Member Feature: Work to begin on Bank of Franklin County flagship location

Bank of Franklin County has unveiled its plans for the construction of their new flagship retail location at 5702 Highway 100, Washington, MO, the current site of their Rabbit Trail branch.  

The 3,500 square foot branch will seamlessly integrate cutting-edge, intuitive branch technology, a modernized workspace to increase accessibility to personal bankers, as well as other amenities and design elements to ensure this model is comfortable for both tech-savvy and traditional banking customers alike.

“Our mission has always been to evolve the bank to meet the needs of the community and our customers. I do not envision a time when people will not want to talk face-to-face to a banking professional regarding big financial decisions – we feel this smart branch is the perfect union of personal customer attention and efficient technology.”
Robert D. Dobsch, President and CEO

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The new smart branch will perfectly meld the high level of friendly service our customers are accustomed to with a range of technological solutions to provide full-service transactions.  New features include:

• Next-generation wireless technology which will enable employees to provide on-the-spot assistance anywhere in the lobby and deliver a more personal level customer service;
• Two, handicap-accessible, digital tech bars which will enable employees to offer one-on-one assistance and tutorials on customers’ personal devices when setting up internet or mobile banking personal features;
• Interactive Teller Machines (ITM) in the two-lane drive up to allow remote connection to a human banker, and are able to complete nearly every transaction you are accustomed to at a traditional teller line including cashing a check down to the penny;
• A walk-up ITM on the exterior of the building to serve customers who wish to quickly and conveniently transact business without having to enter the lobby;
• Teller Cash Machines that can dispense cash allowing our universal bankers to process transactions more quickly; and
• Dedicated rooms equipped with built-in teleconferencing capabilities which will allow our universal bankers to provide face-to-face service to customers who prefer a remote option. 

"Our goal is to more than deliver on our 'same great bank, next-generation branch' tagline that we introduced last year when we started the remodel of several of our other branches. Creating a unified, seamless experience across our banking channels, whether it is online, mobile, or in-person, is our top priority. No matter how you choose to bank with us, your service experience will be consistent."
Becky Buhr, Sr. VP of Finance and Retail Sales Manager

Buhr continued by stating, “The digital advances we’re going to introduce at this smart branch will not simply be add-ons to outdated banking practices, but rather they are designed to be enhancements to our current banking culture. We’re here to create a welcoming experience where customers feel comfortable transacting business and receiving financial guidance no matter which channel they choose.”
Once completed, the two-story, 15,000 square foot structure will include a retail banking center and two smaller rental units on the first floor.  The bank will occupy 75% of the building with backroom operations claiming space on the second floor. 

“With 5 locations and total assets now approaching $300 million, we have long since outgrown our existing facilities here in Washington. We plan to continue to grow, and this new facility is a key part of the plan. At the same time, we are extremely proud of what we have accomplished in the past 20 years, and this further solidifies our commitment to our customers and the communities in Franklin and surrounding counties.”
Mike Radetic, Board Director

With construction anticipated to start at the beginning of February, it will be necessary to close the current Rabbit Trail location on January 30, 2021. Other locations will remain open with normal hours of operations.  As of today, lobbies are only accessible by appointment to ensure the safety of employees and customers during this pandemic. 
While the future impact the pandemic will have on our communities is uncertain, the bank eagerly looks forward to being able to reopen their lobbies and welcome their customers back.

“We look forward to extending a warm welcome to our new neighbors and customers, and thank those who have been with us for the 20 years we’ve been operating in your neighborhoods.”
Jane Glastetter, CFO

The bank has enlisted the services of Washington Engineering & Architecture, Inc. and Jasper Builders, Inc. to complete this project.  ​
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​Bank of Franklin County is an independent and locally owned community bank with five locations in St. Louis area serving Franklin, St. Charles, St. Louis and Warren Counties.  In addition to its full service banking locations, Bank of Franklin County also owns and operates Missouri Valley Wealth Management, LLC along with Franklin Mortgage Company, LLC as wholly owned subsidiaries of the bank.

​For more information about Bank of Franklin County please visit www.bankfc.com

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