First Merchants Bank to move across street in downtown Monroe
First Merchants Bank will move its downtown banking center across the street to 10 Washington St., remaining in downtown Monroe.
The relocated banking center is scheduled to open June 12. It will maintain the same hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
According to a press release, the new location provides an opportunity to bring the entire First Merchants staff together under one roof while adding technology enhancements to the facility. Being in the same location with colleagues from the mortgage, commercial, treasury, and private wealth advising department will allow stronger collaboration, the bank said.
“First Merchants is filled with a collection of dynamic colleagues who share a passion for ’helping the community prosper,’” bank president Mike Stewart said in a written statement. “When our team gathers in one building, it improves communication, fosters collaboration, increases motivation, and invites helpful conversations. Each of these attributes makes our team stronger, more cohesive, and better overall for the customers we serve.”
“We have a long-standing partnership with the Monroe County community by hosting partners like the Monroe Community Foundation, The Monroe County Business Alliance, CASA, the YMCA, and more at the First Merchants 9 Washington Street building,” market president Gretchen Eyler said in the release. “Relocating across the street will provide our community partners like the Monroe County Business Alliance an opportunity to expand as well as an opportunity for the First Merchants team to work more cohesively.”
“We are grateful for First Merchants and their commitment to seeing Monroe succeed,” Tim Lake, president and CEO at the Monroe County Business Alliance, said in the release. “For years, we’ve shared space with First Merchants, and after learning about the relocation, we identified ways we could grow into some newly available space. It’s a great opportunity for us.”
After the relocation, First Merchants Bank intends to list the historic building at 102 E. Front St. What does that mean for the clock?
Two years ago, First Merchants Bank invested in the renewal of the iconic clock, first displayed in 1917. There has been discussion on moving the clock across the street, but the team felt it was most important to respect the history of the clock and its location. Therefore, the clock will remain on the Front Street building.
First Merchants Bank recently negotiated the sale of 212 E. Front St. to the city of Monroe, creating space for public services and parking downtown.
Currently, First Merchants provides a home for the Monroe County Learning Bank Network on East First Street. This enables the Learning Bank to continue giving adults in Southeast Michigan access to education services.
The First Merchants Bank Monroe team will guide customers through the relocation transition. The community room on the fourth floor at 10 Washington is available free of charge for nonprofit organizations to use. The final day at the former location will be Friday, June 9, with normal operations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This location will be closed Saturday, June 10. Customers may begin using the new banking center at 10 Washington St. at 9 a.m. Monday, June 12. Customers can expect to hear directly from First Merchants Bank in the coming weeks.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: First Merchants Bank to move across street in downtown Monroe
