Country Bank to close Three Rivers branch

May 16, 2022 | Staasi Heropoulos

PALMER – Country Bank plans to close its branch at 191 Sykes St., Three Rivers as new technology and the coronavirus pandemic are keeping people away from the banking center. The branch’s final day will be Aug. 31. Customers are being redirected to the bank’s nearby branch at 1485 N. Main St. in Palmer.

“Due to staffing shortages along with increased use of electronic services, it just makes sense to combine the two locations. It’s only two miles away,” said Shelley Regin, Country Bank’s senior vice president, marketing and public relations.

The number of customers who use mobile or online technology to conduct their banking is skyrocketing. Country Bank has seen a 60 percent increase in mobile deposits. Many of the customers who use this technology are no longer going to the branches.

Regin also said many people who stayed away from banks during the coronavirus pandemic have found no reason to come back, preferring instead to bank online or with their phones.

It has also been difficult for Country Bank to staff its Sykes Street branch. While the location needs six people to run the operation, it has only three to run the business. All of them are being offered positions at other bank branches.

When mobile and online services were introduced years ago, experts predicted the number of customers using bank branches would plummet. Analysts concluded the technologies would spark a seismic shift in the way people do their banking. Regin said all Country Bank branches are seeing less foot traffic, but she doesn’t expect any more of them to close.

“All bank branches are seeing this decrease in foot traffic. Other banks are also consolidating operations when they have two branches near each other. It was not an easy decision, but when you look at not having enough staffing along with decreased foot traffic, it makes sense to combine the two locations,” said Regin.

Customers who are used to having a branch in Three Rivers will now have to change their routine and go to the other end of Palmer or another branch. Regin said this should have little impact on customers.

“The Palmer location has completely been renovated over the last year and a half and is certainly big enough to house everyone that would have any banking needs. People are just going to have to change how they perform their daily tasks,” said Regin.

Regin said bank branches will always be needed to serve people with complicated transactions or who simply want to speak with an advisor in person.

“It’s a great thing for people to bank wherever and whenever they want by using the latest technology. But they also want to have a trusted advisor, so the locations are there to help them. Branches are not going away,” she said.

Regin said staffing shortages never forced the Sykes Street branch to reduce its hours. However, beginning May 21, the location will be closed on Saturdays. The ATM will continue to be available until the banks closure at the end of August.

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