Citizens Alliance Bank opens Lincoln building addition

Citizens Alliance Bank formally opened the expansion of their Lincoln branch with a visit from the Forstrom brothers and a ribbon cutting Tuesday, Aug. 27.

Lincoln Branch Manager Shane Lindsay and Montana Market Manager Ryan Fritz snipped a red, white and blue ribbon while Citizens Alliance Bank president John Gill and Chairman Philip Forstrom, local staff members and board members looked on.

"The Forstrom brothers really appreciate the support and investment in the community and in the bank and in our folks," said Fritz.

Work on the expansion began last November, after getting off to a late start, and continued throughout the winter. The addition doubled the footprint of the original bank building, which was completed in 2015.

The ribbon cutting was a ceremonial way to officially open the expansion, rather than a re-opening celebration.

"We would have loved to have a real grand opening like you normally do," Lindsay said. "We would love to have that Obviously, given COVID it's not something that's in the plans right now. Hopefully we would have that in the near future."

The expansion includes a second lobby, extra offices, a storage area and a break room for employees.

The expansion represents an investment in the community by the bank, with an eye toward future growth.

"We hope to fill (the new offices) at some point, but there's nothing imminent in the plans," Lindsay said. "We had no room for anything, for any expansion. Before, my office for two years was originally built as a boardroom.'

Lindsay said the second reception desk in the rear lobby is likely to stay vacant for now, but he said they expect to have someone there eventually.

"The thought process is that this will probably turn into the main entrance, with the parking in the back now," he said. "Hopefully at some point we'll grow and expand and we'll have the space for that."

Lindsay said they may eventually be able to entertain requests to use the bank's conference room, once they sort out how that could work.

"As one would expect with a bank, there're some security protocols we'd have to work through," he said. "But certainly, I think it'd be great to get to the point of being able to host - during business hours - some meetings in the boardroom."

"I would like to thank our customers and the community for their patience. It went pretty well, but there were some inconveniences, but everybody was real good about it. So, we're definitely thankful to the customers and the community for that.

As of last Tuesday, there were a few details left to be dealt with such as landscaping, which is in the works for this week.

"A few pieces of trim and some drapes, and we should be good." Lindsay said.