Wells Fargo ready to start construction project about to start

The Daily Inter Lake

Wells Fargo Bank will break ground Wednesday for a new branch east of Lowe's along the U.S. 93 North corridor.

The city of Kalispell is planning to buy the current Wells Fargo Bank building at 201 First Ave. E. Following the sale, the bank will lease back the building until its new structure is completed in April 2006.

"We call them 'stores' now," said Steve Clawson, Wells Fargo community bank president. "We don't call them banks any more."

The new building will have 5,500 square feet of office space, four drive-up windows and an ATM. It will be a full-service bank, Clawson said.

The store will employ 21 people - at least two of whom will be hired between now and the April opening. The bank has been increasing its employee base for the past year, Clawson said.

Wells Fargo will maintain its downtown presence as well.

The current auto bank at 215 Second Avenue East will continue to offer its drive-up functions, but, in addition, it will increase its interior square footage by about 40 percent.

"We'll be adding three new offices and a workstation," Clawson said. "We hope to have the construction on this completed before the end of the year."

Almost a quarter of a century ago, Wells Fargo Bank of Kalispell - which at that time was the First National Bank of Flathead County - was the recipient of the first charter granted to a national bank in Flathead County.