Bay Ridge welcomes Empire State Bank

Who’s on Third? Empire State Bank.

The community-oriented commercial bank cut the ribbon on its brand new Bay Ridge location – a decades-vacant site at the corner of 87^th Street and Third Avenue – on Thursday, February 19.

“We are delighted to be in Brooklyn and, more specifically, Bay Ridge,” said Empire State Bank President and CEO Philip Guarnieri to a standing-room only crowd at the bank’s well-attended grand opening ceremony. “We look forward to becoming a major part of your community.”

That appreciation was surely reciprocated.

“We want to thank you for choosing Brooklyn and for opening this branch in Bay Ridge,” lauded State Senator Marty Golden, one of four local pols on hand to award Empire with citations. “Banking is obviously something that is important to this community…and we all want you to be a tremendous success because it means jobs, jobs, jobs and all-around greatness for our community.”

Councilmember Vincent Gentile agreed.

“It’s a good day,” said the local pol who would’ve been a neighbor to the branch had he not opted for a bigger office on Fifth Avenue. “For 11 years, this place was just a mystery and the only person who could get in here was [realtor] Wade Jabour…now this place is beautiful.”

While Gentile already has two accounts with Empire State Bank, Assemblymember Peter Abbate said he is already considering housing his prized baseball collection in one of the Bay Ridge branch’s safety deposit boxes.

“Welcome to Brooklyn,” he said, adding that Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst could use an institution like Empire.

“It’s a great day for Bay Ridge, and it’s a great day for Empire State Bank,” echoed Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny.

Also on hand to applaud the new Brooklyn business – and present it with a shiny new wall-piece – was the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

“Our motto is very simple,” said Chamber President and CEO Carlo Scissura, teasing an upcoming partnership with the Bay Ridge branch, “when a business makes money, communities thrive and flourish. What you’re doing here is creating a great streetscape – from a boarded up place to a great addition – and jobs that will lead to economic development.”

For more information on Empire State Bank, visit www.esbna.com or stop in today at 8701 Third Avenue.