Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

On my way to an appointment recently, I noticed that the Regions Bank branch in East Forest Plaza (the Wal-Mart shopping center at I-77) is now vacant. This is another sign of how banks are continuing to shed branches as more and more business is done over the Internet. I can see why this one was a candidate, as the place is rather hard to get in and out of. If you are not already going into the shopping center you might well think twice.

With the recent closure of the Sandhill branch, I believe this leaves Regions locally with only the main location on Gervais and a Harbision branch. Hmm, actually I don't see the Harbison location on their web site, so that may have closed too -- I'll have to take a look.

UPDATE 10 October 2017 -- Adding SouthTrust to the post title based on the comments. SouthTrust was acquired by Wachovia in 2004, so that would have been gone by 2005.

UPDATE 20 January 2021 -- This building has been torn down and something new is going up there now:

Also adding a map icon.

UPDATE 25 May 2021: The new building is now Time To Shine Car Wash:

I noticed that this Wells Fargo branch at Spring Valley Commons was for sale when I drove by the other week. I went back to get some pictures, and I see the ATM is still online, and looking through the drive-through window the place appears to be not yet stripped, so I guessing this is a very recent closing. The sign directs people to Sparkleberry, but there is also another Two Notch Branch at the old Dentsville Kmart.

I know Wells Fargo has had some trouble lately, which they brought on themselves, but it's also the fact that the Internet has branch banking in a general decline.

UPDATE 29 October 2018 -- This building has been bought and is being gutted, though it is not yet clear for what:

UPDATE 1 May 2019: Update tags.

UPDATE 5 November 2019 -- Now a Starbucks:

We go back to Saint Andrews Center for this closing. While I was leaving the plaza after taking the pictures of Tuesday Morning I noticed that this branch bank was vacant. As it turns out, this has been the case for quite a while (almost two years), as TD Bank decamped for 4320 Sunset Boulevard on 31 July 2015.

UPDATE 13 December 2019 -- As mentioned by commenter Andrew, this is now a health insurance office:

I've always thought it odd that there were two Bank of America locations on Two Notch so close to each other. This one is on the west side of O'Neil Court, and the other is at 7405 on the east side of O'Neil Court (and in the Lowe's parking lot).

Apparently they have recently regularized the situation by closing this one down, with the exception of ATM service. It's not clear to me if two ATMs will remain on the lot. The day I noticed that the drive-through lanes were closed and took these pictures, something was going on at the "back" ATM and access to its drive-up lane was blocked though the machine appeared to be running.

The lot itself is fairly big, and opens on both Two Notch and O'Neil Court -- I can't imagine that they plan to leave it vacant with just ATM(s) for long. I expect they will put it on the market at some point.

UPDATE 13 March 2022 -- Apparently this building has now been sold. I'm not sure if that includes the ATM on the O'Neil Court side:

Also adding map icon.

UPDATE 12 June 2023 -- As mentioned in the comments, this building has now been razed.

30 March 2023:

12 June 2023:

UPDATE 13 June 2024 -- Now (almost) open a a Checkers:

I was at Sandhill the other day and noticed that this Regions Bank on the outer perimeter was closed.

I see a google review from four months ago indicating it was already closed then, so I'm putting the date as January 2017 though that may be after the actual date. I've always thought Regions Bank was an odd name. It was especially odd when BOA was still Nations Bank because then it sounded kind of copycat. Now it just seems nonspecific.

UPDATE 26 June 2017 -- As reported in the comments, almost open again as a Navy Federal Credit Union:

You will have noticed the upgrades to the various First Citizens branches around town. In this case I actually think I like the new branding better than the old, which is definitely not always a given.

Read the rest of this entry »

Well, after mailing out the flyers in May, the Richland Mall Bank Of America is finally closed. As you'll recall, they closed the drive-through in March 2015 at which point the writing was probably on the wall.

I don't know why, but I had it in my mind that the ATM would remain, though in the event that turns out not to be the case. At any rate, I believe that Trenholm Plaza is now the only Forest Acres BOA location.

UPDATE 8 May 2018 -- This building has now been sold, though there is no indication of what is planned there:

UPDATE 30 August 2018 -- As commenter Dennis Craighead notes in Have Your Say, this building is being razed. I guess building something there demonstrates some belief that the whole Richland Mall property will not just be plowed under at some point..

This branch of South Carolina Community Bank was in front of Piggly Wiggly in Edens Plaza on Beltline.

At one time there was also another Columbia branch on Sumter Street, but at this point it looks like the bank is down to one location, in Sumter (the town, not the street).

UPDATE 10 June 2016 -- Not sure where I got my (incorrect) location info, but commenter Andrew has confirmed the one branch is on Sumter Street. Probably the link I was looking at was confusing the town and street. Also, here's a bit more from The Post & Courier on the bank's troubles. And finally, commenter Tom says this building was an NBSC before SCCB.

UPDATE 16 July 2016 -- I went around back of the building, and they must still own it because the ATM is still active:

I noticed the other week something going on at the Richland Mall Bank Of America, with a dumpster pulled up to the drive-through. This week it is apparent that the drive-through has been closed. I guess it was a bit awkward having an unconnected outbuilding for the tellers, and perhaps even a security issue. At any rate, I believe the Trenholm Plaza branch is now the next closest drive-through.