Bank of America renovating space for new business

Branch's new look

Things are looking a little different inside the Bank of America.

Yellow cautionary tape winds along unfinished walls, and several office spaces are looking a tad vacant.

But not to worry; it's all part of a plan to better utilize the space in Banks of America nationwide, said Gilberto Mendoza, manager of the Moses Lake branch at 103 E. Third Ave.

"We have extra space in the banking center," Mendoza said. "We're wanting to make the best use of our space, so we're taking our extra space and we're going to be leasing that out through a property management agency."

Mendoza said that he wasn't sure what business would be moving in to the new space.

"Someone that's a non-competitor; it could be an insurance agency or an escrow company possibly," he said. "A lot of it has to do with zoning. Really, I don't know how much say we would have as far as what type of businesses can lease it out as long as the property manager agrees. It's going to ultimately be their decision."

The renovations have been going on for about three weeks. Mendoza said that they should be done by the end of May, and then broom-cleaned to be leased out.

"Over all, it's been pretty positive," he said of customer reaction. "Just the change and everything going on, it spikes their curiosity. They're all wondering what's going on, what we're doing. We try to share with them what the new branch will look like and what we're doing with the extra space."

Mendoza said that although it may look like the space inside the bank is being downsized, a new staff room, new bathrooms and an extra teller window will be added and there will be easier access throughout the banking center.

"It just makes it a more cozy, homey feeling, having everybody in closer together where we don't have to sit so many yards away from each other," he said.

The staff has also been hanging in there, he said.

"We've had noisy days and so forth, but most of the noisy work is done once we're gone," he said, adding that most of the noisy work is finished. At the time Mendoza spoke with the Columbia Basin Herald, he expected that sheet rock would be put up Tuesday, to give a better idea of the shape of the branch in the future.

Having all the renovations be part of the movement in Banks of America nationwide takes a lot of what could be pressure off the local staff.

"Corporate real estate is the one that really handles most of that for us," Mendoza said. "We just have to work around construction; locally, we don't have to worry about permits and everything. Everything is just done on a state and national scope. That way we stay focused on our customers as much as we can."