NATCHITOCHES, La. — BOM Bank will serve as the anchor tenant of The CoLab, a collaborative workspace within Innovation Park being developed by Northwestern State University and the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts.
The CoLab is designed to connect business and industry partners with students, entrepreneurs, and community members. NSU President James Genovese said the space will offer flexible office rentals, coworking options, and access to start-up resources in a setting that supports collaboration.
As the anchor tenant, BOM Bank will maintain an office and dedicated teller space, with access to shared amenities and opportunities to participate in financial literacy initiatives, student internships, and business development programs. The five-year lease begins Jan. 1, 2027.
“BOM Bank is proud to be the Official Bank of NSU and NSU Athletics,” said Ken Hale, president and CEO of BOM Bank. “Joining forces with Northwestern State University as the CoLab’s Anchor Tenant strengthens not only our relationship with the university, but also our commitment to its faculty, students, and the entire community. The CoLab represents innovation, collaboration, and opportunity — values that reflect both NSU and BOM Bank’s shared vision for the future.”
Laurie Morrow, NSU’s executive director of economic development and university advancement, said the initiative will help build connections between higher education and business. “We are excited to have BOM Bank as our anchor tenant for the CoLab – the perfect opportunity for students to engage with and learn about the banking industry firsthand,” she said. “It’s more than an office space. It’s a place where ideas take shape, partnerships form and future leaders are developed.”
Key features of The CoLab include collaborative workspaces, private office rentals, start-up resources, and student engagement opportunities.
“The CoLab is envisioned as a hub where innovation thrives and ideas become reality,” Morrow said. “The CoLab will bring together business leaders, educators and students in a shared mission to drive regional economic growth and workforce development.”
BOM Bank, established in 1903 in Montgomery, La., has grown into a community-focused institution with more than $1.4 billion in assets and 26 branches in Louisiana and Texas. The bank provides financial services including banking, insurance, and investment offerings through its subsidiary, BOM Financial Services.
The CoLab and the New Family Makerspace will form NSU and LSMSA’s Innovation Park, a 12-acre site on University Parkway that will serve as a gateway to Natchitoches. The $18 million project is supported by federal, state, and private funding.
BOM Bank has long partnered with the university as its official bank and the official bank of NSU Athletics.