MAPLETON, OAKRIDGE, Ore. (KMTR) -- Siuslaw Bank is bouncing back from disaster this week, after being forced to temporarily close two of its branches in two different small Lane County towns.
The beginning of 2012 has been a rough one for Siuslaw Bank, thanks to flooding in Mapleton and a surprise electrical fire in Oakridge. The incidents forced both bank branches in those towns to close temporarily, one for several days, the other for months.
Things are coming back together now though.
The Mapleton branch flooded in early January 2012. It just reopened for business on Wednesday, April 4, 2012, with limited hours. The branch is the first one that Siuslaw Bank ever opened.
Meanwhile, out in Oakridge, that branch just reopened on Monday, across the street from its former location. An electrical fire nearly two weeks ago destroyed the bank's interior.
Siuslaw Bank only has 10 branches in Lane County. It says the impact of the disasters has been big on business and financial service in the two small towns. In both Mapleton and Oakridge, the bank is one of the largest hubs for social interaction.
Siuslaw Bank says it's thankful its customers have been so understanding and helpful. “We're also very very blessed to have such an outpouring of support from the community members who bank in Mapleton and WestFir and Oakridge,” says Jenny Bennett, Marketing Manager for Siuslaw Bank.
“They've offered to help us with things like the rebuild or just a lot of little things, so it really just shows a lot of community and we feel fortunate to be a part of those areas,” says Bennett.
No customer safe desposit boxes or customer items were damaged in either disaster. Insurance is paying for repairs in each branch.
The Mapleton branch will stay on limited hours from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday through Friday until remodel work is finished. The temporary Oakridge branch location will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., across from the East 1st Avenue branch.
As for future growth, Siuslaw Bank has been planning to build another branch in Eugene's Crescent Village off Coburg Road for the last few years. The bank owns the land and tells NewsSource 16 that it is still intending to build on it soon, but there is no public timeline for that work.
