Westsound Bank opens new, relocated Silverdale branch.

Westsound Bank employees and customers are still getting used to their new Silverdale surroundings.

Westsound Bank celebrated the grand re-opening of its Silverdale branch Jan. 21.

The previous branch was on Silverdale Way. The new branch is located at 3035 N.W. Bucklin Hill Road, next door to Taco Bell.

“We’d been looking for a spot for a while and this one had everything we needed,” said Westsound Bank President & CEO Terry Peterson.

Peterson came onboard with Westsound Bank in April 2008 and wasted no time getting together with his team of experts to figure out what needed to be done to better serve customers.

Peterson said Westsound Bank asked its customers what they’d like to see and the people of Silverdale made their voices heard.

“In the Silverdale market it was clear that our clients wanted a drive-through and more parking,” he said. “We heard them loud and clear.”

The new Silverdale branch opened Nov. 3, 2008 and features a drive-through window, more parking and safe deposit boxes.

Peterson said the previous Silverdale Way location did not have a drive-through or safe deposit boxes. He added that customers were not happy with the lack of parking at that location.

“The parking over there wasn’t very good or acceptable,” Peterson said.

He said it took six months from start to finish to open the new Bucklin Hill Road branch and customers couldn’t be happier.

“The clients are loving it, the drive-up especially,” he said. “How can you have a bank without a drive-through?”

Peterson said the lobby in the new Silverdale branch may be slightly larger than the previous location, but Westsound Bank wasn’t necessarily looking for a larger facility.

“Both branches were moderately sized,” he said. “We didn’t need any larger of a lobby size, just some different amenities.”

Westsound Bank has nine branches and Peterson said Silverdale is the fourth largest location. With the new facilities, he said Silverdale should quickly move up to become the third largest branch.

“Silverdale is such a key part of our strategy. It’s such a big investment,” he said.

This is the first new branch or relocated branch Peterson has opened since he took the helm of Westsound Bank last year. He said the company plans to build a new Poulsbo branch from the ground up at the existing location in the future.

Westsound Bank in Silverdale is open 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.