Hammond bank to close

• Associated Bank of Hammond

Associated Bank of Hammond will close in early 2013 and will be merged with nearby locations. The Hammond Branch is one of 10 branches of Associated Bank being closed in Wisconsin.

Talk about it

Some Hammond residents may have to drive a bit farther to go to the bank, starting in early 2013.

On Oct. 17, Associated Bank announced it was consolidating 12 of its branches in Wisconsin and Illinois. The Hammond branch is among those that will be closed and consolidated with other locations.

The 12 branches being closed are in addition to the 21 branches in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota that were closed earlier this year. Associated Bank said a continuing increase in online banking was one of the factors that prompted the decision to consolidate.

“As a result, branch traffic in many cases has been declining, making it increasingly difficult to continue to operate branches that are in close proximity to each other,” said David Stein, executive vice president of retail banking for Associated Bank, in a news release. “Therefore, we will be closing a small number of Associated branches and consolidating them into nearby locations.”

Hammond is one of 10 branches in Wisconsin that are being closed. Associated Bank director of public relations, Autumn Latimore, said bank customers will be mailed notification of the changes and a list of convenient alternative branch locations.

For Hammond customers, Latimore said some alternate locations include the Baldwin, River Falls and Hudson-Crest View branches.

“We hope that our customers continue to find value in Associated service and products and will continue to award us with their patronage in nearby locations,” Latimore said. “We also always have online banking resources available for customers.”

Latimore said Associated Bank will work with the employees of the branches being closed.

“Our hope is that many take on new roles within the organization at other locations,” Latimore said.

The Wisconsin branches being closed include Hammond, Hudson County Market, Wausau River’s Edge, Sheboygan South, Appleton College Ave., Manitowoc Harbortown, Eau Claire Southtowne, Oshkosh West, Ledgeview and Saukville. The Lindenhurst and Peoria Knoxville branches are being closed in Illinois.

Tags: communities, hammond, business