Emprise plans to close Maize bank branch

Feb. 10--Emprise Bank said Monday it will close one of its 21 branches in Sedgwick County.

Officials from the $1.5 billion bank said in a news release they plan to close the branch at 10320 W. 53rd in Maize.

The bank said an official closing date has not been set, and that they would notify affected customers in a letter of the exact date of closure.

Officials cited low transaction volume at the branch, its proximity to Emprise's NewMarket Square branch at 10620 W. 21st and road construction in the area as reasons for the closure.

It said the six employees who work at the branch will be transferred to other Emprise offices, and the building will continue to be owned by the bank and used for "operational functions."

The 53rd Street branch was one of 11 branches Emprise picked up in its 2006 acquisition of the former Prairie State Bank. The branch was originally opened in February 1980, according to information from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

The branch had $29.9 million in deposits as of June 30, 2013, the most recent deposit information available from the FDIC, accounting for nearly 89 percent of market share in the 67101 ZIP code.

It is one of two bank branches operating in that ZIP code. The other, Halstead Bank, had $4.1 million in deposits, accounting for 12 percent of deposits in that area, as of June 30.

Halstead opened its branch at 4001 N. Maize in 2008.

Alex Williams, president of Halstead Bank, said while deposit growth at the branch has been a little slow, "on the loan side, it's been very strong. We're a relatively small community bank.

"It doesn't take the same dollars to move the needle. It's been a great move for the Halstead Bank."

Reach Jerry Siebenmark at 316-268-6576 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @jsiebenmark.

___

(c)2014 The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.)

Visit The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.) at www.kansas.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services