Encouraging Economic Growth in Capital Region among Company Goals

 

ALBANY>> The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) announces the grand opening of Kinderhook Bank at 39 North Pearl Street on November 10, 2014 at 10:00 AM with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy, Albany Mayor Kathy M. Sheehan, John Balli, CEO of Kinderhook Bank, Georgette Steffens, executive director of the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District and Mark Eagan, president & CEO, Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber are scheduled to speak.

The ceremony will be followed by a grand opening celebration from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Open to the public, the event will include free Cider Belly doughnuts and cider, branch tours, and free passes to the Kinderhook Bank Premier Palace Theatre movie series.   The Bank is also running a special promotion available for each new eFreedom account opened, where the customer can choose to donate $75 to Police Athletic League or Center for Disability Services which will be presented to the chosen organization within 60 days of the account opening.

“Investment comes in many forms,” says McCoy. “It is about building relationships, getting to know the community and those who live and work in it, and recognizing and responding to the needs of individuals and partners. This is a concept Kinderhook Bank clearly understands from being an independent community bank since 1853.  I commend the leadership in acknowledging the increase of residents, visitors and businesses in the Capital City and wanting to be a part of the projected growth in Downtown as well as throughout the Capital Region.” 

“Banks have been opening up in the City of Albany since 1792,” says Sheehan. “With the construction of the convention center starting soon, work being done on Wellington Row, and a plan to revamp the City’s code and zoning laws, it is critical that we have people interested in investing in this area and financial institutions to provide them with funding and guidance. As we celebrate the opening of Kinderhook Bank, it is not just their decision to open here that we laud, but their acknowledgement of this City’s bright future.”

Kinderhook Bank’s Downtown location features barrier-free banking with cash handler pods that lend to open conversation and a walk-up ATM open 24/7 that dispenses multiple note denominations, accepts envelope-free cash and check deposits, and produces smart receipts which generate an image of the deposited check on the reverse.

Balli notes that it is the mix of banking technology, relaxed atmosphere and customer-staff relationships that have led to the Bank’s continued success.

“Kinderhook Bank is the very first New York State bank to install self-service banking technology called an In-Lobby Teller (ILT) that allows customers the flexibility to conduct their own transactions,” explains Balli, adding “We continue to grow the balance sheet and increase market share, elements that we expect to continue with the opening of our two new branches in Albany County."

“With the creation of over 600 jobs between Wellington Row and the convention center, and $180 million being invested in Downtown this year, that continuing growth needs to be met with the cultivation of relationships across audiences and generations,” says Steffens. “Organizations that are willing to see the change and to take action will be not only profitable in their pursuits, they will contribute to the larger collaboration necessary to move Downtown and the region forward. Kinderhook is one such partner, through their technology and community related visions, that we look forward to partnering with in the very near future.”

“We’re pleased that Kinderhook Bank is recognizing its opportunity for growth throughout the Capital Region and that it has selected this high-visibility location in the heart of downtown Albany,” says Eagan. “We look forward to partnering with the bank through its commitment to preserving and enhancing the quality of life in our community.”

Kinderhook Bank is located at 39 North Pearl Street. The branch is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For additional information, visit www.yourkindofbank.com, call 518.512.5699, or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kinderhookbank.