<\/p>\n
First National Bank of Durango is embarking on a major renovation that will change the look and feel of the bank\u2019s downtown headquarters.<\/p>\n
Sparking the most discussion among locals, much of former owner Mahlon \u201cButch\u201d White\u2019s taxidermy is being removed or moved to other parts of the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt may not be as visible or as much, but it\u2019s certainly going to be around,\u201d said Mark Daigle, the bank\u2019s president and chief executive.<\/p>\n
Changes to the taxidermy on display are a seemingly minor part of the renovations, which will cost an estimated $1.5 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly it was time to do some refreshing of the facilities,\u201d Daigle said. \u201cIt has been a while since we did that. We wanted the surroundings to reflect the caliber of the community and the institution.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, Daigle admitted the taxidermy is all customers wanted to talk about. White sold the bank to its current ownership in 2000, but his hunting conquests have remained on display, looming over every customer who enters the lobby.<\/p>\n
Some customers are unhappy with the plans for reduced display of the taxidermy, while others say the changes are overdue, Daigle said. \u201cWe have just as many people who never liked it to begin with,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Some of the taxidermy will become part of cultural displays, he said.<\/p>\n
White, who now lives in Pueblo, said he removed some of the taxidermy that he wanted to keep. As for the rest?<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s their prerogative,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s theirs now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The taxidermy includes deer and elk, but also more exotic species, such as sheep he hunted in Iran decades ago.<\/p>\n
White\u2019s family purchased the bank in 1955. He said he supports the renovations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a wonderful idea,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s probably well due, time-wise. I wish them the best of luck.\u201d<\/p>\n
First National hopes to start work on the renovations July 1, and it plans to have them completed in 90 to 120 days, Daigle said. The bank plans to use local contractors and subcontractors. \u201cWe\u2019re expecting bids shortly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The lobby will be reconfigured to \u201cmake it a little more open, a little more welcoming, a little more modern,\u201d Daigle said.<\/p>\n
Expect more opportunities for electronic banking, but the bank will have employees ready to help. \u201cWe still want people working with us face-to-face,\u201d Daigle said.<\/p>\n
A new community room on the ground floor will replace the room in the basement that is used by the Chamber of Commerce\u2019s Lunch & Learn meetings and the Durango Business Improvement District. The new room will be comparably sized, but with external access to make it more convenient to the groups that rent it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will certainly be a more modern, up-to-date facility, but it will be open for community organizations to use outside of banking hours,\u201d Daigle said.<\/p>\n
The ATM in the parking lot will be moved to a wall near the bank\u2019s main entrance. That will allow for more parking spaces and a better flow in the parking lot, Daigle said.<\/p>\n
First National Bank of Durango, 259 W. Ninth St., was founded in 1882 and is Durango\u2019s second-largest bank by market share, behind only Wells Fargo. First National had $415 million in deposits as of June 30, according to a federal filing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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