Commerce Bank will build a new community bank headquarters in El Dorado, which nearly 16 years ago was the Missouri banking company's entry into the Wichita area.

"We're very excited about this opportunity, and we're in facilities now that aren't as efficient in dealing with customers the way we want to deal with them," said Mark Utech, El Dorado community bank president for the $17.8 billion, Kansas City-based bank.

Utech said the bank hopes to begin construction later this summer, though the bank hasn't selected a general contractor for the planned 5,200-square-foot building. The new building will have safe-deposit boxes, four drive-through teller lanes and a drive-up ATM.

Howard and Helmer Architecture designed the building, which shares an appearance similar to Commerce's downtown Wichita branch, at 456 N. Main.

Utech would not say what the expected cost of the new building is, saying "we're making a significant investment in our El Dorado market."

Completion is expected in early summer 2011, he said.

The new building will replace Commerce's only full-service branch in El Dorado.

The building it currently operates from is the one that came with its 1994 acquisition of the former Walnut Valley Bank & Trust, an acquisition that gave Commerce its first presence in the area.

Utech said the current building, at 100 N. Main, does not lend itself to modern-day banking, noting that its adjacent drive-through teller lanes are served by tellers working in a different building.

"They've served the community well," he said of the existing buildings. "(But) people's expectations of service and accessibility and how technology is integrated into the products and services they get just kind of pushes us to do something new and better."

The new building will be located "blocks away," on the southwest corner of Central and Denver. That puts it across the street from Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital.

The land for the new building was purchased from the hospital, Utech said.

Commerce competes well in the El Dorado market, ranking second among seven banks doing business there, according to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. data.

The most recent FDIC Deposit Market Share Report said Commerce has 23.58 percent of the bank deposits in El Dorado, totaling $76.4 million.

Reach Jerry Siebenmark at 316-268-6576 or jsiebenmark@wichitaeagle.com.

Bendigo Community Bank Boosts Cooroy’s Christmas Celebrations

One of the highlights of the annual Christmas in Cooroy celebrations is the street parade which makes its way up Maple Street and back and attracts approximately 5,000 people into Cooroy.  And the Bendigo Community Bank has just boosted Cooroy’s celebrations by signing a 3 year major sponsorship deal of $6,000 per year for the Street Parade!

Christmas in Cooroy is being held on Saturday 4th December this year with the Bendigo Bank Street Parade commencing at 5pm.  The theme for this year’s event is “Masquerade” and the staff at Bendigo Bank are already planning their float.  

“The Bendigo Bank Parade is a great spectacle and thousands of people line the streets to watch the floats.  The best float award is hotly contested with previous winners including the Cooroy Rag, Save the Mary Valley, Spiritus and Cooroy State School.  Who knows what amazing entry will win this year!  One thing is certain – it will be a colourful spectacular you won’t want to miss,” says Event Manager, Danielle Taylor.

“The Bendigo Community Bank sponsorship is invaluable as there is so much that goes into planning a free community event such as Christmas in Cooroy and it couldn’t be achieved without sponsorship from local businesses.  The event has grown each year and so have the associated costs for everything from insurance to rides.  The event is jointly hosted by the Cooroy Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Cooroy and there are approximately 30 sponsors and a host of volunteers that make the event a success.  The Christmas in Cooroy Committee started planning in February this year so it just goes to show how much there is involved,” explained Seb Vecchio, Cooroy Chamber of Commerce President.

Other major sponsors that have already agreed to sponsor this year’s event include Ri-con Contractors who decorate the Christmas Tree in Maple Street, the Cooroy Hotel and The Plantation who sponsor the bar area in Apex Park, Bistro Bistro who sponsor the Poet’s Breakfast, Telstra Countrywide who provide lollies for Santa to give out, the Cooroy Rag who provide advertising and fund some of the free rides in Apex Park and Noosa to Hinterland Plumbing Group who sponsor The Great Santa Race.  Sunshine Coast Regional Council has also provided $5,000 funding through their Community Partnerships Grant Program.  And there are still sponsorship opportunities (cash and in-kind) available by contacting Event Manager, Danielle Taylor on 0403 023 802 or danielle@fireflysolutions.com.au.

Don’t forget to visit www.christmasincooroy.com.au for all the latest information about Christmas in Cooroy!

Graphics:  Cooroy Chamber of Commerce President, Seb Vecchio (left) receives cheque from Bendigo Community Bank Cooroy Manager, Fiona Hutchings while trying out some masks for the masquerade theme with staff members.

Cooroy Chamber of Commerce
12 July 2010