By Lanell Smith

The Luverne Kiwanis Club hosted guest speakers from Brantley Bank and Trust at the group’s July 16 meeting. During a question and answer session, Kiwanians learned details about the bank’s plans to open a Luverne branch in the coming months.

Brantley Banks President and CEO Travis Colquett joined Robert Owen, II, a business development/loan officer, at the meeting. He said a Luverne branch, located in the building at 207 South Forest Avenue which formerly housed a Truist Bank branch was slated to open as early as January 2025.

“As of right now, the first quarter of January is what we are shooting for,” Colquett said. 

Colquett said building renovations will be completed soon. However hardware installation and connecting to central resources requires waiting for contractor availability.

“It will look like we’re just sitting there and can’t open,” Colquett said. “But all the hardware, the computers and ATM (automatic teller machine)… there’s such a backlog for connectivity.”

The bank is currently interviewing candidates and is aiming to employ a local staff. The plan is all part of the institution’s foundational mission to provide local, relationship-based services.

Owen, who can to Brantley Bank with a credit union background, said he understands the importance of building relationships with citizens seeking banking services.

“Travis has the goal of continuing to grow our relationship-banking focus,” Owen said. “Our bank has been around since 1946 and since then, we have tailored ourselves to products and services that will continue to grow.

“We’re a full service financial institution. We have great interest bearing accounts and great loan interest rates, but what may not be as well know is that we offer mortgage products, commercial loans and unsecured loans. We also have a local digital platform. We’re here [to offer] what’s best for the community.”

Colquett noted Brantley Bank is not aiming to compete with First Citizens Bank, but considers Brantley’s role as an enhancement to the community’s banking options.

“We need each other,” Colquett said. “The stronger the banks are in the community, the stronger the community is. I really think we’re going to pick up the people that already don’t bank with First Citizens, that already moved to [credit unions].”

Owen joined the bank’s team in June and said the vision for relationship banking is obvious upon entering the Brantley branch.

“It’s obvious that everyone there has the vision Travis had, that our service is for the community,” Owen said. “Almost every day customers tell me about the history and the stories they have and we want to continue that.”