Cornerstone Bank is serious about growing in Sioux Falls – look no farther than its choice for a flagship location.

The North Dakota-based bank will build a two-story office on the northwest corner of 69th Street and Louise Avenue, some of the only remaining commercial land in southwest Sioux Falls.

“Our intent is to be very innovative and get away from the traditional type of banking model,” said Evan Ingebrigtson, market president. “We’re building a new store to be progressive.”

The bank expanded to Sioux Falls in the summer of 2016 with a location at 4930 S. Western Ave. Its roots go back to 1952 when it was formed as Lakeside State Bank. It has grown to 10 locations in North Dakota and South Dakota.

In April of this year, it started offering a full line of services in Sioux Falls, including a team of mortgage lenders led by Dick Groeger.

“We’re ready to serve the community, and in the short time we’ve been here, we’ve had some very good success and are making some noise around town,” Ingebrigtson said.

The new building will give the bank a prominent presence at a well-traveled intersection. It will sit on 1.5 acres and include 15,000 square feet on two stories, with a design that features a lot of windows and incorporates a “modern approach to banking,” Ingebrigtson added. “It’s going to be state-of-the-art.”

The bank’s niche, though, will come through its relationship-building, he added.

“We just believe in those old-fashioned philosophies of giving straight answers and the best possible financial options,” he said. “Our niche is going to be getting a true, hard-core understanding of our clients and being able to offer all the conveniences of electronic banking.”

Dirt work has started at the site, but construction won’t get going until the spring. From there, it will take less than a year to build, he said.  There are three remaining lots totaling 4 acres remaining on the property, which is co-owned by the Benson and Cutler family.

“We look forward to the construction of Cornerstone Bank as part of our development,” Kent Cutler said, adding that while no additional land is under contract, he is “regularly taking calls from retail, restaurant and hotel operators.”

“I expect most, if not all, of the lots will be under contract in the next six to nine months in anticipation of Avera’s new hospital and the increased traffic it will generate. This is a really hot area of town, and land is in short supply.”

Cornerstone was attracted by the traffic counts in the area and by the surrounding development, including Avera on Louise, Ingebrigtson said.

“The dust will really be flying at that corner,” he said, adding that the location likely will be the first of multiple offices in Sioux Falls.

“Sioux Falls is dynamic,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of things going on.”