The tornado that destroyed most of Greensburg, Kan., last week also leveled two of the town's three bank branches.
Even so, bankers set up shop in the midst of the rubble to make sure their customers at least had access to cash, said Judi Stork, the state's deputy commissioner of banking. Despite the damage to the bank buildings, the vaults were intact, so bankers could get documents and money, she said.
"They are working on getting temporary facilities brought in," Ms. Stork said.
The $40 million-asset Greensburg State Bank was the only bank headquartered in the town and had its only branch there. Reached by cell phone Wednesday, Chris Ballard, a vice president there, said he did not have time to talk, except to say that bank employees were working at the site of the destroyed branch.
Ms. Stork said that Greensburg State has implemented its emergency backup plan and is arranging for replacement equipment.
People's Bank of Pratt, about 30 miles away, had a branch in Greensburg. Porter Loomis, the bank's chief executive officer, said his employees were unharmed, but "our branch is a total loss."
The $215 million-asset People's has made arrangements to bring in a temporary facility and has even offered to help Greensburg State get up and running again, he said. "We've offered to share the temporary facility, if that is desirable from their standpoint. We've offered use of PCs and whatever we can do."
The third bank that had a branch in town is the $168 million-asset Centera Bank, which is based in Sublette, about 100 miles away. Its branch was left standing but was heavily damaged.
Senior vice president Jay Meyer said operations would not resume at the branch until it was professionally inspected. "There is quite a bit of damage to the interior. I don't know if it is structurally sound. It is possible that we will be able to repair the damage and continue to use the building," Mr. Meyer said.
Centera planned to have arrangements for a temporary branch by the end of the week, he said. In the meantime, customers can do business over the phone or at one of its other four branches.
Chuck Stones, the president of the Kansas Bankers Association, said while bankers are meeting the immediate needs of the town's residents, they have long-range concerns about its future.
"The main concern from the bankers I've talked to is not necessarily taking care of customers, but that the town is so totally devastated, they are worried whether there is going to be a migration out of town," Mr. Stones said.
Mr. Loomis said that is always a concern in rural communities, but that he was encouraged after the owners of about 10 businesses told him they intend to rebuild.
"The first step is having people who have a vision, and the vision here is a town that will be new from the ground up," he said.
