Topeka bank wants into Lawrence / LJWorld.com

Archive for Thursday, August 9, 2007

Commerce Bank & Trust planning for two or three branches in city by 2009

August 9, 2007

Assets: $1.15 billion
Branches: 24 in Topeka and Emporia
Plans: Open four branches in Johnson County by end of 2008; have two or three open in Lawrence by end of 2009; branches also are planned in Manhattan and Junction City.

A Topeka-based bank is looking to move into Lawrence.

Commerce Bank & Trust is embarking on an expansion program that will start with a new branch in Shawnee, set to open in December. Up next: another three Johnson County locations next year, then "two or three" branches to be up and running in Lawrence by the end of 2009.

"It will really depend on how fast we can close on the ground," said John Fager, the bank's executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "We're a fairly aggressive bank."

It's all part of Commerce Bank & Trust's plan to stretch throughout the Kansas River corridor, from Manhattan and Junction City to the Kansas City metro area and beyond.

The bank, with $1.15 billion in assets, already has 24 locations: 21 in Topeka and three in Emporia. Now the idea is to find more room for growth, and hot markets such as Manhattan/Junction City, Lawrence and Johnson County top the list.

"We're not into overextending," Fager said. "You take a look at some of these sites and locations, and they make sense for a good return. We've done our homework. :

"We're not going into anywhere to lose money."

The company, owned by private investors and the bank's own employee stock ownership program, already has somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 customers in Lawrence, Fager said. Many live in Lawrence and work in Topeka.

Realtors are working on the bank's behalf to locate potential sites in Lawrence, he said. Fager declined to discuss specifics, saying that all areas of town were in the mix.

"We think we have a line on two or three pretty good locations," he said. "West side? East side? Central? We're really just looking to offer convenience for our customers."

Commerce Bank & Trust also is looking into expanding into Colorado, Fager said, and "almost certainly" will reach across the Kansas state line into Missouri.

"That has to be part of the strategy," said Fager, who says that the company likely would buy another bank's charter in the state. "You can't have half of Kansas City."

Discussion

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9 August 2007
at 3:13 p.m.

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riverat (Joe Hyde) says…

Nothing against Commerce Bank & Trust expanding here, but doesn't Lawrence already have more banks than gas stations?
9 August 2007
at 3:25 p.m.

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mommaeffortx2 (Anonymous) says…

was thinking the same thing.
9 August 2007
at 3:42 p.m.

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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…

Not to mention a bank named Commerce.
9 August 2007
at 3:58 p.m.

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MyName (Anonymous) says…

lol I guess I'm one of the 1,500 to 2,000. Do I get a prize or something?
9 August 2007
at 4:33 p.m.

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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…

The bank will no longer be called Commerce Bank and Trust because you cannot have two “Commerce's” in the same city. They will be changing their name…I just can't recall what it will be right now. I'll try to find it. They are making this change specifically so that they can expand into Commerce Bank territory.
9 August 2007
at 4:58 p.m.

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toefungus (Anonymous) says…

Maybe they will make loans to downtown merchants. I hope they do not make sub-prime loans.
9 August 2007
at 5:27 p.m.

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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…

Here is the new name and an exceprt from their web announcement.

“Because there are other 'non-us' Commerce Banks in this area,
to avoid confusion we are introducing another name, CoreFirst
Bank & Trust. CoreFirst was selected because of the core values
that guide us and the many innovations that we were first to bring
to our customers.”

9 August 2007
at 5:31 p.m.

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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…

More fun facts:

“The Commerce Bank & Trust name will continue to be
used in connection with branches in Topeka and Emporia.

Commerce Bank & Trust Home Loan Company will be
making home loans in Topeka and Emporia.

Commerce Financial Corporation, soon to be renamed
as Commerce Bank & Trust Holding Company, still
owns the bank.

Our web address at www.cbtks.com stays the same too.”
9 August 2007
at 8:18 p.m.

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somebodynew (Anonymous) says…

oh no!!!! the sky is falling!!! doom and gloom!!!!
Another bank is coming to town. We have too many banks, it will kill downtown. It won't create new taxes and revenue, it will just “displace” the revenue that is already here.

Just where are all the gra, pcl, abc, xyz, or NIMBY groups opposed to this????? I guess this is OK because it is not retail (or is it because it is not Walmart).