Another Ames bank was robbed Friday by a suspect who authorities believe may be responsible for two other recent bank robberies.

First National Bank, 2330 Lincoln Way, was robbed by an individual who fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Jim Robinson, commander of the Ames Police Department, said the police were notified of the incident at 10:14 a.m. by bank employees.

“Uniformed officers and police detectives responded immediately,” Robinson said. “By that time, the individual had left on foot.”

Robinson said the suspect approached the bank teller and demanded cash.

“The suspect did not display a weapon, but did make movements toward his waistband as if he could be hiding one there,” he said.

There were no injuries reported during the incident. Authorities questioned employees at area businesses, Robinson said, but were unable to gain any information as to the suspect’s whereabouts.

“We believe he ran down to the area between Campus Book Store and the apartment building nearby,” Robinson said. “We canvassed the entire area but turned up nothing.”

The suspect was described by bank employees as a white male between 40 and 45 years of age, with a height of 5-foot-6-inches or shorter and a stocky build. He had a silver or grayish moustache and beard.

At the time of the robbery, the suspect was reported wearing a tan baseball cap, a yellow polo shirt with blue or green stripes, blue jeans, and cowboy boots, Robinson said.

Authorities believe the suspect in Friday’s robbery is responsible for the robberies of F&M Bank, 402 Lincoln Way, on June 18, and the First American Bank, 520 Grand Ave., on June 4, Robinson said.

Video surveillance photographs from each bank show that the description of the suspect matches that of the individual in the previous robberies, he said.

“We do believe it was the same person each time,” Robinson said. “This is a very distinct individual.”

Authorities have also said the same individual may be responsible for other recent bank robberies in Des Moines and Ankeny.

Augie Gutierrez, manager of First American Bank in Beaverdale, said he believes the key to preventing bank robberies is customer service.

“You want to have as much interaction with your customers as possible,” Gutierrez said. “Many times, a potential robber will hang around the lobby or front area scoping out the situation. If you’ve got two or three employees talking to customers when they come in, that interaction can stop someone from trying to rob [the bank].”

Gutierrez said different banks have differing policies regarding bank robberies that do take place. However, the main concern is keeping customers and employees safe, he said.

“Whether or not the suspect shows you a weapon, you give him what he wants. Period,” he said. “By trying to stop a robbery in progress, you can make a bad situation worse.”

Robinson said authorities have contacted banks in Ames since Friday, advising employees to call police if the suspect is seen in or around their business.

Individuals with any information regarding the robberies are urged to contact the Ames Police Department at 239-5133.