WPBN: As more consumers choose to online banking, The First National Bank and Trust Co. is closing a few branches in southwest Oklahoma.
According to bank officials, the organization will continue to provide services in the areas even though the physical locations would no longer exist.
There are fourteen locations for First National Bank and Trust. Rush Springs, Cyril, and Alex are its closing sites.
According to Mike VanSickle, the bank’s chief experience officer, fewer individuals are going to the bank in person as a result of consumers using debit cards and mobile banking more frequently.
VanSickle claimed that although the COVID-19 outbreak accelerated the transition to online banking, it was not the reason for the shutdown.
“What we did is we listened to those communities, and they’re doing banking online,” VanSickle stated. “Certainly, there will be those that will go to our locations, and now they’ll have to drive 18 miles. But the vast majority of our customer base is utilizing our electronic channels.”
The venues’ patrons will have access to ATMs for depositing and withdrawing money, as well as other bank websites. According to VanSickle, other staff will work at various locations, while managers from closed branches will operate out of the main Chickasha facility.
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“Our managers are still managing those communities,” VanSickle stated. “They’re just parking their car in a different location.”
He claimed that the bank’s executives discussed the best course of action for a long time. He stated that the bank is not leaving the towns, even if it would no longer have physical locations in the places.
According to Vansickle, the bank will continue to provide services to its clients, participate in football-related events, and place ATMs in the community so that people may deposit and withdraw money. The structures would be donated to the local communities, he said.
