CONSTRUCTION TO START SOON ON BANKING FACILITY

GROUNDBREAKING: A ground-breaking ceremony for a new Boatmen's Bank facility was held at Jackson Thursday. Shown here, from left, are Ted Williams, vice president, Jackson loan manager; Denise Pittman, Jackson operations officer; Jackson Mayor Carlton Meyer, and Jim Limbaugh, president and chief executive officer of Boatmen's Bank of Cape Girardeau.

JACKSON Construction of a one-story, 3,500 square-foot banking facility will get under way soon following a ground-breaking ceremony at the site here Thursday.

Jim Limbaugh, president and chief executive officer of Boatmen's National Bank of Cape Girardeau, turned the first shovel of dirt. Also attending the groundbreaking were Jackson Mayor Carlton Meyer; Ted Williams, vice president, Jackson loan manger, and Denise Pittman, Jackson operations officer.

The new bank will be built along Highway 61 in Jackson, just east of Golden Corral Family Steak House.

Boatmen's received approval for the new facility recently from the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in Kansas City. The agency regulates nationally chartered banks.

"We are very excited about becoming an active member of the Jackson community," said Limbaugh. "This new facility will provide full service banking at Jackson, including all personal and business depository accounts, commercial accounts, real estate and consumer loans."

The facility will feature four drive-in lanes, and an automatic teller machine, and Monday through Saturday opening hours.

"We hope to have the building complete and operational by early- to-mid-September," said Limbaugh. "The facility will operate with seven to 10 employees, including Williams and Pittman."

Limbaugh estimated the a cost of $750,000 for the project. He said the facility will be built so it can be expanded in the future, if needed.

"We think there is a great deal of opportunity right now," he said. "We have a large Jackson customer base right now and we hope to expand that."

The Jackson bank will be the sixth Boatmen's Bank facility in the area. The five existing facilities are in Cape Girardeau.