Amalgamated Bank, with its long-standing commitment of servicing working people, has opened a new branch at the White Plains Road Business Improvement District.
The full service retail bank opened at 2178 White Plains Road by honoring three long time leaders in the Pelham Parkway community: executive director of Bronx House Howard Martin, Community Board 11 district manager John Fratta, and long-time civic leader Blanch Comras-Rifkin. As part of the ceremony inside the branch, located between Pelham Parkway South and Lydig Avenue, all three were presented with plaques for their service.
The branch manager, Lynn Diagostino, who was born and raised in the Bronx, spoke about managing a branch in a community that she cares about.
CEO Derrick Cephas said, “This is a diverse and thriving area, which will continue to grow for many years to come. Our bank will help foster that growth by being an active partner in community endeavors and by providing a full range of banking services and financial resources to our neighbors.”
Cephas said that when Amalgamated Bank makes promises to the community, it keeps them. He stated that the bank has an interest in promoting products and services that help its customers achieve their own goals, rather than over-marketing banking tools and products that its customers don’t need.
As part of that commitment to the community, White Plains Road Business Improvement District executive director Larry Prospect said that the bank agreed to help the B.I.D. create a newsletter, and has hired staff from the community. At first, Prospect said that he was skeptical about another bank on the street, but so far, Amalgamated has won him over.
“They have been terrific so far,” Prospect said. “They are putting together a professional looking newsletter for us. They have agreed to supply the candy that our Santa Claus will hand out at Christmas as he goes up and down the street. In previous years candy has cost us a lot of money at Christmas time.”
In addition, Prospect said was the bank is the first prospective tenant that came to the meet with B.I.D. representatives before talking with anyone else first, and has agreed to take out some advertisements on the sides of the B.I.D.s Big Belly solar trash compactors at White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway South.
Amalgamated Bank, was established by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America in 1923. Their other locations in the Bronx are 2067 Bartow Avenue in Co-op City, 3770 E. Tremont Avenue in Throggs Neck, and 95 E. Burnside Avenue in Morris Heights.
