Ribbon cut on new Gravesend bank

Avenue U has gotten some good news it can bank on.

On Saturday, December 3, Northfield Bank celebrated the openingof a Gravesend branch with a host of customer-based services. Thenew bank has a customer waiting area and private customer servicelounges as well an intelligent ATM that allows deposits to be madewithout an envelope.

We think it’s going to be a very nice partnership between usand the neighborhood there, said Damien Kane, Northfield’sdirector of marketing. He added: We really just think it’s a nicelocation and we’re happy to be there.

The ribbon-cutting drew a crowd of 50 customers, employees andlocal dignitaries. According to Kane, the Northfield staff hopesthe bank will be part of the Brooklyn community for years tocome.

We were very encouraged and very pleased from the response fromthe neighborhood, he said. We were very busy all day andconsistently though the week.

In addition to showcasing the new branch, the event was anopportunity for Northfield to make donations to a pair of worthycauses. Both Our Lady of Grace Gravesend Athletic Association andP.S. 95 received a $2,500 check from the bank.

The manager for the Gravesend Branch is Joseph Meli, whopreviously managed a Capital One Bank.

The newest addition to the Northfield Bank chain is located at247 Avenue U and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays,Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays, andfrom 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Jesse Lent contributed reporting on this article.