Kish Bank to open new branch in Mifflintown
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MIFFLINTOWN -- When word got out that Kish Bank planned to open a new branch in Mifflintown, CEO Greg Hayes followed the discussion on social media.
"Another bank, just what we need!" several posts read.
Hayes would argue that the new 2,000-square-foot branch will be more than 'just another bank' when it opens later this year. Especially at a time when other banks are closing branches and taking away access for people.
"Kish is not just another bank," Hayes wanted to reply. "Our focus is on providing consultative experts, financial betterment and support for the community."
Kish Bank hopes to start construction in June on what will become its 18th location and second in Juniata County. The bank also has offices and financial centers throughout Mifflin, Huntingdon, Centre and Blair counties.
Their lone Juniata County branch is along Route 35, in Parkside Court, in Mifflintown. In Mifflin County, Kish Bank operates six branches -- on South Main Street and Electric Avenue in Lewistown, and in Belleville, Reedsville, McVeytown and Allensville. Plus, their Kish Innovation Center in Reedsville, which is the hub of the bank's operation.
"We're hoping to get it under construction and open by the end of the year," Hayes said.
"This is an exciting time for us," he added. "We think there's a great opportunity here. There are several other banks, but we think there is demand for the way Kish does business."
The new Kish Bank will be a full-service location where customers can meet with staff about accounts, insurance, mortgages and wealth management advice and consulting and support.
The bank will continue to operate its Route 35 location in Mifflintown, after converting it into a full-service branch in 2022 with 24-hour, 7-day a week lobby ATM and a night drop.
The new location will be constructed at the former site of Ney's Bowling Alley, near Weis Markets, pending approval from Walker Township supervisors at their May 6 meeting.
The bank has submitted its site work design to the township officials to review. If approved, Hayes is optimistic groundbreaking and construction can begin in June.
"We've been interested in opening a branch on that side of town, a full-service branch with a drive-through," explained Hayes, who said the bank looked at a few other properties at other sites but liked this one the best. "We saw that the Ney's Bowling Alley had sold."
Weis Markets had bought the property and Kish Bank officials eventually worked out a lease agreement. Hayes said the bank likes to operate locations near grocery stores because of the foot traffic that they generate.
Locations in State College and Altoona are in close proximity to Weis Markets, while the Lewistown financial center and branch on South Main Street is near Giant.
"We find that when people go to the grocery store, they go to a bank," Hayes said.
The new Mifflintown location will also offer a new technology called ATM+ Live Banker. It's
currently available at the Route 35 branch, but you have to enter the lobby. The Mifflin County locations will likely receive the new technology next year.
Once the new Mifflintown location opens, services will be available using a special drive-through lane. It operates as an ATM but it also provides live video based full-service teller transactions, like cashing checks and making loan payments. The machine will be controlled and operated by a live teller located at Kish's Innovation Center in Reedsville.
"It will be just like standing in the teller line getting a full-service, in-person transaction, except it will be via video," Hayes said. There will also be a regular window drive-through lane, too.
"This new Live Banker solution will also allow us to have extended hours -- from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. -- without having to have the entire branch open," he added. "It's a new way for us to build a new branch in a new location, at a lower cost, and offer full-service banking and extended convenience. We're excited about it."
Hayes believes this type of technology will enable Kish Bank to enter more rural markets.
Kish Bank has had a presence in Juniata County for many years, utilizing its financial center in Lewistown and acquiring Sausman Insurance Agency in the spring of 2020.
There also will be familiar faces inside the branch, with Tyler Hutchinson serving as branch manager and Caleb Shertzer as vice president, commercial relationship manager. Kish plans to hire additional staff for the branch, and support clients with Mortgage, Wealth Management, and Insurance services.