LEWISTON – Local dignitaries, members of the H.E. Callahan construction team and bank officers were on hand recently for the groundbreaking of the new Lewiston branch of the Auburn Savings & Loan Association.

The new branch will be at the corner of Orange and Sabattus streets in Lewiston, directly across from St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

“Due to warmer weather conditions, we’re able to begin the excavation work earlier than expected, putting us about four weeks ahead in our construction schedule,” said Allen Sterling, president of Auburn Savings.

The new branch is scheduled to open in October.

“The directors, officers and staff are excited with the opening of this branch and look forward to having a presence in Lewiston,” said Claire Thompson, chairperson of the board of directors.

The new branch will be a cape-style design to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood. Unlike most bank layouts, the interior will feature two sit-down windows, to provide more personalized customer service, as well as two standard walk-up windows.

Sterling said it will be the first of its kind in Androscoggin County.

The branch will also feature a drive-up teller window and ATM.

In addition to providing a full line of personal banking services, Auburn Savings & Loan offers flexible business checking, commercial lines of credit, commercial loans and commercial real-estate mortgages.