Waterloo bank opens Swansea banking center. Bank of Clinton County opens in New Baden
The First National Bank of Waterloo opened its Swansea branch Tuesday, July 6, making it the bank’s 13th location in Central and Southern Illinois.
The new Swansea location is staffed with eight employees, according to a press release. Most of the staff reside in Swansea, including Center Manager Phil Elfrink.
“My family and I are happy to call Swansea home,” Elfrink stated in the release. “I’m looking forward to continuing to serve the community and grow the legacy of First National Bank of Waterloo here in my hometown.”
The new banking center is located at 4101 N. Illinois St., Swansea, the former location of First Mid Bank & Trust, which had merged with Providence Bank and relocated in May to 4600 N. Illinois St. in Fairview Heights.
Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. For more information about the First National Bank of Waterloo, visit fnbwaterloo.bank or call the Swansea Banking Center at 618-206-6400.
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Bank of Clinton County also recently opened at 1210 E. Hanover St. in New Baden, according to multiple July 2 posts on the bank’s Facebook page.
A post on July 6 read, “It’s official. Bank of Clinton County is now open! Ron Stephens our CEO, joined Ken Bassler Jr., Todd Juehne and Gina Deason Meier for a picture in front of the new bank facility.”
Juehne said during a brief conversation that the full-service bank opened for business Wednesday, June 30.
The division of Bank of Belleville broke ground at the New Baden site in December. A release from that event stated that Juehne would serve as the Bank of Clinton County market president.
“We’re happy to put down our roots here in Clinton County,” Juehne stated in December. “I’ve lived in between New Baden and Trenton for nearly 30 years and have 25 years of banking experience. I’m excited to bring a community banking option to this area that upholds the values of being a smaller bank, offering bigger service and supporting the area it serves. We’re looking forward to doing many things here in Clinton County.”
Bank of Clinton County lobby hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Drive up hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. For more information, call 618-588-8700.
Work around hospital will affect access for patients, visitors
Parking lots at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon will be resurfaced on weekends in July, affecting traffic flow in different areas at the hospital campus.
The first phase was to take place Friday, July 9 through Monday, July 12, but was postponed due to expected inclement weather, according to a July 9 press release. The work will instead begin, weather permitting, the weekend of July 16-19.
The release also stated that the “the main lobby doors into the hospital remain closed to visitors and patients. Anyone in need of emergency health care should go immediately to the emergency department (ED), located nearest to the Regency Park entrance.”
Visitors and outpatients should enter the hospital at the outpatient entrance for temperature checks and COVID-19 symptom screening. Visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Those with appointments in any of the O’Fallon Health Center physician offices can enter at the Health Center sign. Screenings will take place at the individual offices. Masks are still mandatory in all health care facilities.
Other items of local interest:
Both the Main and West branches of the Belleville Public Library are now operating at regular hours and are offering most services. Computer services are currently available. Passport and notary services are available at the Main Branch by appointment.
The hours at the Main Branch, located at 121 E. Washington St., Belleville, are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The West Branch, located at 3414 W. Main St., Belleville, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
For more information, call 618-234-0441 for the Main Branch, or 618-233-4366 for the West Branch.
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After a closure that’s lasted more than a year, the Sachs Museum reopened this week at the Missouri Botanical Garden and features a new exhibit: “Grafting the Grape: American Grapevine Rootstock in Missouri and the World.”
The exhibit “explores the various American grape species that are most used in viticulture, grafting, and winemaking, and how they were and continue to be used by the Native peoples of Missouri,” according to a recent release. “Grafting the Grape” includes how climate change is affecting viticulture worldwide.
The Sachs Museum is open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday at 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis. The cost to visit the exhibit is included with Garden admission. For more information about the exhibit and the Sachs Museum, visit mobot.org/museum.
This story was originally published July 12, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
