The bank plans financial centers in both downtowns.
LEWISTON – Bangor Savings Bank is moving into the Twin Cities with plans to open facilities in both Lewiston and Auburn.
Trustees of the bank held their annual retreat here Monday and announced their plan to a gathering of civic and business leaders.
“We love the spirit of the place,” said John Moore, the bank’s senior vice president in explaining what drew it here. He cited specifically the resurgence in both cities’ downtowns, investments in infrastructure, community leadership and the region’s strong real estate market.
“The excitement from the people we met tells us this is a community working together,” said Moore.
The bank plans to open a full-service retail branch in downtown Auburn before the end of 2004 and a commercial facility in downtown Lewiston by the end of this year. Since the bank is negotiating for sites for both banking centers, it didn’t want to reveal the exact locations until they’re final. The bank intends to construct a new building in Auburn, said Moore.
The Auburn branch will offer retail banking as well as a drive-though and ATM service. It will also offer commercial lending, corporate and government services, and investment and trust services. Bangor Savings Bank is applying to the state banking bureau for regulatory approval for the Auburn branch.
The Lewiston facility will focus on commercial services, lending, corporate and government services, payroll, and investment and trust management services. Moore said bankers want a downtown location that will be “visible and accessible.”
“There’s so much going on downtown right now,” he said. “We want to be part of that growth.”
Bangor Savings Bank has more than doubled in size in the past five years, according to Moore. The bank now has 42 full-service retail locations throughout Maine. The nearest branches locally are in Lisbon Falls and Monmouth. The bank has assets of about $1.5 billion.
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