Bank customers express concerns while waiting on decoration's return

The lighted cross hangs on the east side of Montgomery Bank Tuesday in Sikeston.

Leonna Heuring, Staff

SIKESTON -- For over 20 years, Montgomery Bank has affixed a tall, lighted cross to the east side of its Sikeston building, where it greets passers-by throughout the Christmas season.

So, this year when the structure, which is lit 24 hours a day, wasn't up on its usual Monday before Thanksgiving, some patrons noticed and voiced their concerns.

"A lot of the folks in town are asking: 'Where's our cross?'" said Jeff Sutton, president of Montgomery Bank, adding the bank is about three weeks late in putting up the decoration this year.

Jonathan Maloyed, senior commercial officer for Montgomery Bank, said the bank was inundated with people asking if there's a problem because they haven't seen the giant cross this year.

Patrons simply missed seeing the cross this time of year, Maloyed said.

"It's a tradition at Montgomery Bank," Maloyed said. "We're family-owned, and we realize Christmas is the time we recognize Christ's birth on earth, and we aren't ashamed to show that."

Both Sutton and Maloyed said they didn't realize how much the community appreciated seeing the cross each season.

"It's something we've done and you don't realize the impact the community has with it," Maloyed said.

The topic also had a strong presence on the bank's social media sites, Maloyed noted.

"People were concerned it wasn't going to be back this year, but that couldn't have been further from the truth," he said.

The reason the cross wasn't put up at its normal time is because the bank had some electrical issues with the lights in addition to some mechanical problems with getting the cross lifted and mounted, Sutton said.

However, the wait is over. As of Tuesday, the cross returned and was on display for the duration of the Christmas season.

"We're sorry it didn't get put up on time, but the problems were more than we could handle, and we've got it up now," Sutton said.

Years ago the bank had the cross made to commemorate Christ's birth, Sutton said, adding 1,000 light bulbs are replaced on the item every year. That tradition will continue.

"We're sorry we were late getting the cross placed on the building, and, hopefully, we won't have this problem again," Sutton said.

He thanked their customers and residents for being patient while issues with the lighted decoration were resolved.

"The cross is up, and we're starting the holiday season," he said.