Kansas bank changes its name, opens in Wichita

Northwestern Financial Review, Aug 15, 2001

Kanza Bank, formerly State Bank of Kingman, is opening a branch in Wichita, Kan. Construction, expected to be complete in late August, began in April. The $69 million bank's office is in Kingman, Kan., which is 30 miles from Wichita. "Over the last three or four years, 25 to 30 percent of our lending business has been coming out of that area. We see more and more opportunities for the smaller community bank there," said John Boyer IV, president and CEO of Kanza.

The 4,400-square-foot branch will be situated inside a 12,400-square-foot retail center, with the remaining space leased to other businesses. "In a perfect world scenario," said Boyer, "the retail center will be occupied by businesses that we would benefit and they would benefit from us."

The Wichita branch will feature three inside teller windows, three drive-up lanes and a freestanding drive-up ATM. The branch will offer a range of service from commercial and consumer banking and loans to safe deposit boxes. The branch also will offer brokerage and mortgage origination. The branch will employ seven people.

The Kanza name was selected as the State Bank of Kingman entered a new market. "We thought a more generic, shorter and less geographically-specific name was important. It's easier to brand a shorter name like Kanza. In the long run, I also think the name is a little more customer friendly," Boyer said.