Renovated Main Bank building officially dedicated; Improvements to deliver conveniences and community resources to south side neighborhoods
Plans also announced for new housing foundation serving low- and moderate-income homeowners
CHICAGO, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ — Surrounded by 100 community members, customers, and employees, Marquette Bank Chairman Paul McCarthy today officially dedicated Marquette’s newly renovated Main Bank building on the corner of 63rd Street and Western Avenue. An 18-month-long project, the $4 million renovation successfully expanded and enhanced the building and its grounds with improved facilities and banking amenities, including canopied drive-up lanes, a 24-hour ATM, community meeting rooms, increased parking and security, landscaping and more.
“This renovation represents a $4 million investment in this community — and that is something that benefits all of us,” McCarthy said. “New conference rooms means we can offer more classes for community residents in financial literacy and homebuyer education. The drive-up lanes, ATM machine, and increased parking mean more convenience for our customers. The new community room means that local community groups now have a place to gather.”
Marquette Bank distinguishes itself from other banks by its commitment to community relations and community banking.
“As a community bank, we offer our customers and community members a variety of services and resources that go well beyond what many would consider a typical banking relationship,” said George Moncada, President of Marquette Bank. “Many of our current programs and initiatives were the result of Marquette employees talking to, and more importantly, listening to, what customers said was important to them.”
As an example of this commitment, Marquette Bank operates an entire Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Department at the Main Bank, which is designed to identify and evaluate opportunities to support customers and communities through avenues like funding for home ownership and financial education.
During the dedication ceremony, Thom Bamford, who leads the CRA Department as Marquette Bank's Vice President of Community Reinvestment and Economic Development, announced details of the newly formed Marquette Bank Affordable Housing Foundation. This foundation is designed to continue Marquette Bank’s already successful Great Start Mortgage Program and provide down payments and closing cost assistance grants to lower-income borrowers to help alleviate the costs of home-ownership.
“The Marquette Bank Affordable Housing Foundation is about making dreams come true and helping those with limited resources to purchase homes of their very own,” Bamford said. “Most of all, the foundation is about making housing truly affordable in communities with the greatest economic need.”
Since 1998, Marquette Bank has funded more than 13,400 mortgages for community residents.
Additional community banking initiatives include classes on financial literacy and homebuyer education, seminars on a variety of financial issues like estate planning and identity protection, and bank-at-school programs that expose students to practical financial knowledge that will serve them well later in life. The Bank has also created a Latino Outreach Committee to focus on the needs of the growing Hispanic community in Chicagoland.
Marquette Bank created the Marquette Club program specifically for the needs of neighborhood senior citizens. The Bank also provides at-home banking for assisted living facilities and participates in funding for local senior housing, including Churchview Assisted Living at 63rd Street and Talman Avenue.
Marquette Bank also supports students through a 40-year-old scholarship program. Since 1967, Marquette Bank has awarded $1.63 million in scholarships to 1,071 students at high schools that include De LaSalle, Englewood, Gage Park, Harper, St. Rita and Maria, as well as many others throughout Chicago and the suburbs.
The Main Bank building is the historic and architectural centerpiece of the 24 branch locations operated by Marquette Bank in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. The site of today's Marquette Bank Main Bank building was originally Marquette Park State Bank, which opened for business in 1925. This bank closed in 1931 as a result of the Great Depression. On May 12, 1945, the bank reopened its doors as Marquette National Bank with the late John F. McCarthy serving as the founding Chairman and Director of the board. John F. McCarthy was the father of current Chairman Paul McCarthy.
The Bank operated under its national charter until June 29, 2001, when it changed to a state charter and became Marquette Bank.
Architect Karl Vitzhum designed the Main Bank building in a Neo-Classical Revival style, topping the building with a rare three-story dome. Vitzhum is credited for designing over 50 banks in his career, as well as other buildings, including the One North LaSalle Street Building, the old Great Lakes Naval Training Center, and Cook County Hospital.
“As we have been since 1945, Marquette Bank is here to stay and here to serve the community. While this renovation took just 18 months to complete, the finished product will benefit our customers and the community for years to come,” said Chairman Paul McCarthy.
About Marquette Bank
Marquette National Corporation is a $1.6 billion diversified financial holding company for Marquette Bank. Marquette Bank has been a locally-operated bank providing personalized banking service since 1945. Marquette Bank is a full-service, customer-focused community bank that serves the financial needs of Chicagoland communities, offering an extensive line of financial products including retail banking, mortgages, trust and business banking, free Online Bill Pay and free automated telephone banking. Marquette Bank's retail branches are located in Chicago, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Bridgeview, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Lemont, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Oak Forest, Orland Park, Romeoville and Summit, Illinois.
Marquette Bank customers have convenient surcharge-free access to over 33,000 Allpoint and Star sf ATMs nationwide. Marquette Bank is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. For more information visit: http://www.emarquettebank.com or call 1-888-254-9500.
SOURCE Marquette Bank
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