Intrust Bank leaders officially opened their new downtown headquarters Friday and announced they would soon start construction on a new west Lawrence bank.

The bank had a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday to officially open its new 5,300-square-foot bank and Lawrence headquarters office at the southwest corner of Ninth and Vermont streets.

Mike Maddox, president of the bank’s Lawrence operations, also announced the company would start construction later this year on a 3,000-square-foot bank branch at 16th Street and Wakarusa Drive. It is expected to open in the first three months of 2004.

The branch, which will be immediately south of the former headquarters of Oread Labs, will be the bank’s third location in Lawrence. It also will be its most western location in the city.

“We like the location because we think it will be more convenient for the western growth areas of the city,” Maddox said.

The new branch also will be adjacent to a new life sciences business park that Lawrence investor Sam Campbell and partners are developing around the former Oread Labs campus. Maddox said the bank liked the location for that reason as well.

Intrust Bank officials open their new downtown location at 901 Vt. Company officials announced Friday plans to build another new bank at 16th Street and Wakarusa Drive.

“We’re excited about being a part of the life sciences movement in town,” Maddox said. “We think there is a lot of potential in that area for both the city and us.”

Also at Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, Maddox announced the bank would make a $25,000 donation to the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence by Design campaign, which is aimed at providing private funding to support economic development efforts.

Maddox also announced the bank between now and the end of March would donate $1 for every ATM and teller transaction and $5 for every new account opened at the bank’s downtown location to the Lawrence Public Schools Foundation.

The money will be used to support the foundation’s classroom grant program.