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LAPLACE — First National Bank USA’s presence in St. John the Baptist Parish came from humble beginnings as a mortgage lending department in portable buildings.

Today, the branch at 377 Belle Terre Boulevard in LaPlace delivers all the services of a big-name bank with personalized customer care that only a community bank can provide.

The original First National Bank USA opened in 1975 in Boutte, located in St. Charles Parish. The owners came to LaPlace in the late 1990s, first setting up shop on Airline Highway before relocating to Belle Terre Boulevard. The grand red brick, white column building that now greets customers opened in 2003.

Vice President/Loan Officer Robert Laiche has worked at the LaPlace location since 2007. He’s gotten to know customers on a personal basis, and there is no need for people to flash a driver’s license for identification with every transaction.

There are other benefits to joining a local bank, according to Laiche.

“The owners are in St. Charles Parish,” Laiche said. “We’re able to get quick loan decisions because the decision makers are local in the River Parishes.”

Branch manager Emily Frost said First National Bank USA is a full-service company that offers checking, savings, loans, credit cards, online banking, mobile banking and much more.

Free business checking accounts support economic development in St. John Parish.

“We also give businesses the option of remote deposit capture, where they can make deposits through their office,” Frost said. “It’s very convenient because you don’t have to leave your office to make a deposit. Right now, we’re offering that for free. A lot of banks offer it, but they charge you a good bit to use the service.”

Part of First National Bank USA’s commitment to personalized service is having in-house mortgage loan officers.

“The lenders are on-site, so you’re not speaking to someone over the phone who might be out of Texas or New York,” Frost said. “Our mortgage loan officer sits down with the customers and works with them one-on-one to get their loans approved and closed.”

Mortgage Loan Officer Gloria Trahan helps customers find the loan best suited to them. FHA, VA and Rural Development are among the conventional loans she deals with for customers purchasing homes, second homes or condos. Customers making extra- large purchases may also qualify for a jumbo loan.

A person building their dream home can benefit from a one-time construction loan that covers every step of the process from purchasing a lot to establishing a 30-year mortgage. By cutting out an extra closing, the all-in-one loan saves time and lowers costs for customers.

The biggest change in the 2000s, according to Laiche, has been the trend toward mobile transactions and credit cards.

However, there is ample opportunity to get cash in a pinch. Though First National Bank USA has only two branch locations, customers are connected to more than 55,000 Allpoint surcharge-free ATMs worldwide. Frost said these ATMs are searchable through a smart phone app, and many are locally located at CVS, Walgreens and Winn-Dixie stores.

The current Tell-A-Friend promotion at First National Bank USA offers a 20-inch Everest gear bag as a free gift for those who open a new checking account. The promotion is ongoing, and gifts change over time.

The First National Bank USA lobby is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday. After the lobby closes, the drive-up remains open until 5 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. For more information, call 985-653-7632.