First National Bank will close longtime mall office
Published on -2/10/2012, 10:04 AM
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By KLINT SPILLER
By early March, First National Bank no longer will have a branch at The Mall in Hays.
FNB President Alan States said The Mall decided not to renew the bank's lease contract a few months ago, but States said the decision was best for both parties.
The main reason for the bank's removal was because of possible remodeling to the exterior of The Mall that would affect the bank's drive through.
"They didn't want us located there with the drive-up," States said.
Micaela J. McArdle, regional property manager at DP Management LLC, which owns The Mall, disputed The Mall was the one to deny the lease, but she declined to comment on the details and status of the lease.
DP Management released a statement that said, "We have enjoyed the bank's long-standing relationship with The Mall and hope the bank's new operator from Colorado chooses to continue that relationship. We would certainly like to be the site of the branch bank for many years to come."
First National Bank has been purchased by Colorado National Bank, based in Pallisades, Colo. When the sale is approved by banking regulators, FNB will become known as Kansas National Bank.
States said The Mall location is no longer as necessary as it was in the past. He said with technology moving more toward online banking, online billing, and direct deposits, traditional deposits are less common.
Also, he said the location no longer was as desirable as it was when the branch opened in 1994.
"If you go by the south side of The Mall, it is pretty much empty except for us," States said. "With real estate, it is about location."
The bank's last day in The Mall will be March 2.
States said FNB's main location at 1100 Fort will remain open, and employees at The Mall branch will be moved to the main office. States said no positions will be lost.
States said he is interested in maintaining a presence in the northern part of Hays with an unmanned remote service unit so people still can make deposits and withdraw money.
"I would like to have a drive-up or remote service unit in that part of town, whether it be at The Mall or somewhere else," States said.
