Great Southern to replace center city branch with new building

Great Southern Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: GSBC) is building a new branch in center city to replace an existing facility at the northwest corner of Benton Avenue and Chestnut Expressway.

Construction on the new 2,600-square-foot building at 723 N. Benton Ave. is expected to start this month and wrap in late 2025, said Great Southern Bank Communications Manager Jennifer Russell. The company is scheduled to transition on March 24 into a temporary mobile banking facility at the site around the time demolition of the current 1,500-square-foot building begins, she said.

“Great Southern Bank is committed to providing our customers with the best possible banking experience,” said Laura Smith, the company's chief retail banking officer, in a news release. “The new Benton and Chestnut banking center is part of our ongoing efforts to innovate and improve our services while maintaining the convenience and accessibility our customers value."

Ace Construction is serving as general contractor for the project, said Russell. She declined to disclose the project cost.

The Benton and Chestnut location is one of Great Southern Bank's 12 facilities in Springfield, according to the release.

Great Southern Bancorp reported $61.8 million in 2024 net income, an 8.9% decrease from $67.8 million in 2023, according to past reporting.

GSBC shares were trading at $56.50 as of 10:07 a.m., compared with a 52-week range of $49.74 to $68.02 per share.