Banking boom in the Springs

Already the home to 200 bank, savings bank and credit union branches, the Colorado Springs area soon will sprout a few more as financial institutions continue to expand into fast-growing suburban neighborhoods.

U.S. Bank opened its newest branch, the financial giant's 14th in the Springs area, on Oct. 13 inside a Safeway supermarket at 6925 Mesa Ridge Parkway in Fountain. A grand opening celebration is planned at 10 a.m. Friday. The branch operates seven days a week.

Ent Federal Credit Union, the area's largest financial institution, broke ground Tuesday on its 22nd branch at 16050 Forest Point, across the street from a new Wal-Mart supercenter that opened in Monument last month and Kohl's store that opened earlier this month. The 4,000-square-foot branch is scheduled to open in April 2007 and will employ six.

The Bank at Broadmoor will break ground at 10 a.m. Friday on its fourth branch at 3216 W. Colorado Ave., the site of a now-demolished Arby's restaurant on the far west side of Colorado Springs. The branch will be called The Bank at Broadmoor Westside and is scheduled to open in May 2007 to better serve the bank's customers in western Colorado Springs, said Lisa Dowis, the bank's marketing manager.