When I was 16 years old, I went with my dad to Central Bank & Trust on Frederica Street. Maybe you remember it--a great big green building...like jade green or something. Unusual. But fascinating.

As a kid, I always loved tall buildings--even the "smaller" tall ones here in Owensboro. It's why I always pressed my nose against the car window when we'd drive through large cities. Love those skyscrapers.

IT BEGAN AS CENTRAL BANK & TRUST

But Central Bank & Trust was where I opened my first account, and I have been a customer ever since. So what, you may be asking, does something called "Central Bank & Trust" have to do with the headline at the top of this page? Well, that was the original name of PNC Bank. Does anyone still have one of these old deposit bags? Dad had a bazillion of them, for some reason.

rlhamilton54 via eBay
rlhamilton54 via eBay
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IT BECAME NATIONAL CITY BANK

In 1994, it became National City Bank. And, you know what? The other day while digging through a tote at the back of the closet, I ran into some old National City receipts. Now that is OLD.

That Central Bank location was on 25th and Frederica where Independence Bank is now, and PNC, as we know, is at the corner of Frederica and Legion Boulevard, and THAT will soon be Owensboro's ONLY PNC Bank location.

Dave Spencer/Townsquare Media
Dave Spencer/Townsquare Media
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NOW, PNC BANK WILL HAVE ONE OWENSBORO LOCATION

I am completely fine with that. I remember when the Parrish Avenue location was the only one available at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and what a pain in the rump it was to drive over there. My main circle during the week is right around this radio station, and in 2020, I lived behind Wesleyan Park Plaza. I REALLY missed PNC-Frederica being open during that time.

Well now, it will be the only PNC game in town.

According to a letter PNC customers received,

WHY PNC-PARRISH AVENUE IS CLOSING

"We have carefully studied the effectiveness of our branches based on their physical capacity as well as the number of customers who frequent each location. As a result, the Parrish Avenue branch located at 2715 W Parrish Avenue will close and be combined into the Frederica Street branch."

Location, location, location. It's a familiar cry.

I'm gathering traffic has been way down at the Parrish location and it only makes sense to liquidate that property.

I remember the letter we got six years ago informing us of the closure of the 3rd Street location. And if memory serves, there was one out on Highway 60 East, now Highway 144. I believe there was another one at some point, but I can't remember where.

Anyway, we're down to one PNC branch in Owensboro--just a couple of blocks away from where I am right now.

Location, location, location has become consolidation, consolidation, consolidation.

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