One Year Old Bank Branch Brings New Ideas to Banking
LEE, Mass - New and old have joined together at the one year old Lee branch of South Adams Savings Bank office at 41 Park Street. Walk into the building and the feel is decidedly not one of a traditional bank. New ideas have taken hold. There is an Internet café and media center, flat screen TV, complimentary coffee bar and shredding machine. Coins are often heard being shuffled around from the self-serve coin counter in the lobby.Tricia Sires, branch manager and lifelong resident of Lee spoke about the office’s first year. “A favorite story is one of a customer’s son who asked Santa to help him collect currency from around the world. Since finding out about his request, our entire office has been on the lookout and collecting coins to fulfill this wish.” Sires continued, “We all live and work in this area, so it’s natural for us to want to be involved in helping our community. This past year our staff also maintained a garden at the library. We had fun changing it with the seasons to keep it colorful and full of life.”
The branch has a coin counting machine and computers available for customer use. “The Coinstar machine has generated a lot of buzz. Kids especially like to do it themselves and see the coins getting counted and sorted. It’s fun for them. Providing computer access has been great for older kids who have been able to sit at one of the computers while their parents are closing on their mortgage. Engaging customer children speeds up the paperwork process for the parents.” Sires added, “Older adults on the other hand have come in to access the Internet and have received one-on-one help with searches. Our staff is there to help in any way possible.”
While the Lee branch would be considered the baby of the South Adams Savings Bank family, the parent branch in the town of Adams, has a 139 year old history. Many banks have come and gone but this bank has sustained. Why? Bank President and CEO Charles O’Brien, attributes their longevity to “responsible fiscal management and a local focus. We’re not trying to be a big bank. We know where our roots are and care about our community. We take a long-range view of our business and really focus on meeting the needs of our customers.”
Another perspective at the bank that hasn’t changed over the years is the tradition of giving back to the community. Each year, the bank contributes to educational endowment funds, scholarship programs, and organizations that serve the local communities and public schools of Berkshire County. In Lee for example, this year, that meant sponsoring community events, youth sports and high school scholarships.
All four branches, including two others in Cheshire and Williamstown, offer customers a complete line of personal and business banking products, competitive rates, fast loan approvals and hometown personal service. Drive-up banking with extended morning and evening hours, a 24-hour drive-up ATM, Saturday business hours and free parking are also standard.
All branches are celebrating their own anniversaries by having special offers on new account openings. The Cheshire branch is 35 years old and the Williamstown branch is 20.
Founded in 1869, South Adams Savings Bank is a state-chartered mutual savings bank with over $190 million in assets serving the residents of Berkshire County from offices in Adams, Cheshire, Williamstown and Lee. Deposits are insured in full by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and by the Depositors Insurance Fund. South Adams Savings Bank can be contacted at (413) 743-0040 or at www.sasavings.com.
