NATCHEZ — Regions Bank expects to open its Canal Street location currently under construction in late July, and work should begin soon after to convert the bank’s current location on Franklin Street into a hotel.

Natchez Regions President Charlie Speed said the bank would close its Franklin Street location at 2 p.m. Friday, July 21, and reopen the bank Monday, July 24, at the new location on Canal Street near Fat Mama’s Tamales.

“That’s all weather-permitting, but everything has gone perfectly as far as construction,” Speed said. “We are really comfortable with that timeline.”

Speed has said with the advent of technology that enables customers to utilize banking services without needing to visit a branch, Regions no longer needs the large building.

New Orleans hotelier Warren Reuther has purchased the Franklin Street building and Regions is currently renting spacing in it until the new bank is complete.

Reuther plans to turn the 52,000-square-foot building into a boutique hotel called Hotel Natchez, which will have 65 rooms, eight suites, a fitness facility, a business center, meeting space and other amenities.

Reuther’s company also owns the Natchez Grand Hotel, Monmouth Historic Inn and manages the Natchez Convention Center.

Reuther said local architect Johnny Waycaster is working on Hotel Natchez and preliminary plans are in the works.

The project will require enclosing an opening on the second level, and plans for that will be submitted to the Natchez Planning Commission for approval. Most of the work, Reuther said, will happen on the interior of the building.

Reuther said he hopes to open Hotel Natchez sometime in February 2018.

“We’re already booking it right now for conventions and meetings and some tour groups,” Reuther said.