Fairfield’s MidWestOne Bank moves across the street

FAIRFIELD — MidWestOne Bank in Fairfield has moved across the street into its new offices inside the former First National Bank Building.

MidWestOne Bank Market President Ron Haines said he and his employees had a busy weekend moving equipment and supplies from one bank to the other to prepare for opening at the new location on 9 a.m. Monday.

“We moved everything except the furniture,” he said. “Everyone has done an excellent job with the move. We’ve had great teamwork.”

MidWestOne Bank employees worked until 2 p.m. Thursday at their location on the southwest corner of the intersection of Burlington Avenue and Court Street. Four days later, they had moved into their new offices on the east side of the street, where they joined First National Bank employees.

Late last week, a construction crew removed the red First National Bank signs and replaced them with green MidWestOne Bank signs. First National’s digital sign, with a clock and temperature readout, received a face-lift, too, and now bears the name MidWestOne Bank.

The lobby of the former First National Bank looks much the same, except that MidWestOne has added a large screen television that advertises the bank’s services and products.

With the addition of the employees from First National Bank, MidWestOne Bank in Fairfield employs 18 people. Across its 57 branches in states such as Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado and Florida, the company employs about 800 people.

Haines said he is excited to serve customers from the bank’s new location. He said the chemistry between the former First National and MidWestOne employees has been great, too.

MidWestOne Bank will continue to operate its other location in Fairfield, located at 2408 W. Burlington Ave. on the west edge of town, until Aug. 25. Haines said the bank’s former office space, at 58 E. Burlington Ave., is now closed, and will soon be put on the market.

In the fall of 2021, MidWestOne Bank announced its intention to purchase First National Bank, with offices in Muscatine and Fairfield. By early June 2022, MidWestOne Bank had cleared all regulatory hurdles, and the acquisition was complete.

Company representatives of MidWestOne said the bank decided to move its staff into the former First National building because of its drive-through and ATM services, handicap accessibility and additional parking.

Haines said he’s looking forward to offering the bank’s customers not just the added conveniences of a downtown drive-through and handicap accessibility, but also new loan products, too, such as commercial real estate loans, and much more.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com