St. Clair Today

Eastern Michigan Bank has announced it has purchased a landmark near-century-old building in the center of Port Huron.

The bank has purchased the 30,000-square-foot Parfet Office Building, built in 1921, which housed one of region's first Ford dealership when it first opened, according to the Times Herald.

According to the bank, the aim is to expand their footprint and consolidate lending activities in St. Clair County.

"We are very excited about the new location,” Will Oldford, president and chief executive of Eastern Michigan Bank, told the Times Herald. "This expansion of our footprint will help us to not only grow and consolidate our lending activities in St. Clair County but renew our commitment to the residents and businesses in Port Huron and to St. Clair County.”

The building is currently home to brokerage firm Stifel Nicolaus and freight company Livingston International. The bank said it expects 12 employees onsite, including working at a small lending facility open to the public on the building's northwest corner.

Donna Niester, CEO of Acheson Ventures, LLC, was involved in the sale of the building and 40 acres of south side waterfront property. She said, “We are pleased to have Eastern Michigan Bank join in our efforts on the south side of Port Huron,” according to the Times Herald.

Eastern Michigan Bank’s Board of Directors decided in mid-2019 to find a building to consolidate its St. Clair County lending team to improve service to customers and grow the bank's loan portfolio in the county, Oldford said in an email to the Times Herald.

"When we (looked) at the Parfet Building, we immediately knew it met our needs," he told the Times Herald. "Further, the ability to join the development created by Jim Acheson and his team on the south side of Port Huron further reinforced our decision."

The bank will refurbish part of the first floor, once occupied by the Visiting Nurse Association. This will be used as the loan production office and branch. About 4,000 square feet of excess office space will be available for rent, Oldford said.