MARIANNA, Fla. – Feb. 18, 2020 – Regions Bank on Tuesday announced plans to rebuild the company’s Marianna branch that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Michael.
Demolition of the former branch site is underway and will be followed by construction of a replacement facility at the same location. The new, modern branch will be designed to meet the needs of people and businesses in Jackson County, with opening expected in late 2020.
“The building housing our Marianna branch was damaged beyond repair by Hurricane Michael, but our local team has remained committed to going above and beyond in providing financial services for this community,” said Jim Richardson, North Florida Market Executive for Regions. “While working in temporary banking facilities in Marianna, Regions associates have volunteered many hours for debris cleanup, worked with local governments to support community repair, and helped businesses reopen in the area. Regions Bank is committed to the Florida Panhandle, and today’s announcement is further testament to that commitment.”
Florida Congressman Neal Dunn added Regions’ investment after Hurricane Michael helped recovery efforts across the Panhandle.
“After Hurricane Michael devastated the Panhandle, communities came together to pick up the pieces and begin the rebuilding process. Regions Bank stepped up and continues to support their local communities’ recovery,” Dunn said. “It’s great to hear Regions will begin construction on rebuilding their downtown Marianna branch, and I thank them for their commitment to reinvesting in the Panhandle.”
A modular Regions branch remains open adjacent to the heavily damaged Marianna branch building. The modular building will relocate to another section of the parking lot during construction, maintaining banking services until the new facility is open.
In the days after the hurricane, Regions’ portable branch facility was on-site to serve people during the immediate stages of recovery. A larger, modular Regions facility was later moved to the site for bankers to support a wider range of financial services. As construction begins later this year, the modular branch, ATM and safe deposit box bunker will move to an adjacent part of the parking lot. They will remain on-site until the opening of the new branch.
“Our associates have done an incredible job serving customers while also dealing with their own hurricane recovery at home,” said John Anderson, Regions’ Consumer Banking Executive. “They understand the needs of this community and are personally committed to Marianna’s long-term recovery. We are excited to finally be able to move forward with construction and look forward to unveiling a completely redesigned, more modern facility that will reflect our continued commitment to quality service and technological innovation.”
Once renovations are completed, the exterior of Regions’ Marianna Main branch will be similar to this newly opened Regions branch in Carbondale, Ill.
The exterior of the new branch will be one of Regions’ latest branch designs. Inside, the branch will feature an open layout. Rather than customers having to wait in line across from the teller counter, at the renovated branch, Regions personnel will personally greet customers as they arrive. Each banker at the Marianna Main branch will be able to provide a full range of branch-banking functions, practically eliminating the need for referring customers to other bankers for more specialized services.
Further, the new branch will become one of the latest to offer Regions Video Banking ATMs. In addition to standard ATM services, Video Banking ATMs give customers the option of connecting with a Regions representative via live, two-way video. Along with processing most teller transactions, Regions Video Bankers can help customers with account maintenance and general inquiries. Regions Video Bankers are available during expanded hours, including weeknights, Saturdays, Sundays and most holidays.
“Marianna is a special place to us, and we have seen a spirit of hope renew in the most difficult of days,” said Trey Pleas, Regions’ Marianna branch manager. “Hurricane Michael did not dampen our spirit, but, instead, renewed our community commitment. Our branch team is one step closer to welcoming customers and others in the community to a more convenient, more meaningful branch experience as construction is completed.”
Regions Video Bankers provide service during extended hours.
About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $126 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, mortgage, and insurance products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,600 banking offices and 2,000 ATMs. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.