With ground broken, a temporary office secured and recruiting under way, Baton Rouge-based INVESTAR Bank has arrived in Lafayette and will be ready for business next week.
With ground broken, a temporary office secured and recruiting under way, Baton Rouge-based INVESTAR Bank has arrived in Lafayette and will be ready for business next week.
Taking the helm of INVESTAR's Hub City expansion is Keith Short, a 24-year veteran of the banking industry, who spent a good portion of those years as an executive with IberiaBank, working in Lafayette, Baton Rouge and most recently Florida.
ABiz spoke Wednesday with Short, who says everything is falling into place better than expected.
"We got a temporary office space this week [4023 Ambassador Caffery], right across the street from where we'll be located once construction is finished," says Short.
Once complete, INVESTAR's Lafayette branch and offices will be situated next door to the Courtesy Dealership on Ambassador Caffery, right near the Vermilion River, and will consist of a two-story, 6,300-square-foot building.
"They formed up and started pouring concrete this week; that's a good sign," says Short. "We're shooting to be moved in for the end of September, but we will be in business at the temporary branch starting next week."
In the meantime, Short says his focus has been devoted to recruiting for INVESTAR Lafayette, putting together teams that will make up the bank's mortgage, retail, commercial/business, private/retail banking offices.
"We've been getting interest in the community banking approach from people who want to come here," says Short. "I expect we'll be able to start naming a few folks within the next few weeks, but recruitment will be an ongoing process. As we continue growing the operation we'll keep adding more people."