Federation Bank completes move

Federation Bank is a business that needs no introduction, with over a century of history in Washington County under its belt, and locations in Washington, Brighton, Wellman and Richland.

In December, Federation Bank moved their location from 102 East Main St. to 300 South Iowa Avenue. While the former site served its purpose for over a century, Bank President and CEO Trent Holtkamp said the new spot was perfect, thanks to some ambitious renovations.

“Everything you see out in the lobby is new,” he said. “This is exactly what we need. There’s enough space, but not wasted space, I think everyone’s happy with the way it turned out.”

Over the course of nine months, the building’s ground floor was gutted, given new offices, new counters, a boardroom, and a fresh layout. All that remains is some interior decorating and landscaping planned for this summer.

On June 21, the motor bank at 220 East Washington Street will close, and the drive-up motor bank will be at the 300 South Iowa Avenue location. With the change, the business will instead offer car-accessible “Interactive Teller Machines” at its new location on Jefferson Street and South Iowa Avenue.

Not to be confused with ATMs, ITMs will have a customer service representative appear on a video feed. Unlike at a traditional drive-up, however, there’s no teller window, and no need to wait on transactions traveling through a vacuum tube: the machine can accept deposits, cash checks, dispense coin, make transfers, loan payments, and supply cash withdrawals. On June 21 and the following weeks, bank staff will be available outside if anyone needs help with the ITMs.

“They are easy to use, but we understand not everyone is as tech savvy as others,” Holtkamp said. “Customers will catch on quick and appreciate how fast they are.”

While an ITM can be used at any time of day, during business hours it gives customers a chance to speak with a teller if they need to, at the mere push of a button.

“It is like an ATM with more options, and you have the ability to communicate with a customer service representative if you want to,” Holtkamp said. “It basically can do everything. You can deposit cash, deposit checks, cash checks, transfers, it will dispense coin … it’s faster, and it should be more convenient than going to a teller window.” “On average, the time of a transaction is a minute and a half faster. Customers will also be able to see the customer service representative better.”

The drive-up’s closure will put every Federation Bank staff member in Washington under the same roof.

“This will allow us to be more efficient on a day-to-day basis,” Holtkamp said. “It can make scheduling and staffing difficult at times when we have to have two employees at another location. We will now have the ability to put these at other branches or enter new markets we are not already in.”