Brought To You By BOM
BOM Bank has received the bid to fund a two million dollar loan for the City of Natchitoches’ Train Depot Rehabilitation Project. The City of Natchitoches, Cane River National Heritage Area (CRNHA), Cane River Creole National Historical Park (CRNHP) and DSW Construction hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Depot Rehabilitation Project on Thursday, January 13, 2022.
The Texas and Pacific Railway Depot was constructed in 1927 and closed its doors to passenger rail transportation in the 1960s, encapsulating its segregated entrances and waiting rooms. Today, the structure remains one of the last segregated train stations within Louisiana and has a deep connection to the City’s African American community. “For nearly four decades, the community of Natchitoches has tried to preserve and rehabilitate the Depot into a museum that depicts the stories of African Americans in Natchitoches,” remarked Rebecca Blankenbaker, Executive Director of CRNHA. Mayor Ronnie Williams stated, “The city is thrilled to partner with the BOM a community-centered local bank, on the renovation of the Train Depot. The Depot project will have a substantial impact not just on West Natchitoches but on the entire Natchitoches community.”
BOM’s President and CEO Ken Hale stated, “BOM Bank is excited to embark on this project with the City of Natchitoches for the rehabilitation project, and to encourage economic development in west Natchitoches.” The Depot will house new offices for the National Park Service, a visitor center and a community lecture hall/theater for the CRNHP. Rebecca Blankenbaker stated, “The Train Depot will depict the African American experience of Natchitoches and Cane River. While the park downriver at Oakland and Magnolia explores their experiences from slavery to sharecropping and tenant farming. The depot will discuss topics of segregation, civil rights and the great migration to larger cities conveying full African American experience from slavery to civil rights to today.”
BOM Bank is a certified Community Development Financial Institution with a focus on volunteerism servicing the unbanked and underbanked population. It offers tailored resources including a credit builder program and a certified BankOn checking account for those outside of the mainstream financial system and those working to have healthy financial habits. BOM gives back heavily to the communities it serves, and in 2021 its staff volunteered over 4,000 hours of community service.
BOM Bank has been providing customers with a variety of products and services since 1903. BOM expanded into Natchitoches Parish by opening a location in Derry, Louisiana in 1996. When we opened our Derry location, the bank had $18 million in assets and now the bank has grown to over $800 million in assets with over $80 million in capital. BOM now employs over 140 staff members among 17 branches in Grant, Natchitoches, Sabine, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, and Rapides parishes in Louisiana in addition to Sabine and Angelina County in Texas serving over 30,000 customers. For a complete list of locations, as well as products and services, visit bofm.com or follow us on social media @bomest1903.
