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The vision of John P. McCoy, Albert Seaman, John Wahla, Joseph W. Zinger, John W. Smith, and Mr. Susalla along with the help of Mr. Medbury formed the Citizens Bank of Medbury, Seaman and Company in July, 1907.

The founding president was Seaman, McCoy and Smith serving as the vice-presidents. Zinger was cashier and Wahla was the assistant cashier.

Shortly after that time, the bank was renamed the Citizens Bank of Seaman, Wahla and Company and operated as a private banking institution until March 30, 1953.

The bank was one of the few in the state to remain open during the banking holiday in 1933. In a quote from Leo Zinger in 1969, he said, "We continued to pay on deposits, commercial accounts and on demand certificates all during the bank holiday and never closed for a day."

In 1953, there were only 10 remaining private banks in Michigan. Seeking advantages of deposit insurance and in pre-compliance with a new state statute, the Citizens Bank of Ruth applied to the State Banking Department for a state charter and membership in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

On March 30, 1953, Citizens Bank of Ruth was converted to a State Charter Bank under the name of Ruth State Bank. Vice-President and Executive Officer of Citizens Bank, Joseph W. Zinger was elected president to lead the Ruth State Bank.

Leo Zinger became the president of Ruth State Bank in 1953, after the death of his father, Joseph.

Leo was a graduate of St. Jerome's High School, Kitchener, Ontario and attended the University of Detroit. He served as a Captain in the Air Force for four years. In 1946, Leo began his career in banking that spanned almost 60 years, until his death in June, 2006.

Joseph G. Zinger joined Ruth State Bank in 1983 as the comptroller. Joe is a graduate of St. Mary's Preparatory High School, Orchard Lake and Notre Dame University.

In 1986, Joe became the president of Ruth State Bank, the position he still holds today.

The original operations of Citizens Bank started in two rooms in a home on the southeast corner of the main intersection in Ruth in 1907. In 1912, a bank building was constructed on the corner.

In 1968, a new building was constructed behind the existing bank, which was torn down when the existing building was completed. A 29' x 56' one-story addition/renovation project was completed on the existing bank on June 16, 1995.