ROCKFORD — Associated Bank has given a $2 million facelift to the 612 N. Main St. office building that houses its Rockford market commercial banking and wealth management services.

 

The public can see the bank’s new second floor office suite at a 3 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday.

 

Stuffy, dark wood paneling that previously cloaked narrow hallways, tiny offices and drab cubicles is gone — replaced by an airy, modern, open floor plan ensconced in glass and sleek white marble.

 

Outside, the bank replaced sidewalks and gave the building facade, parking lot and landscaping a fresh makeover. More renovations are on the drawing board for retail banking services housed on the first floor, said Thomas Kress, president of Associated Bank’s Rockford market.

 

“We’re committed to downtown,” said Thomas Kress, president of Associated Bank’s Rockford operations. “This building was fairly dated and we had a choice to make. Do I want to build on the east side? We thought that investing in downtown was the right thing to do.”

 

View the full article here in the Rockford Register Star.