New Holland Banking Center hosts grand opening this weekend

[October 19, 2021]   This coming weekend, Friday October 22nd and Saturday October 23rd, the community is invited to visit New Holland and celebrate the grand opening of the First National Bank of Tremont's New Holland Banking Center.

The Friday festivities will kick off at 9 a.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Coffee and morning sweets will be served inside. Tours of the new bank and opportunities to visit with bank staff will be a big part of the day.

At around 11 a.m. food service will switch to rib eye and pork chop sandwiches for everyone while the supply lasts.

On Saturday the bank will be open until noon with coffee and sweets served and tours offered once again.

During their visit to the bank guests can register to win a free cooler and insulated go-mug. Free gifts will also be given out throughout the two days.

The First National Bank in Tremont has had a bank in New Holland for a number of years. Bank president June (Harnacke) Kidd hails from New Holland. Though she works daily in Tremont at the main branch, she is very excited about the new bank in her home town.
 

In October of 2020, just one short year ago, the bank announced that a new facility would be built in New Holland. The anticipated time line was to start construction in March and complete it before the end of 2021. Staff officially moved into the new facility on October 13th, 2021, right on target.

The bank is leaving one of the downtown buildings along Lincoln Street, the main street in town, but that building is going to be put to very good use. As part of the New Holland revitalization plan, the bank building was given to the town, along with a $20,000 grant to remodel the bank for a new purpose in the town. The old bank building, which is located just down the street from Style Café’ will soon house the village hall, a community center, and the New Holland Historical Society.

In October of 2020 New Holland Mayor and New Holland Banking Center employee Annie Coers commented on the changes underway in the town. "Small town living at its best in New Holland, Illinois! Myself, along with the most supportive trustees on the Village Board are taking action and restoring Lincoln Street in New Holland. The Historic Redevelopment of New Holland is important to many of the families in our community. There are several families with ancestors that began New Holland back in 1875. In 2025, New Holland will be celebrating our 150th Anniversary and the Village Board and I hope to make it a memorial event to remember for years to come.”

The newly constructed New Holland Banking Center is located at the corner of Illinois State Route 10 and Lincoln Street. The new bank boasts ample parking for customers, easy ADA compliant access to the lobby and a drive up service window, something the old bank was unable to offer.

Branch Manager Tyler Hodge and Mayor Coers are excited about the weekend activities and encourage everyone to attend. It was also noted that those who are interested in the new branch being built in Lincoln might want to stop by as well. Coers said that the new Lincoln bank will have an almost identical footprint as the New Holland Banking Center.

[Nila Smith]