With plans for a spacious lobby and a 50-seat theater, Pioneer Bank's newest location isn't a typical branch office.
Bank executives don't consider it one, either. The new location, under construction at 4700 Singing Hills Blvd., will offer every service available at Pioneer's other sites and take over some of the functions conducted at other locations.
"We don't look at these as branches, we look at them as full-service offices," said Kelly Florke, executive vice president.
From the outside, the 11,500-square-foot bank at the intersection of Singing Hills Boulevard and Lakeport Street doesn't appear any different from other banks. It will have the standard drive-up lanes and a 24-hour ATM.
Inside is another story. The building is built with extra rooms and lots of space to accommodate services that are expected to grow.
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"We built it exceptionally large in several areas so we could have growth ability," Florke said.
The new location, expected to open in April or May, will be the centralized site of some of Pioneer's offices. All bookkeeping will be moved to the site. A large board room will accommodate some of the bank's board of directors meetings.
But the main feature is the theater-style training room in the basement. Once finished, the room will seat 50 people and contain several video and audio features.
"This is fairly unique to this location," Florke said.
The theater will be the site of all Pioneer training. It is also designed so that the public can access it when the bank is closed. That raises the possibility that it could be open to other groups.
"Our intention is to see how that develops, to find ways to use it as a community center as well," Florke said.
Back upstairs, the bank lobby will have an open feel with lots of daylight, vaulted ceilings and a three-sided fireplace.
"That'll be a very nice entry point. It'll be very inviting," Florke said.
The bank will offer all of Pioneer's services, Florke said, from checking and savings accounts, to investments and loans to safe deposit boxes. Pioneer's insurance and realty offices also will have a presence at the new location.
With $100 million in assets, Pioneer executives thought it was time to expand to a second site in Sioux City, Florke said. The bank has an office at Seventh and Pierce streets and also has offices in Sergeant Bluff and Salix. The Morningside area was a logical choice for a new site.
"With the tremendous growth in this area, it makes sense for us to have a presence here," Florke said. "This is a great area, it's expanding all the time."
Pioneer, which has been in business since 1907, focuses on friendly, personal service, Florke said. The new location will employ 10 people, many of whom are already working at other Pioneer offices. Customers at the Singing Hills site will be dealing with an experienced staff, Florke said. Also in the plans are extending hours past normal business hours to allow members of working families to conduct banking after they get off work.
"We'll have a great presence (in Morningside)," he said. "I think we're going to find this really sets us apart from the rest."
