Washington Trust Bank plans to open a new, full-service branch early next year in a remodeled former Walgreens pharmacy building at 3810 N. Maple.


The Spokane-based bank has purchased the Walgreens site for an undisclosed amount and, assuming its plans are approved by bank regulators, hopes to begin remodeling work for the new branch before the end of the year, says Lisa Phillips, Washington Trusts advertising manager.


Lydig Construction Inc., of Spokane, will do the remodeling work, she says. Design work still is being completed by Denny Christenson & Associates, of Spokane, so Washington Trust doesnt have a cost estimate for the project that it can release yet, Phillips says.


Were still in the process of trying to determine how were going to convert this facility, she says.


The new branch will sit in the middle of the area served by Washington Trusts current North Side branches, which are at Division Street and Indiana Avenue, at the Northgate Shopping Center, and at Five Mile, Phillips says.


One of the reasons were building there is because some of our NorthTown (-area) branches have such high traffic, she says.


The new branch will include a lobby with teller counters, as well as two drive-through lanes, and will employ five people, she says.


Walgreens Co., of Deerfield, Ill., opened a 1,600-square-foot Walgreens Rxpress pharmacy at the North Maple site in early 1996. The store closed in December 2000, after Walgreens decided to phase out its Rxpress outlets, a company spokeswoman says.