Vision Bank celebrated its recent interior remodel with an open house and a ribbon cutting from the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 10.
Valerie Cook, branch manager of the Durant location, thanked the bank’s staff.
“They’ve been wonderful throughout the remodel process,” Cook said. “It has been lengthy but honestly, everybody has hung in there. They’ve been troopers and the process has just gone really smooth considering so we couldn’t ask for a better group, honestly.”
Chamber of Commerce board member Buddy Swicker asked what inspired the design because it was all opened up and has a nice, modern look.
Vision Bank President and CEO Steve Bagwell replied, “Feedback.”
Cook agreed. “We’ve honestly got a great group at our other locations,” she said. “I would say they’ve done a great job of helping pick out all of the designs, the layout, everything for this location just to help bring it more modern and also get more space for us.”
Swicker commented that he had been talking with bank staff, and they told him that people can come inside and go into offices to have more private time plus be able to serve people faster and more effectively.
Cook said it is great for customers because of more privacy for them.
“All together, we’re all super excited about it,” she said.
Bagwell said, “All this space was open before. We’ve added seven new offices by just doing a remodel only on the inside and a lot more privacy.”
Swicker thanked Vision Bank for being a leader in community involvement.
“We want to thank you guys so very much for being such an intricate part of the community and giving you guys support,” Swicker said. “We consider it an honor on behalf of the board, our CEO all of us from the chamber and community. Don’t we loving having what they do and what they’re doing for all of us and the community?”
Bagwell credited Kara Kuykendall, vice president and commercial lender.
“Today would not have happened if it wasn’t for Kara and all of our family, friends, everybody coming over and putting stuff together,” Bagwell said. “This was pretty much a community event, and I think Kara will even tell you that because we had people coming out of the woodwork to come and help us. It was great.”
Swicker said, “Obviously, it takes a community, but it also takes a big army behind and a bunch of supporters to make things happen. This is absolutely beautiful and wonderful.”
Maddison Williams of West Durant Merchant’s Association spoke of the partnerships with the chamber of commerce.
“We’re really excited to see what you bring to our community, and we thank you for your partnership and for your support of our entire community, but the westside as well,” Williams said, adding that Vision Bank is a large supporter of WDMA’s Westside Christmas event.
Chamber CEO Kara Byrd agreed with what Swicker and Williams said.
“I cannot echo the sentiment of how great of a community partner you guys are,” Byrd said. “We are so thrilled to see this beautiful space that you guys have done. I know it’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of long, endless hours cleaning, designing, but to see Vision come to fruition, it’s just really gorgeous to see. So, congratulations to you guys on having such an incredible space for not just your customers but the community as a whole. We look forward to continuing to serve you and we’re always here to help support you in any way that we can as a chamber.”
