MUNCIE, Ind. — If you've ever wondered what a Taco Bell would look like if it was built in a bank, see for yourself if you "make a transaction" at the newly-opened location near the Muncie Mall.

The fast food restaurant opened to the public on Dec. 24 at a former Old National Bank site, 1001 E. McGalliard Road, making for Muncie's fifth Taco Bell store (sixth if you count the one in the food court of Ball State's L.A. Pittenger Student Center.)

Rather than demolish the old building, crews worked with the existing building, with the only major change being demolition of the bank's canopy, which was withdrawn from the building's east side last fall.

Because of this, the new Taco Bell might not look like one customers have seen in Muncie, at least on the outside. It maintains a brick exterior, its square shape and the large glass-enclosed foyer. What truly distinguishes the outside as a restaurant is the prominent Taco Bell signage using the company's new purple logo.

As for inside, well, it's a fast food place, with a modern design, flat-screen digital menus above the ordering counter and a pair of touch-screen ordering kiosks near the front doors.

EARLIER:

► Work started on Muncie's new Taco Bell along McGalliard Road

► Muncie could be getting another Taco Bell

Why keep the former bank building intact? Taco Bell representatives said nationally, the company is working to remove the "one size fits all" development model of quick-service restaurants and build "unique restaurants with unique features to better serve the communities in which we operate."

Another focus, according to those representatives, was environmental impact. "Taco Bell focuses on our environmental footprint when developing new restaurants, and utilizing the former bank's space contributed to our sustainability goals," Taco Bell's public relations team told the Star Press through email.

► FAST FOOD: We now know the time frame for Muncie's Five Guys opening

The Star Press first reported in March that Taco Bell would likely take over the old bank after the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance application to reduce parking spaces in the lot. City ordinance code requires that a restaurant with 3,118 square feet have 31 parking spaces. Taco Bell requested a variance to reduce that number to 28 spaces.

Mark Sturgis of ADM Real Estate, who listed the property, told the Star Press in September that work had officially begun that month with a provided timeline of 120 days for construction.

► RELATED: Does Muncie have too many fast food restaurants?

Audrey Kirby is a reporter at the Star Press. Follow her on Twitter @ajanekirby, and email her story ideas: ajkirby@muncie.gannett.com.

