Herndon residents protest bank closing

HERNDON, Kan. -- "The Bank of Northwest Kansas" account holders in Herndon, Kansas, are upset by the imminent closing of the branch bank in their community.

Bank officials have announced that branch offices in Herndon, as well as in Norcatur, Kansas, will close in September.

Jennifer Davis of Herndon said that Herndon-area residents understand the bank's concerns with profitability, but account holders are also concerned with the loss of the convenience of a bank in town. "This closing will affect us negatively," Davis said. " ... just another nail in the small community's coffin."

Davis said the community plans a town hall meeting Monday at 7 p.m. in the Senior Center. Visiting with bank officials at the meeting, the goal will be compromise, Davis said. "We'd like to maintain some sort of bank in Herndon," she said.

An Open Forum letter on the issue is on page four today.