The US Bank branch at 6011 W. North Ave. in Oak Park, just west of the Oak Park-Austin border, will close permanently on Jan. 2, 2021.
The closing was confirmed by a spokesperson for the bank, which is located on the plaza at the Oak Park side of the intersection of Austin Boulevard and North Avenue.
Several businesses in the intersection were looted on May 31, following the protests in the wake of the shooting death of George Floyd.
Evan Lapiska, a spokesperson for the bank, said the closing had nothing to do with those recent events; rather, it was part of the national bank’s effort to revamp that has been going on since early 2019, in order to “optimize our branch delivery networks in response to changing customer preferences and behaviors.”
The bank will still have four branches in Oak Park, and Oak Park and Galewood customers will be able to bank at the North Avenue branch at 6726 W. North Ave.
“Although we are closing some branches, we are continuing to open and enhance others, as well as rapidly enhancing our digital capabilities,” Lapiska said.
Lapiska said that the North Oak Park branch employees will have opportunities to apply for jobs at other branches.
“Impacted employees wishing to stay with the organization will have the opportunity to apply for other openings that may be available, particularly in areas that include our mortgage division and customer care centers, where we have identified the need for additional support while allowing for flexibility in work location,” he said.
Lapiska emphasized that the employees will be able to keep working at the North Oak Branch until the end of the year and that the bank is providing a “comprehensive severance package and outplacement services” to employees who don’t stay on.
“We are proud of our history serving customers in Oak Park,” he said. “[We] look forward to continuing to serve the community through our other locations in the area along with our convenient digital and voice offerings.”
US Bank previously closed a bank facility at Austin Boulevard and Roosevelt Road. That site might be converted into a Taco Bell. And if plans for a new apartment building are approved, the US Bank drive thru on Lake Street across from the main library will also close. Recently US Bank announced its branch at Madison Street and Desplaines in Forest Park will close at the end of this year.
