St. Joseph and the surrounding region have experienced a retailing rebirth of sorts, with not only the Shoppes at North Village but also the new Pony Express Plaza and the ongoing redevelopment of East Hills Shopping Center.

In fact, “retailing” does not tell the whole story. Restaurants are a big part of the mix. And then there are the banks.

An out-of-town visitor’s trip through downtown St. Joseph is not complete without taking stock of the prominent bank buildings, each marking different eras of the city’s development. Newer banks dot our larger neighborhoods, anchoring the South Side and the far East Side.

A bank suggests, if not prosperity, then at least striving for that goal. It speaks to commerce, both generated from the activities of local businesses and the paychecks of working families.

We bring this up this morning as St. Joseph marks the arrival of two new bank buildings on the middle part of the Belt Highway. UMB and Nodaway Valley banks have made substantial investments that speak to more than just free checking. These are bets on the future from civic-minded boards and bank officers who see something good about our community.

UMB’s role as anchor tenant in the Pony Express Plaza and Financial Center has contributed to a dramatic overhaul of a property that always held promise but for many years languished. Just down the hill, Nodaway Valley’s new bank adds to the notion that commerce is alive and well in the area.

The banks, along with the redevelopment of the mall, provide a healthy counterbalance to the explosion of growth on the north end of the Belt Highway.

We welcome these developments, and in particular take note of the investments that have been made with an eye to the future. We trust that both the bankers and the community will prosper.