The Tilden Bank Breaks Ground For New Clearwater Location

Bill Kester, senior vice president; April Roeber, teller; Brenda Rittscher, insurance agent; Theresa Schlecht, AITO officer; Lisa Welding, secretary; Dee Ann Sanne, loan officer; Mary Thiele, loan clerk; Michelle Bolling, teller/marketing director; and Gary Gunderson, president.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new bank in Clearwater took place Wednesday morning in the heart of the community. 

Representatives of The Tilden Bank were on hand in Clearwater to break ground for construction of the new bank, across the street of the current location - Citizens State Bank. The Tilden Bank purchased the Citizens State Bank in 2009. 

The new bank will be known as The Tilden Bank, and the address will change from 522 Main St. to 604 Main St. in Clearwater. Dirt work at the new site began on Monday.

Senior Vice President Bill Kester said the new bank was needed for more office space and privacy. The new location will have an additional 1,300 sq. ft., increasing the size from 2,400 to 3,700 sq. ft. The building will house The Tilden Bank and the Clearwater Insurance Agency.

"We will have three more offices and more storage space in the new building," Kester said. "Our current bank was built in 1907, so it's nearly 110 years old."

President Gary Gunderson said the property across the street was purchased several years ago "in anticipation of building a new bank on that location."

"The new bank will offer more services, including a drive thru," Gunderson said. "Our goal is to be in the new location by the end of the year."

Rutjens Construction of Tilden is the general contractor for the project.

Board of directors present for the groundbreaking Wednesday were Scott Douglas, Tom Rutjens, Rudy Dittrich, Mike Brogan, Gary Gunderson and Cameron Mathis. Local representatives were Bill Kester, DeeAnn Sanne, April Roeber, Brenda Rittscher, Theresa Schlecht, Lisa Welding, Dee Ann Sanne, Mary Thiele and Michelle Bolling.