Date: Fri 30-Apr-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Newtown-Savings-Bank

Full Text:

Expansion Will Bring Changes To NSB's Main Street Office

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Big changes are in the works at the Newtown Savings Bank on Main Street. Once

completed, the bank's main branch will be completely modernized to take on a

more service-oriented style.

The new-look bank now features a drive-up teller and ATM machine, both of

which opened last week. It also has an express bank for those customers on the

run.

Earlier this month the bank opened its new wing on the site of the former

church parsonage just south of the General Store. The new facility provides

better quarters for the bank's board of directors, accounting section, and

operations unit. Fifteen employees will be relocated to the Main Street office

when it is completed.

The original building, which houses tellers and other bank offices, is now

closed as construction workers renovate that area. The front of the bank is

not currently accessible to the public. However, the express bank on the lower

level is open for business. Once in full operation, customers will be able to

do their banking in the main section or, for quicker service, in the express

area downstairs.

For now, the Newtown Savings Bank is doing its best to alleviate the kind of

inconveniences that occur whenever a business remains open during a

construction project, according to bank officials.

"We want to apologize for any inconveniences, but there is an end in sight.

This is a lot better than closing the bank altogether," explained bank

president John Martocci. "Right now our main concern is to get this building

up and running and provide good service to our customers."

Workers will be renovating the bank's original building throughout the summer.

The overall project should be completed by September at which time a grand

re-opening celebration will take place.

During the construction phase, lending functions have been set up temporarily

in the upper level of the new building. Those operations will return to the

renovated original bank building once that work is done.

Bank Vice President Joe Humeston believes the new-look bank will be a sight to

behold when the project is finally complete. "We plan to make this a showpiece

for Main Street," he said.

In addition, the bank has also modernized its infrastructure, including

heating, ventilation and air conditioning, not to mention computer systems.

The entire project substantially added to the tax base of the town, Mr

Martocci said.

Thanks to good planning, the renovations are expected to be completed with

only a day and a half of interrupted customer service. The bank did close its

doors to allow time to test computers April 16-17.

New Look, New Feel

In addition to the expanded facilities, Newtown Savings Bank is moving away

from the "mechanical process" and focusing more on the "people process."

"We're going to be different than we were before," Mr Martocci noted.

Customers may now expect to be greeted at the door, and those who prefer to do

their banking upstairs will be assisted by tellers who sit at desks. It will

be a more comfortable atmosphere, bank officials say. The days of standing in

line at Newtown Savings Bank are over. Branch hours have been extended, too.

Bank officials want to provide personal service and they have designed a

building to do that.

The changes came about simply due to progress.

"We're a lot bigger than we used to be," Mr Martocci said. "We had run out of

room and needed to accommodate our staff."

These are very good days for the Newtown Savings Bank. The quality and scope

of this project have made that apparent. "We're doing well financially, Mr

Martocci said.

The bank recently purchased the Congregational Church House and its adjoining

5.38 acres in the rear. It's long-term plan is to renovate that building for

administrative offices. For now, it continues to lease the building to the

church and other groups.

The bank purchased the church house and parsonage for $550,000 in 1996. With

the land it then had the opportunity to build the new wing, add a drive-thru

teller and express bank, and provide improved handicapped accessibility.

Bank officials are working closely with landscaper Phil Adams to come up with

a nice bucolic feel to the property. It is expected to be a combination of

bushes, trees and some fencing.

This is the fourth major renovation to the Main Street facility since it first

opened in 1909.

Mr Martocci said the bank's well-known mural of Newtown may be taken down, but

will be preserved.

And, by the way, lollipops will continue to be handed out to kids.

The Newtown Savings Bank has seven full-service offices: two in Newtown, two

in Bethel, plus Monroe, Southbury and Woodbury. It has limited service

branches at Ashlar of Newtown and East Hill Woods in Southbury.