38 JULY 21 - JULY 27, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
Dime Bank unveils new Bedford
Avenue branch in Williamsburg
BY JONATHAN SPERLING
EDITORIAL@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
A community bank’s Brooklyn
roots have gotten a little
deeper.
Expanding on its mission of providing
banking services with an
emphasis on serving the community,
Dime Community Bank—founded
in Williamsburg in 1864—officially
opened its newest branch at 214
Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg on
Thursday, July 13.
The new Bedford branch looks to
further Dime Community Bank’s dedication
to “ordinary, everyday working
people” in a hip nabe, according to
Dime Chairperson Vincent Palagiano.
“This facility is something new for
us. The whole idea is to have quick service
so that our customers can come in
and do what they want to do and be on
their way,” said Palagiano. “It’s what
this neighborhood is looking for.”
The small branch design—coming in
at just 433 square feet—means that it
does not utilize a traditional teller line,
instead giving customers the option to
use “pods” and advanced digital ATMs.
Customers can choose to receive
highly-personalized service from
a universal banker, or an advanced
ATM, depending on how they would
like to be served.
Branch Manager and Assistant Vice
President Anthony Wilson touched on
the bank’s reception in the community.
“We’ve gotten a lot of attention just
off curiosity. Just from me going out into
the street and talking to people and
getting to know everyone on the block,
we’ve been very well received,” said
Wilson. “We are deeply rooted in the
community, but in addition to that, we
have geared our senses toward small
business. With us being a community
bank, our ties are deeply rooted here
in the community, which means we
do a lot of work in the community and
help the small businesses that make
the community vibrant.”
The branch is designed with Williamsburg
in mind, featuring trendy
and thrifty details, such as reclaimed
wood and exposed brick decor. During
the day, the branch employs an open
concept, allowing customers to
conduct transactions with bankers
Cutting the ribbon on the new Dime Community Bank Bedford Avenue branch in Williamsburg.
utilizing wireless Microsoft Surface
Pros.
“We’re here to not only service families
and individuals, but also all the
wonderful establishments here in the
neighborhood,” said Chief Operating
Officer Rob Volino. “We’re here to
service them, whatever their financial
needs are. For us, our customers’
needs are what drive our services. We
don’t see ourselves as a bank; we see
ourselves as one of the merchants on
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photo by Arthur de Gaeta
the block, so we’re really not a bank
in the community, we are part of the
community.”
Prior to the ribbon cutting, Dime
recognized two non-profit organizations
that service the community and
made a donation to each.
One of organizations honored was
the Museum of Food and Drink, which
looks to analyze the role that food and
beverage play in history, culture and
politics. The second organization
honored was the Williamsburg Art
and Historical Center, which bridges
the gap between local, national and international
artists from all disciplines
in order to create a more integrated
world.
The Dime Bedford Branch is open
Monday through Saturday from 10
a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sunday from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information
about the branch or other Dime Community
Bank branches, visit dime.com.
Photo courtesy of Judge Sylvia Ash
Judge Sylvia Ash.
Brooklyn judge honored in
ceremony at Borough Hall
A Brooklyn justice
was honored for her
contributions to the
legal system on Monday, June
29, as part of a African-Caribbean
Heritage Month
celebration at Brooklyn
Borough Hall.
Judge Sylvia Ash, who was
elected to the Kings County
Supreme Court in 2010, was
presented with the Caribbean
American Justice Award
in a ceremony that saw nearly
350 attendees.
Following her graduation
from the Howard University
School of Law, Ash served as
a judicial law clerk in New
Jersey Superior Court. Later
in her career, she joined the
legal department of the District
Council 37 Municipal
Employees Legal Services
Plan as a supervising attorney
in the Family Law and Administrative
Law units. In 2005,
she was elected to the Kings
County Civil Court.
Now part of the Kings County
Supreme Court, Ash serves
as the presiding justice of the
Commercial Division.
— Jonathan Sperling