EXPANSION PROJECT DOUBLES SIZE OF BANK

South East Missouri Bank has doubled the size of its building, added an ATM operation, and now has 10 drive-through lanes.

"We have had good growth here over the past three years," said Percy Huston, president of the bank. "The expansion had been in the planning stage a number of years."

A surge in new customers and business in June of 1990, when First Federal Savings & Loan was taken over by the FTC, prompted quicker action on the expansion.

The expansion includes a 2,000-square-foot addition to the current building, expanded parking, and additional drive-through lanes.

"We're happy with the progress of our bank," said Huston. "This expansion is something that was really needed. We now have the facilities, parking, and personnel to handle the growth, and we have some room for expansion. Right now we're utilizing only seven or eight of the drive-through lanes."

South East Missouri Bank opened for business in a temporary location a 12-by-60 mobile home in February of 1981, and moved into its current location at 111 S. Broadview in October of 1981.

Huston joined the bank in 1983, and became president 1988.