Independence Bank location under construction

Independence Bank is undergoing an expansion of its Havre branch, a project that began in June and is expected to continue for the next eight months, bank marketing director Terry Lilletvedt said Monday.

"We are adding 8,000 square feet of space to accommodate a lot of growth, we just have lots of growth," she said.

The expansion will allow for the teller counters to be moved to the new space, allow for an additional office space and the construction of a new three-car drive through.

Employees with offices now in the basement will be moved up to either the main floor or the building's new second floor.

A temporary drive-thru for the bank was set up in the Hi-Line Law PLLC building at 410 Third Ave. Customers can make withdrawals of up to $5,000 at the temporary drive-thru. Other drive-up services usually provided at the bank will be provided at the temporary drive-thru.

Customers making withdrawals of more than $5,000 must do so at the bank's main office.

Hours of operation for the temporary drive-thru are 8 a.m to 4:45 p.m Monday through Friday and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon.

Lilletvedt said all other services including teller lines, the new accounts and lending departments and the bank's annex across from the bank's main building have not been moved and remain in operation.

The bank has also extended the hours for its lobby to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lilletvedt said that before construction began, the bank's lobby was only open until 4 p.m on Fridays.