The Forks branch of Bank of America is scheduled to close its doors on Jan. 20, 2012, a representative of Bank of America confirmed Tuesday to the Forks Forum.

Seattle-based Bank of America Media Relations spokesperson Britney Sheehan said the decision was made prior to Monday’s announcement that about 30,000 Bank of America jobs would be cut nationwide in the future.

Sheehan said the Forks closing was driven by lack of consumer demand at the Forks bank.

She said Bank of America customers with accounts in Forks would begin receiving letters beginning Friday, Sept. 16 notifying them of the branch closing and asking them to consult with bank employees

regarding their accounts.

Employees at the bank will be either offered an opportunity to transfer to another Bank of America branch, or be offered retraining options, she said.

Word of the closing became common knowledge last week in Forks. Organizers of the multitude of community events held in the vacant west side of the bank building are hoping the meeting room will still be available for their use.

The annual Quillayute Valley School District scholarship auction is held each March in the building.

The bank location was originally used by a SeaFirst bank prior to the opening of Bank of America at the location.