John Taets, the bank’s regional president, described the move as a good and exciting one.

”Our banking operation and team is growing,” he said. ”We need more space at our main Fort Dodge facility. Our decision to close our downtown facility will allow us to enhance our main office by adding approximately 3,000 square feet to our existing building. This new addition will allow for efficiencies and improve the overall services provided to our customers.”

Taets said the staff of the downtown bank will be transferred to the main one at 10 N. 29th St.

The ATM at the downtown location will remain in place, he said.

- Messenger photo by Bill Shea
The Northwest Bank branch at 723 First Ave. S. is shown Tuesday afternoon. The bank has announced plans to close that branch and consolidate its operations at its North 29th Street branch, which will be expanded. The ATM at the downtown location will remain in place, however.

The downtown location is in a building at 723 First Ave. S. that is owned by Webster County.

On Tuesday, the Webster County Board of Supervisors accepted a letter from the bank’s attorney, Mark Crimmins, declaring its intention to end the lease on Aug. 31.

Supervisor Mark Campbell said the board is ”evaluating opportunities” for the site.

He said one local business that might be interested in the site has looked at it.

Campbell added that the county treasurer’s office could potentially provide services to the public using the bank’s drive-up lanes.

The new mental health regional provider the county is joining could rent space in the building beginning next year, according to Campbell.

The building previously housed Steamboat Savings Bank and later, Bank of America.

Northwest Bank, which opened its North 29th Street headquarters in 2003, opened its downtown branch in 2012.

”It served us well,” Taets said of the downtown building.

”The county’s been a great landlord to us,” he added.”We’ve had a great working relationship.”

He said the North 29th Street building will be remodeled and expanded. Jensen Builders Ltd., of Fort Dodge, will be the general contractor.