The lure of a growing, healthy community kept banks scrambling for new locations in Lawrence during the past year.

And they’re not done yet.

Central National Bank plans to open its third Lawrence branch this month, followed by a fourth a few months later.

“We’re focused on the long-term investment,” said Brad Chindamo, Central National’s president in Lawrence. “We’re focused on Lawrence for the next 30 years, not the next 30 months. If you’re thinking from that perspective, there’s lots of opportunities throughout the city.”

The new locations will continue to bolster Lawrence’s standing as a busy banking market, one considered second only to Johnson County as the fastest-growing in Kansas.

Among the other banks embarking on growth and expansion:

l First State Bank and Trust has completed its main Lawrence branch, at 3901 W. Sixth St., to go along with its downtown location at 609 Vt. The new branch is south across Sixth Street from the city’s largest grocery store, a Hy-Vee in fast-growing northwest Lawrence. The bank is based in Tonganoxie.

l CornerBank, which is building its first stand-alone bank in Lawrence on the south side of Sixth Street, south of Free State High School. The Winfield-based bank currently operates out of a portion of a small strip center at 2311 Wakarusa Drive.

l Intrust Bank, which is building a new downtown branch to replace its old one at 901 Vt. The Wichita-based company also is renovating its other Lawrence branch, at 544 Columbia Drive, and actively searching for a third spot, somewhere in western Lawrence.

The downtown project is expected to cost Intrust nearly $1 million, and will include four drive-through lanes and a drive-up ATM.

“We’re committed to serving customers in Lawrence, Kansas, for a long time,” said Mike Maddox, Intrust’s community bank president in Lawrence. “You don’t make this kind of financial commitment to a community without the expectation you’ll be here a long time.”

Three new branches

Central National, meanwhile, is building upon its entry into the market five years ago.

After starting in 1995 with the acquisition of a branch at 603 W. Ninth St., Junction City-based Central National opened its main Lawrence branch in 1998 at 711 Wakarusa Drive and continued to seek expansion opportunities.

Last year the bank unveiled plans for three new branches, two of which are under construction. Both will include drive-through lanes and drive-up ATMs, and will be equipped with safe deposit boxes and other features of a full-service bank.

The first one to open, at 2321 Harper St., will be managed by Ryan Wedel, who joined the bank in 1997.

“He’s certified to do brokerage services, as well as business and commercial lending,” Chindamo said. “We’ll be set to do everything.”

Central National was drawn to the southeastern area of town by its promising potential  residential, commercial and industrial, Chindamo said.

The second new building is expected to open in June at 3110 Nieder Road, near SuperTarget. It will be managed by Angela Hill, whose location also will include a meeting room for seminars.

Taken together, the new branches will require a capital investment of about $1.4 million, Chindamo said.

“They’re nice, but efficient, with virtually all of it retail customer space,” he said. “They are frugal, but nice. They’re not fancy or lavish. That’s not our style.”