ROCKINGHAM — After officially consolidating two other locations last week, First Bank on East Broad Avenue opened its doors — and vault — on Monday.
First Bank Area Executive Brian Baucom said the former locations in the Richmond Plaza shopping center and on Fayetteville Road were centralized on Friday to make up the state-of-the-art bank.
“For us, we definitely upgraded locations from across the street,” said Baucom. “That was the main goal was to get a new building for them, offering better service for our clients and having our staff available. We have a a state-of-the-art innovative branch here, but we still offer that hometown service. We just can better deliver on that promise with having one bank. They were just two miles from each other. We can be more efficient and convenient for our clients.”
New amenities like a technology center with Apple iPads are available in the center of the bank, Baucom said, offering customers the option to use the computer station and take advantage of online and mobile services. The new look introduces an open layout to foster more conversations, with free-standing wooden kiosks that he called teller pods that will replace teller lines.
“It’s got new technology to help more personalized service for our clients,” said Baucom. “It makes it more convenient and makes it easier to do business.”
According to a press release, Rockingham is First Bank’s eighth North Carolina branch opening in the last two months, with the most recent on Aug. 17 in the SouthPark area of Charlotte.
“With this state-of-the-art branch, customers of the Rockingham area will experience the same personalized service and innovative tools they know, while enjoying the convenience of best-in-class technology,” said Richard Moore, chief executive officer of First Bank parent company First Bancorp in a press release. “First Bank is committed to helping our customers thrive financially, and we’re excited to continue building a strong community in Richmond County.”
With a long history in the Rockingham area, Baucom hopes the consolidation will allow for the new branch to continue “building relationships and helping our Rockingham clients achieve their dreams.”
If Monday’s opening was any indication, Baucom said customers so far have enjoyed the new facility.
“We’re really proud of it,” he said. “A lot of clients came in just to see the bank. I could sense their pride from them. A lot of them loved it, and we’re really proud of it.”
First Bank is located at 1254 E. Broad Ave. in Rockingham and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday in the lobby and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday in the drive-thru.
Reach reporter Matt Harrelson at 910-817-2674 and follow him on Twitter @mattyharrelson.
