By Adam Aasen
New branch of Huntington Bank will open on the ground floor of the Sophia Square building on Main Street, and managers at the bank hope it functions as a way to connect to the residents living in the Carmel Arts & Design District.
The new branch, scheduled to open later this year, will be different from the free-standing location on Range Line Road near Civic Square. The new branch, located between Huddles Frozen Yogurt and the former Sensu space, won’t have a drive-thru. Instead it will rely on walk-by traffic through Carmel’s historic downtown.
The new branch is a smaller storefront concept, but it will still be a full-service operation. The goal is to attract the growing number of neighbors in the mixed-use area, including Sophia Square residents living directly above the new branch.
“Through our research, our customers cite the convenience factor when choosing a bank,” said Mike Newbold, regional president at The Huntington National Bank in the Indianapolis area. “There are many reasons that downtown Carmel is extremely attractive to us, and we expect the area to continue to grow.”
Even with a PNC Bank branch on the same street and another Huntington location less than a mile away, Newbold said they believe there is enough population density and traffic to make the new branch a wise move.
A specific opening date will be available later.
