Central Bank to add branch on east side

Central Bank of the Ozarks is making good on long-sought plans to open a branch on East Sunshine Street.

The company, which has had interest in the corridor dating back to at least 2008, signed on as a tenant for Raga Properties LLC's office building that's nearing completion at 3810 E. Sunshine St.

Andrew Tasset, vice president and marketing manager for Central Bank of the Ozarks, said a spring opening is targeted for the 3,900-square-foot branch on the first floor of the office complex. He declined to disclose lease details.

“We’ve made a conscious decision to increase our footprint in an area of town where our customers need our services,” said Joselyn Baldner, president and chief operating officer of Central Bank of the Ozarks, in a news release. “We look forward to serving our clients already in the East Sunshine area, and serving new clients with our full range of services.”

At the Raga Properties building, Central Bank is slated to join tenants Husch Blackwell LLP and Baron Design & Associates LLC. Husch Blackwell announced earlier this week it would vacate its longtime home in Hammons Tower and occupy 14,500 square feet at the Sunshine Street development, located at the intersection with Blackman Road. Rita Baron of Raga Properties said completion of the building is approximately a month out.

Central Bank also operates a branch in Hammons Tower that will remain in place, Tasset said.

The branch on East Sunshine becomes Central Bank's 12th location in Springfield, he added.

Central Bank’s development interests at the site go back to 2008, when the company operated as Empire Bank, according to past reporting.

A couple of banks since have established a presence nearby on Sunshine Street – OakStar Bank in 2008, also in a Raga Properties development, and Mid-Missouri Bank, a stand-alone branch, in 2013.

O’Reilly Hospitality Management LLC's headquarters is one of the newer developments along the corridor, which has long been anchored by a Sam's Club store.