The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod plans to ring in 2012 by opening a "temporary" branch at 649 Main St. in Falmouth early next year – the Barnstable-based bank’s seventh location.

The Falmouth Zoning Board of Appeals paved the way for the new branch last week by signing a special permit request to allow for change-of-use on the first floor of the building, the bank said in a statement.

"Falmouth is a natural expansion area for us and one we’ve been eyeing for a long time," The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod President Joel Crowell said in a statement. "We do a great deal of business in Falmouth so it’s important to have a branch in the community. Local decision making and local relationships are at the heart of community banking."

Initially, the branch will offer a 24-hour full service ATM, residential and commercial lending services and a business development officer. The banks said current business plans do not call for bank tellers at the location.

"We’re looking forward to growing in the Falmouth market and being part of both the business and philanthropic communities," said John Fulone, chief marketing officer of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. "This temporary branch is step one and gives us the opportunity to better serve the local market, while we continue to search for a permanent Falmouth location. It’s certainly an exciting way to kick off the next 90 years."