ELK RIVER, MN – The week of August 7 was a BIG one for the Energy City, filled with surprise giveaways, special promotions, exciting activities – and an actual 100-pound cookie served up to those who joined the festivities.
Indeed, the grand opening celebration for Gate City Bank’s new Elk River Coborn’s location was pretty sweet – the perfect opportunity for customers and community members to (quite literally) get a taste of better banking, a century in the making.
Gate City Bank is beyond thrilled to join Elk River – and to celebrate a century of better banking that has culminated in its new local Coborn’s location! The community has extended an incredibly kind welcome since the Bank opened its doors in June, and this weeklong event was a chance to share heartfelt thanks.
“At Gate City Bank, words can’t express how thankful we are for this wonderful opportunity to serve Elk River,” said Kevin Hanson, President & CEO. “It’s truly an honor to join this growing and vibrant community, which warmly aligns with our core purpose – to create a better way of life for our customers, communities and team members. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate a century of better banking.”
Gate City Bank baked a lot into its grand opening celebration week – like giving away a wireless speaker, Brümate cooler, Blackstone griddle and countless gift cards to local establishments. The Bank also offered special promotions on auto loans, CDs and home equity loans. Team members stuffed grocery bags with surprise goodies, and even shared free jokes with everyone who walked up to say hello.
It was most definitely a week to remember.
The icing on top of the entire event, however, was Gate City Bank’s ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place August 8. That’s when customers and community members had the chance to sink their teeth into a 100-pound cookie – in honor of the Bank’s 100th anniversary.
“Do we have any folks from the Guinness Book of World Records in the audience? This could be the world’s largest cookie!” joked Dennis Host, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Coborn’s, during opening remarks at the ribbon-cutting. "We’ve had a longstanding relationship with Gate City Bank, and it’s exciting for us to partner with them once again, especially in Elk River.
Debbi Rydberg, Executive Director of the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce, echoed that sentiment.
“We are beyond thrilled to have Gate City Bank as the newest partner in our membership," Rydberg said. "The Bank’s mission and values align perfectly with everything that makes Elk River special, so we’re very excited to welcome them into the community!”
For Gate City Bank, the feeling is most definitely mutual. Team members couldn't be more excited for the opportunity to serve Elk River.
Ryan Coye, Gate City Bank Senior Vice President of Central Minnesota, agreed, adding that he and his team are incredibly excited to serve such a thriving community, especially as the bank celebrates its monumental milestone.
Gate City Bank certainly has had a lot to celebrate in Elk River: Customers getting excited about free ATMs that make accessing cash worldwide a breeze, easy online banking for life on the go, innovative loans the community has never seen before – and so much more.
It simply didn’t feel right for the fun to end.
So, to further highlight Gate City Bank’s entrance into Elk River, as well as its 100-year milestone, the celebration extended into the following week – in every community the Bank serves! Customers had the option to enjoy auto loans with no origination fees, special CD rates and $100 for opening a checking account or referring a friend. The company also held a special day of community giving, which benefitted numerous nonprofits.
To add to the fun, Gate City Bank even rolled out a limited-edition cookie flavor – chocolate-covered potato chip – a fitting way to culminate its 100-year celebration.
Gate City Bank’s longtime partnership with Coborn’s has proved crucial to meeting the growing banking needs of communities in central Minnesota, especially Elk River. Coborn’s is also the parent company of Hornbacher’s (the Bank’s partnership started in 2006) and Cash Wise Foods.
The Elk River Coborn’s location brings added convenience to customers who bank while they shop, and has grown Gate City Bank’s footprint to 23 communities in North Dakota and Minnesota. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, the full-service location joins St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park, providing innovative products and services for the region’s personal, mortgage and business customers.
Click here to learn more about all the other great benefits Gate City Bank has brought to Elk River!
At Gate City Bank, we have a wonderful story to tell. It's aligned with our core purpose, focusing on investing in our customers, communities and team members. Learn more about us!
At Gate City Bank, our customers, communities and team members inspire everything that we are – they’re our people. Learn more about them through heartwarming stories and testimonials!
At Gate City Bank, giving back to the communities where we live and work is at the core of who we are. Learn about all the innovative ways we’re making a difference throughout North Dakota and central Minnesota.