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South Minneapolis branch features the bank’s latest look and feel, along with a community room for neighborhood groups and nonprofits.

After three U.S. Bank branches were damaged in the civil unrest in Minneapolis that followed the killing of George Floyd nearly two years ago, South Minneapolis branch manager Rene Madrid received a phone call from Andy Cecere, the bank’s chairman, president and CEO.

“The first day after the branch burned down, he reached out,” Madrid said. “He asked if I was OK and if my team was OK. And I asked him, ‘Are we going to rebuild?’ This branch is such a part of the community. He said, ‘Rene, I don’t know if I’m over-committing, but we’re going to rebuild the branch.’ He wanted to make sure we did the right thing. That gave us a lot of hope.”

Shortly after, U.S. Bank committed to staying in the neighborhoods that experienced civil unrest. On Thursday, U.S. Bank held a grand opening for its South Minneapolis branch, the last of the three to open. The U.S. Bank branch on West Broadway in North Minneapolis reopened in June 2021. A relocated branch on East Lake Street in Minneapolis opened in February 2022; the bank donated the previous location to a nonprofit community development corporation that plans to transform the property into affordable housing, retail use and arts and cultural spaces.

“We came here that Saturday (after the bank was damaged) and we decided that day that we would rebuild,” Cecere said. “We recognize how critical having a branch on Lake Street is to the community.”

The South Minneapolis branch suffered such extensive damage in 2020 that the original building had to be razed before a new 6,000 square foot branch was rebuilt on the same site. The branch features U.S. Bank’s newest look and feel with open spaces and clean lines. It also has flexible office spaces to allow customers and bankers to have private conversations about goals and finances. The branch was also constructed in a way that neighborhood groups and nonprofits can have access to a community room, even when the branch is closed.

A busy location before the civil unrest, more and more customers have been finding their way into the new branch.

“People have been so appreciative,” Madrid said. “Some people have said, ‘I didn’t think you’d do something this nice.’”

Madrid was quick to recognize his team for their dedication over the nearly two years since the branch was damaged. Immediately following the unrest, the team worked on a temporary basis from the branch parking lot so customers could access and retrieve belongings from the on-site safe deposit boxes. Over time, the team moved to the temporary branch at the East Lake Street location and then to another nearby branch. Cecere echoed that.

“The real heroes are the people in the branch,” he said, “For almost two years, they did whatever they could to help their customers.”

As part of the grand opening, the bank provided a $1,500 donation to the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), a nonprofit that works with small businesses in the Twin Cities, especially along the Lake Street corridor.

“LEDC’s relationship with U.S. Bank has been a long-term relationship and more than just a banking one," said Henry Jiménez, executive director, LEDC.  "Because of Rene’s leadership, along with his branch team, it has felt more like a familia. We all know each other personally. Rene is a former board member as well as a member of several committees over the years -- he has been part of our highs and has never waivered his support during our lows. He has always been there for us and this community."

Committed to the communities we serve

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis in 2020, U.S. Bank committed to rebuild branches damaged during the civil unrest and launched several initiatives to address social and economic inequities.

Timeline

May 2020 – Three branches in Minneapolis sustained damage during civil unrest (West Broadway - 1030 W. Broadway Ave.; Lake Street - 2800 E. Lake St.; and South Minneapolis - 919 E. Lake St.)

May 2020 – Mobile Financial Center deployed to West Broadway and Lake Street branches to provide continuity of banking services and ATM access. More permanent temporary trailer (Lake Street) and worksite (West Broadway) opened in December 2020 to provide banking services through the winter

June 2020 – U.S. Bank commits to rebuild branches, pledges $116M to address social and economic inequities

September 2020 – U.S. Bank shares plans to donate 2800 E. Lake St. property and relocate Lake Street branch to 3600 E. Lake St.

February 2021 – U.S. Bank launches U.S. Bank Access Commitment™ building on June 2020 commitments

June 2021 –West Broadway branch reopens after complete renovation of space

November 2021 – U.S. Bank identifies Seward Redesign as intended nonprofit recipient of 2800 E. Lake St. property

February 2022 – Relocated East Lake Street branch (3600 E. Lake St.) opens

April 2022 – Rebuilt South Minneapolis branch celebrates grand re-opening, once again giving U.S. Bank two branches on Lake Street

Additional information

U.S. Bank commits $116 million to address social and economic inequities (June 2020)

Introducing U.S. Bank Access Commitment (February 2021)

U.S. Bank provides update on commitment to addressing economic inequities (June 2021)

U.S. Bank to donate Minneapolis branch to Seward Redesign for redevelopment (November 2021)