T-R PHOTO BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ
Wells Fargo’s downtown bank branch, 102 S. Center St., is set for demolition in early September. It will be rebuilt to feature a more modern design intended to maximize efficiency.

Wells Fargo’s downtown bank branch, 102 S. Center St., is set for demolition in early September. It will be rebuilt to feature a more modern design intended to maximize efficiency.

“We are going to maintain our presence in downtown Marshalltown and upgrade and show our commitment to our community and customers with a brand new branch at our current location,” Region Bank President Brett Smith said.

To meet the needs of its customers, Wells Fargo has set up a mobile banking trailer in its parking lot.

“While no one is working in the trailer yet, we will have it opened before demolition of the old location,” he said.

Tellers and bankers will work out of the trailer while other team members will be temporarily shifted to working at Wells Fargo’s southside bank, 2703 S. Center St.

The downtown bank sustained damage in the July 2018 tornado, including to its heating/cooling system, roof and drive-thru.

The 21,000-square foot building was built in 1963 by Fidelity Savings Bank. Change came to Fidelity when it was purchased by Brenton Banks Inc. of Des Moines in 1970, and the name was later changed to Fidelity Brenton Bank and Trust Company. In 2000, Wells Fargo agreed to buy Brenton Banks Inc. and a subsidiary for $264.5 million in stock, changing the name of the those banks to the Wells Fargo name. The site is the former location of an 1895-era post office that was demolished to construct the bank in the 1960s.

The new bank will be 3,500 square feet.

“It will be more efficient,” Smith said. “Banking has changed, so there’s not as many functions that have to occur now in the branches, so this will be the right size for us — keeping the same number of team members we had before … Part of our support is making sure we’re there for local businesses that are helping the community rebuild as well. It will be exciting for us to serve our customers into the future as well.”

Smith said Wells Fargo employees have been committed to tornado relief and rebuilding efforts from day one.

The new bank will be completed in the first half of 2020 but no specific date has been set.