ALLIANCE BANK OPENS HERE TODAY

Alliance Bank at 217 N. Kingshighway will open for the first time today at 8:30 a.m., said Bryan Pogue, president of the new bank.

Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, city and bank officials will gather for an 8:30-a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"We're excited about the opening," Pogue said Wednesday. "It's been tough to get to this point."

Carl Meyer, a retired Cape Girardeau bank official, will be on hand to open the first account.

Alliance Bank received its state charter Sept. 29. It will open in a new modular building at the site of the former Golden Dragon restaurant.

It's been a long time since a Cape Girardeau bank received a new-bank charter, said Pogue.

Capaha Bank and Bank of Missouri have each opened branches here this year.

"We're the first new bank here in a number of years," said Pogue. he said the bank is a full-service bank and is "the only truly locally-owned bank in Cape Girardeau," made up of investors totally from the local area.

Alliance will open with eight employees. Lobby banking hours will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Drive-through services will be offered from 8:30 a.m., and will continue to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and until noon Saturdays.

Alliance officials announced this year that the bank would be established here. The Golden Dragon, also known as the old Airlines Club and the Grogg Shop, was demolished in June to make room for the bank building.