WOODFORD - It sits in a rural area, has only two employees on hand and has been robbed twice.
Citing concern for his employees and customers, Woodford State Bank President Scott DeNure said the branch of his chain of banks that started it all 100 years ago will close for good May 15.
"There have been bank robberies (in 1974 and 1996), its location is remote and there's a lack of visibility," he said of the bank, which sits in Lafayette County barely over the county line.
The building that is now the Woodford State Bank on County Road M in Woodford will likely be put up for sale next year, DeNure said. The current structure was built in 1979.
No jobs will be lost, he added, as the bank is currently staffed by a rotation of workers from the other four branches in the area.
Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill, whose department is based 15 miles away in Darlington, said he understood DeNure's concerns.
"They are on the edge of our county, and it's a long way for Green County too," said Gill, who estimated a response time of 10 minutes from Darlington. "You never know, we could have a deputy that happens to be right in the area. But we are limited in resources and that's just how it works."
Gill said the banks has done a good job, however, with measures to protect employees, such as the electronic door it installed that requires a buzz-in by employees for entrance.
Nonetheless, DeNure said the closing is happening and noted some measures will likely take place to lessen the blow. He said the transfer of lock boxes to other locations is a consideration, as well as courier service for business customers.
Does he fear he'll lose some customers?
"We sure hope not," he said. "We'll combat the closing with our continued dedication to excellent service."
The closest existing sites to the Woodford bank that's closing are in Argyle (7 miles) and South Wayne (10 miles).
Monroe's Cheryl Dale is a former employee of 22 years, retiring in 2008, and still makes the 13-mile drive to the Woodford location despite having a branch in Monroe.
She said she's sad to see the branch closing and feels it's unfair to local residents who helped establish it, dating back to 1915.
"To think that a little town of 70 people could make that bank grow to four more," she said.
Dale said the relocation of the bank's loan officer to the South Wayne branch began its downfall, and the security issue is being used as an excuse to close a branch the bank's management no longer wants.
"What they should have done is let the stockholders decide," she said.
Ironically, Dale was an employee during the Dec. 27, 1996 robbery but took that day off. That led to her being a temporary suspect, she said, noting her build fit that of the perpetrator.
"They figured I disguised my voice," she said.
Her co-workers were shaken, she said, but did "not lose sleep over it. It's something you don't want to see, but we did what we were trained to do."
Dale said she never felt fearful at the bank at any point of her career in Woodford.
Citing concern for his employees and customers, Woodford State Bank President Scott DeNure said the branch of his chain of banks that started it all 100 years ago will close for good May 15.
"There have been bank robberies (in 1974 and 1996), its location is remote and there's a lack of visibility," he said of the bank, which sits in Lafayette County barely over the county line.
The building that is now the Woodford State Bank on County Road M in Woodford will likely be put up for sale next year, DeNure said. The current structure was built in 1979.
No jobs will be lost, he added, as the bank is currently staffed by a rotation of workers from the other four branches in the area.
Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill, whose department is based 15 miles away in Darlington, said he understood DeNure's concerns.
"They are on the edge of our county, and it's a long way for Green County too," said Gill, who estimated a response time of 10 minutes from Darlington. "You never know, we could have a deputy that happens to be right in the area. But we are limited in resources and that's just how it works."
Gill said the banks has done a good job, however, with measures to protect employees, such as the electronic door it installed that requires a buzz-in by employees for entrance.
Nonetheless, DeNure said the closing is happening and noted some measures will likely take place to lessen the blow. He said the transfer of lock boxes to other locations is a consideration, as well as courier service for business customers.
Does he fear he'll lose some customers?
"We sure hope not," he said. "We'll combat the closing with our continued dedication to excellent service."
The closest existing sites to the Woodford bank that's closing are in Argyle (7 miles) and South Wayne (10 miles).
Monroe's Cheryl Dale is a former employee of 22 years, retiring in 2008, and still makes the 13-mile drive to the Woodford location despite having a branch in Monroe.
She said she's sad to see the branch closing and feels it's unfair to local residents who helped establish it, dating back to 1915.
"To think that a little town of 70 people could make that bank grow to four more," she said.
Dale said the relocation of the bank's loan officer to the South Wayne branch began its downfall, and the security issue is being used as an excuse to close a branch the bank's management no longer wants.
"What they should have done is let the stockholders decide," she said.
Ironically, Dale was an employee during the Dec. 27, 1996 robbery but took that day off. That led to her being a temporary suspect, she said, noting her build fit that of the perpetrator.
"They figured I disguised my voice," she said.
Her co-workers were shaken, she said, but did "not lose sleep over it. It's something you don't want to see, but we did what we were trained to do."
Dale said she never felt fearful at the bank at any point of her career in Woodford.