By Bill Dragon
Plans call for the construction of a new Horizon Bank this year at the northwest corner of Old Meridian and Carmel Drive, across from Meijer.
Horizon Bank, originally founded over one hundred years ago in Michigan City, Ind., is a community-sized bank.
While most of their locations are in northwest Indiana, Horizon recently opened a branch in downtown Indianapolis. They also acquired the five Heartland Community Banks in Johnson County.
The plans for the Carmel branch may involve a relatively new concept in banking – no actual teller windows.
“The new Carmel location is planned to have a teller window right now, but we may go with the new concept (currently being tested at the new downtown branch) of no teller window,” said Jeff Magginnis, a Horizon Bank vice president.
He explained how the new concept would work.
“Instead of the usual teller lines, there are a couple of ‘kiosk-type’ stations where customers can conduct some business themselves or a receptionist or employee from one of the front offices will help them with their transaction,” Magginnis said. “These front office employees have more training than the traditional teller in such services as lending and credit lines, so they can provide more of a conversational atmosphere with customers.”
The driving force behind this new concept is a result of how much banking has changed in the past ten years.
“People don’t go into a bank branch like they used to,” Magginnis said, citing the advent of online banking, direct deposit and ATM machines. T
There’s just not the need for all those teller windows anymore, he said.
Implementation of this concept at the Carmel branch will depend upon how successful it proves to be at the downtown location.
“The new Carmel location will be a full-service, two story building and will include commercial and mortgage lending, treasury management and trust and investment advisory services,” Magginnis said. Construction of an additional branch in Fishers is planned for 2015.
Adding to its portfolio
Horizon Bancorp, the parent company of Horizon Bank, announced it has acquired 1st Mortgage of Indiana. As previously announced, 1st Mortgage of Indiana will operate under the name of Horizon Bank. Located in Indianapolis, 1st Mortgage of Indiana is a mortgage lender specializing in conventional, Jumbo, FHA and VA Mortgage loans. Founded in 1994, 1st Mortgage of Indiana offers mortgage services to the greater Indianapolis market area from their single location at 9292 N. Meridian St.
