Capital One bank confirms downtown branch closing
Published 7:59 pm Friday, November 10, 2017
By David Ball
Rumors of Capital One bank in downtown Port Arthur closing for good are not greatly exaggerated.
Amanda Landers, a media relations specialist with the bank, wrote via email, “We’ve made the difficult decision to not re-open the branch following the extensive damage from Hurricane Harvey.”
The branch has been closed since Aug. 28 due to water damage from the hurricane. Their recovery teams inspected the damage over the last month and they’ve determined that it’s uninhabitable unless extensive renovations were made.
“For example, part of the ceiling has collapsed and there is extensive water damage that will require lengthy remediation and renovations,” she stated. “We began notifying our customers by direct mail today. There will be no changes to customers’ accounts or their account numbers. We’ve served our customers in downtown well and will continue to do so at our Mid-County branch in Port Arthur. We also can show them the available options to bank at any time with Capital One through Online Banking and Bill Pay, and Mobile Banking. In addition to the Mid-County branch, we have an ATM at 4051 Twin City Hwy.”
Landers wrote they take the decision to close a branch very seriously, as they recognize the effect that it has on their customers and associates.
The city of Port Arthur owns the property and building where the Capital One bank sits and they didn’t know it was closed until last week.
Capital One is the last bank left downtown. Other banks are miles away.
Willie “Bae” Lewis Jr., District 5 councilman, said under Regulation 42 of the state comptroller of currency, banks are to give a 90-day notice before closing and time to receive public comments.
The Port Arthur City Council also approved at their regular meeting on Tuesday to send a resolution protesting the branch closing to the state comptroller of currency.
“They closed the bank after the storm,” he said. “They had a roof problem from the leak and some damaged tiles totaling $16,000. An asbestos contractor was called and the area was contained. The tiles need to be removed.”
He added that the bank has wanted to close the branch for 25 years.
City Manager Brian McDougal said he was to meet last week with bank officials about the status of Capital One.
“As with Councilman Lewis, I’m disappointed they moved out of downtown,” McDougal said. “The city council took this very hard since Capital One left downtown.
“I haven’t been officially notified. If I had been notified, I would have told the council earlier. They’re supposed to give a 90-day notice.”
He estimated last week a contractor will complete the remediation work in the building in a couple of weeks.
