Fifth Third Bank wants to move into the vacant former Wendy's building at 205 FM 544 in Murphy, and the City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposal Tuesday, August 4, at 6 p.m., according to a city meeting notice.

The bank needs a Specific Use Permit to occupy the site, which sits in a Planned Development District zoned for retail. Under the district's rules, only one free-standing bank or credit union is allowed within the entire planned development, and the use requires a special permit.

The building, constructed in 2013, has sat empty since February 2026. City planning documents show Fifth Third Bank's branding on the concept plan submitted for the project, with engineering work by Infinity Engineering Group and architecture by BDG Architects.

Proposed changes to the building are mostly cosmetic: new siding to match Fifth Third's branding and colors, plus a reconfigured parking lot and drive-through lane. No major construction is planned at this stage.

Planning Manager Stephanie Scott-Sims presented the SUP request to the Murphy Planning and Zoning Commission at its July 14 meeting. The commission's recommendation has not been made public.

City staff recommended two conditions if the permit is approved: the bank must build cross-access along the FM 544 frontage connecting to the property to the west through a fire lane easement extension, and must submit a landscape plan meeting city ordinance requirements.

One wrinkle for the city's bottom line: the staff report flags that converting a former restaurant, which generated sales tax revenue, into a bank, which does not, means Murphy would lose that revenue stream from the site.

Even if the council approves the SUP on Tuesday, Fifth Third would still need to return for a separate site plan amendment before any renovation work begins. That approval requires both P&Z Commission and City Council sign-off.

The public hearing takes place in the Council Chambers at 206 N. Murphy Road. Residents may address the council when the hearing opens.