UPPER LAKE >> The announcement that the only bank branch on the north shore will soon close has rattled business owners and residents, who are now asking WestAmerica to reconsider.
On Jan. 23, WestAmerica Bank sent information to its customers notifying them of the Upper Lake location”s scheduled closure on April 24 and announcing plans to consolidate the current Lakeport branch, at 150 S. Main St., and the Upper Lake branch into a new office at 650 N. Main St. in Lakeport.
A customer service representative, who declined to give her name, said branches can occasionally close when WestAmerica reviews its branch network to ensure it”s operating efficiently. However, she didn”t give another reasons for the closure and a spokesperson for the bank did not return calls by press time.
Regardless of WestAmerica”s basis for the decision, the closure of the location is already shaking the community it serves and the north shore businesses aren”t optimistic about the future consequences either.
“The day the letters (announcing the closure) hit the mailboxes, everybody stopped me on the street to talk to me about it,” Susan Feiler, owner of the Lake County Wine Studio in Upper Lake, said. “I think it”s a terrible thing to happen. It”s going to cause problems for a lot of merchants in making arrangements with another bank.”
Not only will the closure of the Upper Lake location result in a serious inconvenience for many north shore businesses and residents, but business owners also argue the area can”t stand to lose the jobs or the filled store front.
Located in one of the largest buildings in Upper Lake”s downtown, such a vacancy could lend a less vibrant appearance to the strip, say those opposed to the move. Some fear it will also hurt an economy that may just be picking up steam. The word on the street is the bank won”t attempt to rent or sell the property and that would be far worse than not even having an ATM, entrepreneur Nancy Brier, of Upper Lake, said.
“Vacant buildings are a black eye on any community and can have a really adverse effect on business,” Brier said. “Research shows shoppers will actually skip adjacent businesses if the building next door is closed.”
“It”s really unfortunate because I think Upper Lake is really starting to grow,” Tallman Hotel Owner Linda Butcher added.
Although it appears the wheels for the closure are already in motion, some customers are making the effort to try and stop it.
“I don”t know how these decisions are brought to bare, but I do know that if people say nothing it makes the path that much easier,” Brier said. “If the bank realizes how many people want this bank to stay open, I think it would be a prudent decision to stay open.”
In her efforts, Brier is hoping a clause in the state”s financial code can help stall the closure until its potential impacts on the north shore communities can be fairly assessed. Under the code, a bank branch closure is subject to consideration over whether its closure would have “a seriously adverse effect on the public convenience or advantage.”
Indeed, it may not be altogether too late.
District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele reports the county has plans to meet with the bank on Wednesday to discuss reasons why it should keep the Upper Lake location open.
“We want to apprise them of the county”s plans for redevelopment,” Steele said, explaining it could be a bad move for WestAmerica to pull out of Upper Lake right when the surrounding economy is beginning to bloom.
“There are viable businesses on this side of the lake and with a resurgence of activities ? all these new businesses need a bank,” Fieler said.
In the meantime, north shore bank customers are urging fellow residents to contact their supervisor and the bank in hopes of preventing a closure or otherwise bring in another bank to serve the area.
Concerns can be mailed to the banking division manager of WestAmerica Bank at P.O. Box 1320-2A, Fairfield Ca, 94534.
“I think it”s really important to have a bank here and if there”s anyway to put a bug in another bank”s ear to come take the spot, I”ll make the suggestion,” Feiler said.
