Lafayette Ambassador Bank held a ribbon cutting in Allentown this morning with local stakeholders to celebrate the opening of its newest branch at 1928 Hamilton St., Allentown.
The new branch, built by Serfass Construction of North Whitehall Township, is eco-friendly built with automatic shut-off lights, a high efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and using recycled materials.
But it’s the technology in the office and not in the building construction that bank president Joseph Feilmeier said he hopes customers get excited about.
He said tellers and technology are highly linked in the new office setup. Teller stations are what he referred to as “cash recyclers,” where customer interact with a bank employee but machines handle the sorting and counting of deposits and withdrawals to ensure accuracy and to speed transactions.
The new branch will also have a drive-thru ATM, which he called a great convenience, and a coin counter that customers can use to sort change.
The new branch is replacing the Lafayette Ambassador Bank branch that has been on Nineteenth Street for decades, near the Civic Theatre.
Feilmeier said the bank was limited with what it could do with that leased property and it lacked easy access and parking. There was no room for a drive-thru ATM.
“We’re in the digital age in banking,” Feilmeier said. People want the convenience of ATMs, mobile and computer banking and such services, but they also want interaction with people who can answer questions and teach them how to best use the bank’s services.
He said this new branch seeks to incorporate all of those needs and provide a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere.
The bank is in the new development at 20th and Hamilton streets in Allentown that also includes a Big Woody’s Sports Bar and Grill and a Dunkin’ Donuts.
Lafayette Ambassador Bank will host a public grand opening Saturday at the new branch. Festivities will run from 9 a.m.-noon and will include a live radio broadcast, refreshments and giveaways.
