Before you walk through the doors of Luther’s new BancFirst building, you’ll note the ample parking spaces and the beautiful landscaping that even includes pine trees. You can’t help but get that “new bank smell” when you walk in for the first time. The aroma of new construction and fresh paint greets you in the vestibule then you will see historic pictures that give tribute to a legacy of community banking in Luther. The big move from the current location on Main Street to the new one at 19280 E Highway 66 is fast approaching.
An Open House is scheduled Monday, July 1, 2019, from 3 – 6 pm for everyone to come take a look.
With much natural light, glass-windowed offices and conference rooms wrap around the spacious teller area and lobby that feature a fireplace, seating area and coffee station. On a growth trend for several years, the move to a new building was already in the works under the former First Bank & Trust when BancFirst announced it would acquire the Luther branch. At the time, plans were for a new building that would be valued at about $1 million; but that plan grew with BancFIrst with the estimated property value at $4 million. Aside from school property, the new bank likely will be among the most expensive pieces of property in our growing community. BancFirst has been a community partner in Luther for about a year as the new location has been constructed, and the Main Street branch has grown.
With about 20 employees, office space and parking in downtown Luther has been at a premium. There will be plenty of employee parking at the new place. And even though most all of the new space is accounted for, employees will be able to stretch out after being doubled and tripled up in some offices. Still, it will be quite a transition. The bank has always been on Main Street! And their presence will be missed! Now the bank will be on the east side of town, facing the busy State Highway 66 and welcoming more growth.
As part of the largest chartered bank in Oklahoma with more than 100 locations, BancFirst has maintained its community feel in Luther, particularly with its continued local leadership with President Gary Roy and Vice President Leslie (Fesler) Holman. The pair jokes that they must have started with the bank when they were only about ten years old, because each of them has been with the bank for 35 years. Time flies. Banks grow. And communities thrive.
“The community is so good to us,” said Holman. “I think the new bank feels like you are at home. It’s very inviting.”
Roy also is president of the Jones and Carney BancFirst locations. For the new Luther bank, he was the lead on the local construction – working with architects and contractors. He ensured that the space will have many touches to celebrate Luther, including artwork featuring local landscapes.
“We are here to support the community every way we can,” he said. From support to school projects, the parks, fireworks, the Luther Pecan Festival and more, BancFirst’s new location promises to be just as supportive from their new purview.
After the open house on July 1, it will be move-in time. To help move fixtures and boxes and whatever needs to be done, Roy said Luther football players will lend some muscles on July 6 for moving. The plan is for the new bank to be open on Monday, July 8 at the new location, including the drive-thru and ATM. The current separate drive-thru location on Ash will be closing.
What will happen to the old bank building?
The bank sold it to the Town of Luther, as part of a deal that helped the bank get the land for the new location. Plans are for Town Hall to move into the bank location later in the year. Main Street is changing with more room for growth.
The Open House for the new Luther BancFirst is Monday, July 1, 2019, from 3 – 6 pm. Everyone is invited! 19280 E Highway 66.
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