KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A small-town bank that drew $2.2 million in deposits from across the country because of its funny name may be coming back.

A small east-central Kansas bank has asked regulatory approval to open a branch in Tightwad, Mo., a small community on Highway 7 between Clinton and Warsaw.

UMB Bank closed its novelty Tightwad branch in January. The branch, originally opened in 1984 by a Windsor bank, attracted attention -- and bank deposits -- from as far away as Alaska from customers wanting checking accounts drawn on the Tightwad Bank.

The $13 million Reading State Bank in Reading, Kan., has proposed its first Missouri branch be placed in Tightwad. The bank is led by Don Higdon, a former UMB banker and Reading's chairman.

Higdon confirmed his bank's regulatory request for the branch but said he wouldn't discuss details until the request had been approved.