PNC bank to close downtown location

PNC Bank, which occupies the first floor of the office building at 1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, announced in a letter to customers that it will close its downtown location on Oct. 15. A bank has anchored the property for decades, initially as National City Bank, which was acquired by PNC Bank in 2008.

The letter to customers, which was signed by Andrew Baker, market manager, stated that the downtown operations would be combined into the branch located at 2007 S. MacArthur Boulevard, citing the “effectiveness of our branches based on their physical capacity as well as the number of customers who frequent each location.”

Kayla Graven, executive director of Downtown Springfield, Inc., said the closing is not necessary a surprise. “We knew that changes were coming after the pandemic, because people’s habits were changing,” she said. “We’ve been trying to prepare our property owners and members on how to navigate those pivots.”

Marcey Zwiebel, director of corporate public relations for PNC, also cited changing consumer habits. “There are more ways to bank with PNC than ever before, and we have continued to see our customers taking advantage of the investments we have made in non-branch channels by altering the ways in which they are banking with us,” she said. “Shifts in the way customers are conducting their banking transactions are important inputs that inform our branch consolidation decisions.”

PNC’s departure will leave the office building largely vacant. It has been owned by Downtown Property, LLC, an entity managed by Robert Egizii, since 1999.

Graven said that PNC Bank continues to be a significant partner with DSI, noting that Niccole Clements, vice president of community development banking at PNC Bank, serves on the board of directors for the Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation. PNC Bank is also a sponsor for Levitt AMP and Graven said discussions about the 2022 season are ongoing.

“PNC might be closing their office, but they’re still a big supporter of downtown,” she said.

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