New branch gives Wyoming bank greater presence in South Dakota

This piece is sponsored by Lloyd Construction.

It says something about loyalty to a bank that customers were willing to drive from South Dakota to Wyoming to do business — but that was more than enough to convince Sundance State Bank it was time to expand.

The bank has been part of the Black Hills region since 1895, “and over the years, we have had many customers driving to Sundance to work with us,” marketing and human resources officer Melissa Barth said.

“This led us to open a loan production office in Spearfish in 2014. Opening a full-service branch in Spearfish was the natural next step in serving our growing community.”

In planning the new building, “we wanted a space that reflects the warmth of a family-owned community bank while offering a modern, comfortable environment,” she said. “Our goal was to create a place where customers feel welcome the moment they walk in and where employees feel proud to come to work each day.”

Lloyd Construction was chosen through a competitive bid process and enjoyed the chance to work with Sundance State Bank as a new client, project manager Kenny Jensen said.

The 6,300-square-foot branch broke ground in late November 2024 at 2530 Yukon Place.

“As always, starting a project in November in South Dakota makes it more challenging as you are fighting colder temps and snow,” Jensen said.

“Fortunately, for the most part, the weather was mostly favorable other than a few snowstorms and a really cold week. During this time, the site work, concrete and underground utilities had to be completed, so schedule is always at the mercy of the weather.”

The team used insulated blankets to keep the earth warm during the cold nights, while ground heaters were used underneath the insulated blankets to keep frost from forming in the soil. Extra precautions are taken for moisture and compaction when the underground work is being completed and in preparation for concrete.

“This project utilized large laminated timber beams to add structural rigidity and an appealing heavy-timber look that fits in with the Black Hills,” Jensen said.

“The exterior finishes were made up of a full-depth stone veneer, two different colors of metal siding, metal roofing in conjunction with a membrane roof, and then an accent band of insulated metal panels along the top perimeter.”

The interior finishes are large-format ceramic tile in the lobby area with quartz countertops at the check-in kiosk and teller desks.

The lobby ceiling reaches 21 feet and is finished in wood slat panels. The building has large exterior windows while interior offices feature floor-to-ceiling glass partitions.

The new full-service branch offers a complete range of banking services, including deposits, safe deposit boxes, ATM, consumer/commercial/mortgage loans and more.

“There was also a lot of coordination that needed to be done with the bank’s security system,” Jensen added. “We coordinated items they supplied like the vault door, teller window, electronic locks and their IT requirements.”

The project ultimately finished ahead of schedule and on budget, culminating in a ribbon cutting Oct. 1.

“The finished result has truly exceeded our expectations. The building is bright, inviting and highly functional,” Barth said.

“Customers have been consistently impressed; many have shared that they are in awe when they first walk through the doors. They comment on how welcoming and comfortable the space feels, noting that it’s a place where they enjoy conducting their banking. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s clear that both the design and atmosphere are making a strong, lasting impression on everyone who visits.”

Projects like this “take a whole team to complete successfully, and we had a great team on this project, from the architect to construction, and the final result shows that,” Jensen said.

Working with Lloyd Construction “was a seamless experience,” Barth said.

“They attentively embraced our vision, maintained open communication and ensured every detail was thoughtfully executed from start to finish. Their ability to combine professionalism with a personal touch made the project truly collaborative, resulting in a space that reflects both our values and the community we serve.”

The new bank branch is one of several projects Lloyd Construction is involved in within the Black Hills region. The multistory, mixed-used Block 5 in Rapid City recently wrapped up construction, making it Lloyd’s largest project ever in the area.

“We have completed many multifamily apartments and retail projects in the Black Hills region, as well as commercial construction projects for the state like a remodel at Black Hills State University and Wildland Fire Maintenance Facilities in Rapid City and Hot Springs,” Jensen said.

“Lloyd Construction is and has already worked with many of the small communities that make up the Black Hills area, and we want to continue to expand and build relationships within the area.”