June 18, 2025

CorTrust Bank plans to redevelop a block of Minnesota Avenue for a new two-story branch location.

It will mean a move from the bank’s longtime branch at 2101 S. Minnesota Ave., which it leases, to a new building that will be constructed between 21st and 22nd streets.

The property currently includes a vacant gas station on the north side and a former office for Sanford Health to the south. Both parcels were purchased by CorTrust Bank this spring.

“It’s just tough to put together a parcel on Minnesota Avenue, and when the Sanford property came up, we thought we would try, and then worked hard to get the gas station next door, and it all came together,” said Roger Weber, the bank’s market president in Sioux Falls.

“From a location standpoint, being a lighted intersection, it was very desirable.”

The bank’s ultimate design still is being finalized but calls for demolition of the existing buildings on the property with a two-story building replacing them and parking behind it to the west.

“You only get to do this once, so you really want to drill down on what our needs are and how we can build for the future,” Weber said.

Pending city approval, the plan is to clear the property later this month and start construction after that. The hope is to open in the third quarter of 2026. Puetz Design + Build is designing and constructing the project.

“Minnesota Avenue has always been a great location for us,” Weber said. “It’s convenient, it’s central, lots of traffic, and that branch has always been a strong location for us, so we just wanted to stay in the same area and own our facility. It will give us an opportunity to have some additional operations folks in there and also an eye to the future of growth.”

Sanford’s building at 22nd Street and Minnesota Avenue drew solid interest, from occupying the existing office building to redeveloping the site, said Gregg Brown of NAI Sioux Falls, who had it listed.