By ROBERT LINNEHAN | Business Trends
The name may be different, but the services will be similar. Vernon Hill is back in the South Jersey banking landscape.
According to Haddonfield Retail Coordinator Lisa Hurd, Metro Bancorp will open a new branch on the corner of Kings Highway and Chestnut Street in the borough in mid-July. The bank will be housed in the old Susquehanna Bank location, which recently moved to a new location at 110 Kings Highway East, in the old PNC Bank spot.
Pennsylvania Commerce Bancorp Inc. – in which Hill, former Commerce Bank founder and chairman, is a major investor – acquired Republic First Bancorp Inc. in November to form Metro Bancorp, according to the company.
The new bank will carry the same hours of operation as the TD Bank branch in the borough. Haddonfield Store Manager and Assistant Vice President Jackie LaMaina-Russell said the branch is one of three South Jersey locations opening in the near future. The other two branches will be located in Cherry Hill and Turnersville, she said.
Metro Bank will strive to serve the region with the same services customers became accustomed to from Commerce Bank, she said. LaMaina-Russell served as bank manager for Haddonfield’s Commerce Bank branch from 2006 to 2008. She’s been a Commerce employee for the past 17 years.
“Our customers are going to expect a friendly, welcoming atmosphere in our new bank,” she said. “The hours are going to be as great as they once were, and we’ll be there for our customers 24-hours-a-day.”
The bank will be open seven days a week, with operating hours of 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Friday. Saturdays, the bank will have its doors open from 7:30 to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m., LaMaina-Russell said. Opening a new bank during uncertain economic times isn’t a deterrent, LaMaina-Russell said, as people are looking for a change in the banking climate. People want change from their banks, she said, and Metro Bank will provide it for them.
“I’m excited. People are really looking for a change right now. It’s going to be exciting when we open our doors,” she said. “As always, we’ll be a community-based bank with excellent customer service.”
Integrating itself into the business community of Haddonfield will be a top priority, LaMaina-Russell said.
Metro Bank prides itself on being a good neighbor and supportive of the local community, she said, and will throw itself into the local economy.
LaMaina-Russell said she will continue staffing the new location until the branch is ready to open its doors to the public.
“We’ll be immersing ourselves in the business community. That’s what we’re planning on and what we have done in the past,” she said. “I’m a home-grown Haddonfield resident. People know me. Hopefully, they respect me. We’ll be an integral part of the Haddonfield community.”
Mon, Apr 6, 2009 at 2:20 pm
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