Mid-First Bank’s planned October opening of a new branch on Elliott west of Rural Road has been delayed until February.

Lindsey Naughton, an assistant vice president and manager of the new branch, said the delay is due to interior and exterior design modifications, including changes to alignment of the drive-through-window lanes.

Approximately 30 new branches, including one planned for development in 2010 at Warner Road and Priest, are part of the bank’s short- and long-range expansion plans for the Phoenix metro area.

MidFirst is the third largest privately owned bank in the United States. According to Naughton, the bank’s combination of size and private ownership enables it to compete effectively with larger banks in terms of products and services, while offering customers a community banking experience that reflects pride of ownership.

MidFirst provides a full range of commercial, trust, private banking, personal banking and mortgage banking products and services, with a particular specialty in commercial real estate lending. Primary markets are Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and western Oklahoma. MidFirst also has commercial real estate lending offices in Chicago, Houston, New York, Southern California and an affiliate in Denver.

The company has a history of being a strong supporter of local communities, investing in important charitable and civic organizations.

Information: 602-801-5000.