Clarkston State Bank has plans to expand with the hopes of providing better service to their customers.
The bank is in the process of purchasing the land on M-15 and Citation Drive where Ace Hardware now stands. The goal is to open a 3,500 square foot full service branch after demolishing the old building.
“We have always talked about having another branch because we do not have room for a drive through facility here in downtown Clarkston,” Clarkston State Bank President Dawn Horner said.
When the bank was planning to re-open in the late 90’s there was talk of having a drive-through near Depot Park but the plan was not able to be worked out.
After looking at different land options, they decided on the area near Citation for a number of reasons.
“We needed to find the right place which would allow people to get in and out in a convenient manner. Also with the post office, secretary of state office and medical facilities we thought this was a convenient place to build. It is a perfect spot,” Horner said.
This will be the fourth Clarkston State Bank branch with the downtown main office in addition to the branches in the two local Farmer Jack stores already established. The bank is looking into extended hours for the drive-through for customer convenience.
“We are growing very nicely and we owe it all to the customer,” Horner said. “There is so much competition in banking in Clarkston and we are only going to see more and more competition. We need to continue to focus on our customer service because that is what sets us apart.”
Clarkston Financial Corporation, the holding company for Clarkston State Bank, saw its third quarter 2003 earnings rise 132 percent and its nine month 2003 net income doubled, compared with year-earlier results.
Clarkston State Bank first opened their doors in the early 1900s. In the 1960s they were sold to Pontiac State Bank, who were eventually bought out by National Bank of Detroit and then Bank One. The Main Street branch closed in 1997, which raised concern that there was no bank in downtown Clarkston.
Eight investors got together and launched the bank in 1999.