Groundbreaking for new First Bank location set for September

Officials expect to break ground on the new First Bank location in Shallotte this September, and the building should take about six months to complete.

According to First Bank City Executive Dave Kesterson, the company’s engineers are going through some last-minute revisions to the original plan to meet the town of Shallotte’s specifications.

He said a new building on the 1-acre property off Whiteville Road would be a welcome change from the temporary location now in use on Main Street.

“We’ve done well in this location, and we continue to grow in this community,” Kesterson said. “But people want to go through a drive-through and have a full bank.”

Before that can take place, however, engineers need to provide the town with proper documentation concerning all easements and agreements for shared infrastructure on the property including stormwater, sidewalks and driveways.

They also must be approved for a town stormwater permit, according to Shallotte Town Planner Allen Serkin.

The property is at the corner of Whiteville Road and the Lowe’s/Planet Fun driveway, was part of a 101-acre tract owned by Jon and Betty Ward. They received permission from the town to divide the First Bank property.

At the request of the town planning board, the site developers converted the private driveway to a private road, assigned a road name and installed a street sign.

First Bank, headquartered in Troy, also has locations in Ocean Isle Beach, Leland and Southport.