Chase announced it has opened its first retail branch in Iowa, with the opening of its Des Moines branch at 3627 Merle Hay Road. Chase, which serves more than 60 million U.S. households, is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of global financial services firm JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The branch features casual meeting spaces for bankers to meet with customers, emphasizing a more consultative approach. Self-service transaction areas are also available, including a digital access bar, two interior ATMs, a drive-thru ATM and an ATM that is accessible by debit card after hours.

The branch soft-opened on July 27 in an extensively remodeled building that was previously a Hardee’s restaurant. It also features Chase Private Client offices, teller services, a night depository and free Wi-Fi. The 10-person staff includes personal bankers, associate bankers, private client specialists and advisers, and home lending and business banking specialists.

“We’ve long viewed Des Moines as a city we wanted to serve,” said Majda Hadzic, market director, banking for Iowa. “Des Moines is a vibrant, growing, increasingly diverse community. We look forward to building new relationships, helping customers do more with their money, and being here for them along every step of their financial journey.”

Chase plans to open three to four additional locations in the Des Moines metro area over the next couple of years. A south Des Moines branch is expected to open this fall on Southeast 14th Street. Other areas to follow include a West Des Moines branch and a branch on Ingersoll Avenue, probably in 2023, Hazdic said. The staffs for the next two branches are already in training at the bank’s Iowa headquarters office in West Des Moines, she said.

Chase’s physical expansion into Iowa is part of an initiative launched three years ago by CEO Jamie Dimon to establish branch locations in all lower 48 states. The bank already has a significant customer presence in the state, with approximately 405,000 consumer banking customers — including credit card holders — as well as about 19,000 business banking customers.

Bank representatives celebrated the new branch with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today with guests that included Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, Des Moines City Council member Linda Westergaard and local business leaders.

The bank also announced a $10,000 donation to Meals From the Heartland, a Des Moines-based nonprofit whose mission is to fight child hunger in Iowa, across America, and the world.