First Kansas Bank celebrated its recent building expansion this week by hosting the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Coffee at its Great Bend location, 4001 10th St. President and CEO Paul Snap was on hand along with architect Don Mars from DVM Architects PA.
The bank continues to experience growth at all of its locations but in Great Bend they were out of space to accommodate additional growth, Snap said. Mars was the architect when First Kansas Bank acquired the building in 2007 and Snap commented on how well the addition blends in. Brentwood Builders in Great Bend was the contractor and they used local subcontractors as well, Snap said. Their new promotion for the bank is “local, local, local.” Bank decisions are made by local people, and the bank is active in the community, supporting local events and organizations throughout Barton County. So far this year it has given $46,000 in donations. “We also give thousands of hours of volunteer time.”
The bank is a Pacesetter organization for United Way of Central Kansas and offers employees that donate their “fair share” to United Way an additional vacation day. (United Way’s Fair Share payroll deduction means the donor agrees to give one hour’s pay per month.)
Vice President Jay Luerman introduced the staff and talked about its core values:
• integrity and teamwork
• operate a sound bank (First Kansas Bank has held a Five Star rating from Bauer Financial for many years)
• balance family, work and community
• exceed customer expectations
“No one value is more important than the other,” Luerman said.
Announcements
• The State Fair wraps up this weekend. Michelle Beran, the 4-H Youth Development agent in the Cottonwood Extension District, said 42 Barton County 4-Hers qualified to take items to the fair. The 4-H Centennial Hall will showcase exhibits from across the state from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 14-15.
• The Shafer Art Gallery exhibit “All of the Above” wraps up Saturday, Sept. 14. The next exhibit will be the annual “Friends and Acquaintances” show featuring area artists. They are accepting pieces now.
• The Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be Oct. 17 at Jack Kilby Square. This year’s event moves to the evening with registration at 5:30 p.m., a ceremony at 6 and then the walk. The next Chamber Coffee will be hosted by Edward Jones and the Alzheimer’s Association. The coffee will be at 9 a.m., with program at 9:30, at Perkins Restaurant, 2920 10th St.
• The Sept. 27 Fridays on Forest Event will run from 3-7 p.m. It will start right after the Great Bend High School Homecoming Parade on Main Street and wrap up early so as not to compete with the Homecoming football game.
