Heritage First Bank is opening its new West Rome branch, 2211 Shorter Avenue today.

The office is being relocated from 522 Shorter Avenue and while the new office is opening today, Heritage First is planning a grand opening celebration at all three of it’s Rome branches the week of June 18.

“We’re very proud of the new facility. It’s been completely retrofitted and redesigned,” said President Ryan Earnest. “What we wanted to accomplish is to get closer to the people

who support us.”

Earnest said the bank conducted a demographic study and learned that the bulk of it’s West Rome customers live or work within a mile to mile and a half radius of the new building.

Kay Chumbler, who recently joined Heritage First as a business development officer, will be working out of the West Rome branch.

The new facility is significantly larger that the old facility at the corner of Shorter Avenue and Division Street, which the bank had been leasing for the past several years.

The new larger facility will mean that Heritage First will be able to add another full-time employee to the five that have staffed the previous location. “This will add to our service delivery, significantly enhance the banking experience for our customers,” Earnest said.