Pair of banks abandoning Brandon’s downtown

Advertisement

Advertise with us

BRANDON — Two of Canada’s major banks are set to relocate from their longstanding downtown Brandon locations in October.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

BRANDON — Two of Canada’s major banks are set to relocate from their longstanding downtown Brandon locations in October.

BMO will close its branch on Rosser Avenue and move to a new location on Park Avenue while Royal Bank of Canada’s Rosser branch will be consolidated with the existing RBC branch on 18th Street.

Neither bank owns its downtown property or could say what will happen to the buildings after they vacate.

Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun
                                BMO is moving out of downtown Brandon to a new branch on Park Avenue.

Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun

BMO is moving out of downtown Brandon to a new branch on Park Avenue.

BMO spokesperson Jeff Roman described the bank’s move to Park Avenue as an investment in the Brandon community.

“We’re excited to share our latest investment in the community with the upcoming opening of our new, modernized branch,” Roman said.

“With an expanded footprint and refreshed presence in Brandon, the new BMO branch reflects our commitment to being where our clients are and to helping them make real financial progress,” he said.

The BMO move will come 10 days after RBC transitions its downtown branch clients and employees to its 18th Street and Van Horne location.

RBC regional vice-president Tracey Schofield said there will be no job losses as a result of the consolidation from one to two branches in the city.

“We have completed significant renovations at our 18th & Van Horne location to support this change and encourage clients to visit us to experience this investment,” Schofield said in an email.

The changes come as both banks adjust their physical branch networks to reflect changing consumer banking habits.

Schofield said RBC has increasingly been providing customers with a combination of digital and mobile banking, traditional branch services and mobile expert advisers.

The BMO branch on Rosser Avenue in downtown Brandon on Thursday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

The BMO branch on Rosser Avenue in downtown Brandon on Thursday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Both banks said customers who have questions about the relocations can direct them to branch staff.

Both banks anchored the city’s historic business district for well over a century.

BMO opened in downtown Brandon in 1903 on 10th Street, moving to Rosser Avenue and 10th Street in 1905, and later to 1000 Rosser Ave.

RBC arrived in 1909 at 943 Rosser Ave., eventually relocating to 740 Rosser Ave.

— Brandon Sun

Report Error Submit a Tip

Local

LOAD LOCAL ARTICLES