Bank of Smithtown Strives to be Community Friendly

With the Bank of Smithtown constructing a new branch here in Bayport at the corner of Bernice Drive and Montauk Highway, company officials met with the Bayport Civic Association to allay some concerns from residents regarding the possibility of additional traffic in the area.

Donna Lillie, vice president with Bank of Smithtown, said the bank and its employees plan on being active participants in the community, and the new branch's construction will serve to correct some minor traffic issues in the area.

Some residents were concerned that the bank would cause extra traffic down Bernice Drive because of its close proximity to the corner. Lillie and John Wilson, Bank of Smithtown facilities manager, said that would not be the case.

Wilson and Lillie said the bank is going to widen the street, creating a left turning lane, a right turning lane and an ingress. He noted that even though the bank was not required to reconfigure the road, he thinks its reconstruction will help traffic flow. "The road is horrible now, you can't make a right turn without side swiping the other car," Wilson said. "We're going to fix that for you."

Beyond construction plans, Lillie touted the bank as being more customer-oriented and that the company wants to be a part of the community, which is one of the reasons for the Bernice Drive corner revamp. The open, lounge-like design of the bank allows customers to interact very personally with bank representatives, Lillie said.

She said the bank likes to get involved in the community and act like a neighbor, which includes hiring locally. Wilson agreed, "We try to keep the local flavor."

Bob Draffin, BCA president, said Bank of Smithtown reached out to the community right off the bat. He said the bank's immediate contact helped make "a good transition" and the bank would be a pleasant addition to the community.

Bank of Smithtown was recently acquired by the Bridgeport-based People's United Bank in mid-July and some BCA members expressed concern for the buyout. "They are from Connecticut," one woman said to the bank executives. "They don't know the Long Island culture or the kind of people we are."

Lillie assured members that although they are part of a new bank, all Bank of Smithtown branches will be kept open and no original employees will be fired. "We're here to stay," she said. "John and I will still be the ones helping you and you'll still see our faces around. Nothing is going to change with our involvement in the community."

People's United Bank originated in Connecticut, but Lillie said it still shares the same values as Bank of Smithtown. PUB recognizes the importance of businesses in the community and is renowned for its small business lending options.

Draffin also revealed the bank will help build a brand new civic center in the same area, complete with a 35-foot flagpole donated by

Lillie said the construction should be completed in May, weather permitting.