Peoples Bank made two announcements recently in regard to their bank offices. The bank told its customers last week that the Rippey branch office will be closing July 31. This week the bank announced their plans to build a new branch office in Boone.
Customers of the Rippey branch will be integrated into the other branch offices which include Grand Junction, Jefferson, Scranton and Ogden. All bank services including safety deposit offices will be available in the other offices.
Bank president and COO John Rigler III noted three main reasons for the Rippey closing:
1. Staffing has been a challenge.
2. Security. The Rippey and Scranton branch offices have been robbed twice in the past 10 years.
3. Rippey branch lobby traffic has declined in part due to the trend of internet banking.
Rigler noted business has remained steady at the other Greene County offices. Rippey employees will be offered positions in other branch offices.
“We will continue to service the community,” said Rigler. “Nothing will change as far as our commitment to the community.” Peoples Bank operates the ATM at Sparky’s in Rippey.
On Monday, Rigler announced the construction of a new Peoples Bank branch in Boone at 1212 Hawkeye Drive. Groundbreaking is scheduled in late June or early July. The branch is expected to be open for business by the first quarter of 2024.
Abby Howie, a 25-year banking veteran, has been hired by Peoples Bank to lead the new branch as market president, SVP. Howie’s strong lending expertise, deep knowledge of the industry and excellent customer service skills have distinguished her as the premiere banker to establish Peoples Bank’s newest market. Prior to joining Peoples Bank, Howie spent several years working in the banking industry in Boone and Cedar Valley (Cedar Falls and Waterloo area).
“This is an exciting time for Peoples Bank. As a local bank with over a l00-year history in Iowa, we’re always adapting to the changing needs of our communities,” noted Rigler. “At times, this leads to hard decisions. Other times, it can usher in new opportunities.
“The opening of our new Boone location with Abby as market president demonstrates the kind of forward-thinking that has secured Peoples Bank as a financial intuition that can continue serving the personal and business banking needs of Iowans for years to come,” added Rigler.
Peoples Bank has partnered with Koester Construction and ID8 architects for general contracting and design work. The bank plans to provide more updates in the weeks and months to come.
About Peoples Bank: Peoples Bank has been in operation and served central Iowans since 1917. It operates as a bank for people of all professions and backgrounds. Their People First Banking™ approach ensures that customers’ needs always come first. ~courtesy of The Scranton Journal
