Independent Banker - April 2020 - 63

speed with what we consider to be modern banking, " says
Kevin Beckemeyer, president and CEO.
The bank decided to consolidate the offi ce into a single
new location for three reasons. First, it wanted to gain
the effi ciencies of combining two branches into one.
Second, it wanted to build a new branch that had the
latest technologies and other service features. And third, it
wanted to make sure that the branch was located in a more
desirable location-a high-traffi c area of the city.
So, what does the new branch look like? " We wanted
our new branch to be warm and inviting to customers, "
Beckemeyer says. While the branch has a traditional drivethru,
ATMs and teller windows, it also features two " pods "
for cash dispensing and other basic transactions.
Beckemeyer says one advantage of this arrangement
is that customers can complete their transactions
more quickly. " Then, if a customer is interested, " he says,
" the teller can come from behind the pod and take the
customer to a diff erent location in the branch to meet with
a lender, an investment advisor or other business partner. "
The Marion branch off ers mortgage and other consumer
lending, SBA lending, commercial lending and ag lending,
as well as investment services.
" We off er free coff ee at all of our branches, but the
coff ee bar in our new Marion branch is unique in that it
is in a special area that is set aside for people to have a
comfortable space, " says Tricia Johnson, Legence Bank's
vice president of marketing and communications. " It also
allows members of our own team to sit down and have
informal conversations.
" We also have a new digital sign right at the coff ee bar, "
she adds, " which provides opportunities for us to partner
" Customers are wanting brick and
mortar locations in order to meet with
our people for consultative and
informational needs, such as
applying for loans. "
-Andrew Pyles, Eclipse Bank
with local philanthropic organizations and businesses and
promote what they are doing in the community. "
The Marion branch gets the word out about products,
services and promotions through displays inside and
outside the building. " For example, we have a very large
digital sign outside, " Johnson says. " It can do a lot more
than just scroll a few words. We are able to show large
images, text and ads. Inside, we have a digital sign behind
the teller pods, which allows us to feature various ads. "
There are video screens in the drive-thru area, so while
customers are waiting on the drive-thru tellers to complete
their transactions for them, they can learn about some of
the community bank's off erings. " The idea is to pique their
interest in some products and services we off er that they
may not have known about, " Johnson says.
Outside of the branch, Legence Bank's marketing
strategy includes newspaper, TV, radio and social media.
" In our area, radio is still a very popular platform to reach
people, " Johnson says.
William Atkinson is a writer in Illinois.
Legence Bank
consolidated
two off ices
into one new
Marion, Ill.,
branch with
the latest
features,
from modern
banking
" pods " to a
coff ee station
for customers.
independentbanker.org Q 63
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - April 2020

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