Customers at a First Niagara bank branch in New Haven will have to go to Woodbridge for bank business in the New Year due to consolidation plans.
Harvey Feinberg has been with the New Haven bank branch at 36 Fountain Street for decades, even maintaining the account when the bank changed hands and became First Niagara.
“I became a depositor in 1948. I still have that account,” said Feinberg.
So when he heard that First Niagara was consolidating his branch with the one on Amity Road in Woodbridge in January, he was devastated.
“People come and get their money, it's easy. The Amity bank doesn't have safe deposit boxes. It will become a tremendous inconvenience,” said Feinberg.
Other customers said the same thing.
“As far as having to travel-wise, it is going to impact me. It's far, because I live around the corner,” Monae Washington said.
Local
First Niagara put out a news release Friday.
"Across the financial services industry branch traffic, and the number of transactions handled per branch, are declining and self-service transactions are increasing. First Niagara is no different," Mark Rendulic, First Niagara executive vice president of consumer financial service, said.
The statement also said more customers are using online services, but branches will still be available in the area for customers who need them.
Local leaders are now looking for answers. They say First Niagara made this decision without consulting anyone in New Haven.
“We have worked with that bank for decades, and we found out in a press release, that's it. No discussion of how these people's jobs would be protected, how our economy and our tax base will be protected,” said State Rep. Pat Dillon.
Some customers are taking their accounts into their own hands.
“I'm moving it to Webster because I like being able to come down here either walking or on my bicycle to do business,” said George Jafferis.
