’s longevity, but the depth of its roots. For 125 years, CBLA has operated on a straightforward belief: that banking works best when it is built around relationships, not transactions. That philosophy has guided the institution through more than a century of economic cycles, regional growth, and an ever-changing financial landscape — and it remains the foundation of how the bank serves its more than 117 employees and the communities they call home.
From The River Banks of Logansport to All of Northwest Louisiana: A Legacy of Growth
The institution’s origins trace to 1901, when the Bank of Logansport was established in Logansport, Louisiana. Decades later, Mansfield Bank and Trust was founded in 1947 by J.W. Carraway, and by 1976, the bank came under the ownership of Walter Dorroh, Sr. and Dave Means Jr. — a transition that would shape the institution’s trajectory for generations. In 1983, William Dorroh was elected President by the bank’s board of directors, and the current headquarters on Jefferson Street in Mansfield opened its doors.
In 1996, Mansfield Bank and Trust took a risk and expanded into Shreveport and Caddo Parish, all as they were negotiating a merger with the historic Bank of Logansport. As one institution by 1997, assuming the name Community Bank of Louisiana, the strategic growth followed over the next several years. First, it was additional expansion in Shreveport in 1999 and 2002, then Bossier City in 2004 and 2008, Downtown Shreveport in 2008, Stonewall in 2014, and Many in 2019 and 2020. With additional expansion on the horizon in 2027 and beyond – each
expansion followed the same logic: go where the people are, and serve them the way a neighbor would.
Today, CBLA operates 12 branch locations across the region, offering a full suite of personal banking, business banking, mortgage services and lending, digital banking, and investment options. In 2024, the bank deepened its commitment to comprehensive financial guidance through the establishment of Community Wealth Services, an in-house investment and financial planning offering developed in partnership with Ameriprise Financial Services.
A Milestone Rooted in Community
“One hundred and twenty-five years is a testament to the trust this community has placed in us — and to the people inside this bank who have honored that trust every single day. We don’t take either one for granted. This anniversary belongs to our customers, staff, and friends as much as it belongs to as a bank,” said Jayce Simpson, President & CEO.
Simpson, who was elected President by the bank’s board of directors in 2021, leads an institution that has navigated remarkable change while maintaining its identity as a locally owned, relationship-first bank. CBLA’s leadership and staff live and work in the same communities they serve — a distinction that shapes everything from the products the bank offers to the way it makes decisions.
With $850 million in assets directed primarily toward local projects and customers, CBLA’s impact extends well beyond its branch walls. The bank has financed homes, supported small businesses, and helped families across Northwest Louisiana plan for their futures — generation after generation.
Looking Ahead
As CBLA marks its 125th year, the bank remains focused on expanding access to financial services across the region it has called home for more than a century. From full-service digital and mobile banking to the recently launched Community Wealth Services platform, the bank continues to pair its community banking roots with the tools and expertise today’s customers need.
To celebrate the occasion, CBLA will host a free community event on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at its Mansfield headquarters located at 118 Jefferson Street. The evening will feature live music by Lucas Jagneaux & The Roadshow, local vendors, food trucks, inflatable games, and more — open to customers, neighbors, and the broader community alike. The event reflects what the bank has always believed: that the best way to mark 125 years is to spend it with the people who made it possible.
Customers and community members are encouraged to follow Community Bank of Louisiana on social media and visit their nearest branch location for additional anniversary updates and details.