Overheard

Demolition of the Merigold Inn, 2006 S. Glenstone Ave., is scheduled to begin this week to make way for what investors and executives are banking on as the home of Springfield First Community Bank. Springfield Business Journal reported in May that former BancorpSouth executives and investors including the O’Reilly and Lipscomb families had applied for a state charter to open Springfield’s 30th bank. Springfield Bancshares Inc. officials say communication with federal regulators has been positive, and they are hopeful to receive charter approval by early September. Should that occur, they intend to have a bank site in temporary trailers operational on the Glenstone site by Oct. 1. SBJ broke the story on May 23 at sbj.net.

Cross-country Sale

A Toronto-based firm has sold the East Republic Road building housing JPMorgan Chase Bank’s largest U.S. customer service call center. Los Angeles-based Fort Properties Inc. purchased the building for an undisclosed price from Brookfield Asset Management Inc.’s Brookfield Real Estate Opportunity Group. JPMorgan Chase Bank NA is the sole tenant of the 268,413-square-foot, three-story, Class A building at 303 E. Republic Road. Its lease runs through August 2027. The facility is configured to allow an additional 35,500 square feet of space, though Fort Properties spokeswoman Colleen Rosso said there are no plans to expand the building at this time.

Olympic Run

St. John’s Health System scored big by getting U.S. Olympic gold-medal decathlete Bruce Jenner to headline its major annual fundraiser. Jenner will be in Springfield Oct. 10–11 to spearhead activities during the 29th annual St. John’s Sunshine Run, a weekend of running and walking activities for all ages. Jenner will first appear during a Friday pasta dinner served at Hammons Field by Italian chef Nicola Gilardi. Jenner will give a motivational speech called “Finding the Champion Within.” The Olympian will then start three Saturday events: a 10K, a 5K and a 1-mile walk. Other activities are a wellness expo and awards ceremony. All events take place at Hammons Field in downtown Springfield. A full schedule of events and ticket information is available at www.stjohns.com/sunshinerun2008.

Done Deal

The Bank of Missouri parent company Reliable Community Bancshares Inc. has finished its acquisition of Republic-based Countryside Bank. The deal closed July 21, and new signage is up. With Countryside’s approximately $97 million in assets and two locations in Republic and Springfield, The Bank of Missouri now has $700 million in assets and 13 branches. All Countryside employees are staying on, including President Jack Muench, according to previous SBJ coverage. The Bank of Missouri is based in Perryville.[[In-content Ad]]