Staff photo by Fritz Busch Alliance Bank CEO V. Philip Reim of St. Paul (left) and Alliance Bank Regional President Bob Reuter of New Ulm (center) present Courtland Mayor Al Poehler with the keys to the former Alliance Bank branch in downtown Courtland Wednesday. Alliance Bank donated the branch building to the City of Courtland, which plans to remodel the bank for offices for the city clerk and utilities superintendent.

COURTLAND — Alliance Bank donated its former Courtland branch bank to the City of Courtland Wednesday.

Alliance Bank CEO V. Philip Reim and Alliance Bank Regional President Bob Reuter handed the keys to the building to Courtland Mayor Al Poehler.

“It’s great. Alliance Bank really stepped up for us,” said Poehler, “We will soon begin remodeling the building to become two offices. One office for Courtland City Clerk Julie Holm and another for Courtland Utilities Superintendent David Ubel.”

Poehler said both city employees currently share a small room in the Courtland Community Center.

“We hope to have the new offices ready by February (2021),” said Poehler. “I think most people will be happy with the new city building. We’ll have more separation and security.”

The property transfer is a result of the new, larger Alliance Bank building that was completed earlier this year at Third North and Minnesota Street in downtown New Ulm. The building enables the bank to consolidate all of its operations, including many that were formerly done at other locations.

The consolidation added several full-time jobs to the New Ulm bank, which has two stories and more than 20,000 square feet.

Alliance Bank CEO V. Philip Reim of St. Paul, who has New Ulm roots, said the new bank didn’t formally open last spring when it was complete due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“People know how to get cash without coming into the bank,” Reim said.

The new Alliance Bank features large cubicles with desks that can be electrically raised and lowered. Bank operations centralized at the new bank include loan documentation and administration, deposit and loan operations, information technology (IT) and finance.

In addition, the new bank was designed so it can be easily expanded.

Sidewalks outside the new bank are hearted to prevent ice and snow from forming.

Bank clients don’t have to climb stairs. An elevator near the front door accesses three levels.

All banking services are on the main level. The top level is designed for operations, finance, IT, and compliance to support Alliance Bank branches. The lower level houses storage and safe deposit boxes.

Alliance Bank began in 1914 as Farmers and Merchants State Bank of New Ulm. It was purchased by a group of investors headed by Victor Reim in 1982.

Philip Reim and his sister branched into St. Paul in 1996.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).