First Southern National Bank is moving forward with plans to build a new facility to replace the bank’s existing branch located at 104 South Bethel Street in Russellville. Work to prepare the site for the new branch facility is underway. The bank’s existing branch will remain open throughout construction, but will close after the new facility is open. First Southern National Bank’s main office, located on Main Street in Russellville, will continue to serve the citizens as well.

“First Southern has 18 branches in central, south central and western Kentucky and our Bethel branch processes more transactions than any other,” said Alex Keltner, Executive Vice President and Community President for First Southern National Bank. “Over time, we’ve simply outgrown our existing facility. We look forward to offering our customers more room to come in or drive through and do their banking.”

Construction on the new full-service retail banking office, which will be located on the lot next to the bank’s existing location, began in late November. You may have noticed the construction going on in that location. Plans for the new facility include a full-service lobby featuring loan and deposit personnel, four drive through lanes and an ATM.

First Southern’s Bethel branch is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m.- noon. You can reach the branch by calling 270-726-5650.

Keltner said they hope to have the new bank branch complete by late summer or early fall of 2013, depending on weather.

Other changes coming in that area will involve the intersection of Bethel and Fourth Streets. The state is planning on putting in two turning lanes to help with traffic.

The city of Russellville and First Southern National Bank have agreed to put up decorative light poles in that area to help spruce it up a bit. The city council passed a resolution to authorize Russellville Mayor Mark Stratton to execute the agreement on behalf of the city.

“What this is, is that down there where they are building the bank near the stop light, they (First Southern National Bank) are asking for decorative type poles that come up with the arms that come over. That has to have the approval of the state which has to have our buy-in,” said mayor Stratton. The mayor told his council First Southern National Bank agreed they would pay the difference in cost for the decorative poles because they are more costly.

“I’ve seen the plans the other day when I went down and talked to Alex and that’s going to be super nice. These poles are kinda like a step to help dress up that area, and it also gives us an inside track where we can acquire these poles if we want to do this somewhere else in the city,” said Stratton. “When that’s all said and done that is really going to be nice down there. Talking to Alex, all this construction will be kinda going on at the same time as far as widening lanes, but I think that is going to be a tremendous asset for us down in that area of traffic rolling in and out.”

First Southern National Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Southern Bancorp, Inc. headquartered in Stanford, Ky. First Southern has offices in Central and Western Kentucky including locations in Ballard, Caldwell, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Logan, Madison, Pulaski, Wayne and Warren counties. First Southern believes in providing exceptional customer service and making fast, local decisions. For more information about First Southern National Bank visit www.fsnb. net.