Wayne Bank Celebrates 150 Year Anniversary

Lewis J. Critelli, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, is pleased to announce that the Bank will be celebrating its 150 year anniversary this November.

Wayne Bank was founded in Honesdale, PA on November 4, 1871, with the modest capital of $25,000. It was known as the Wayne County Savings Bank, after Major General Anthony Wayne, who was a prominent solider, officer, and statesman in American history. During the later portion of the 19th Century, Honesdale was a burgeoning canal town at the terminus of the Delaware and Hudson Canal. Led by President, W.W. Weston, a Honesdale merchant and businessman, the Bank’s early financing included everything from boat building and harness manufacturing to tanneries and farming.

As time went on, the Bank helped finance the progression of Wayne County into the glassworks, textile, and logging industries. The headquarters also moved to four different locations within Honesdale, until finally building and moving into the Bank’s present Corporate Office in 1924, located between Seventh and Eighth Streets on Main Street in Honesdale.

The Bank continued to expand throughout the remainder of the 20th Century, acquiring and opening additional locations throughout Wayne, Pike, and Monroe Counties in Pennsylvania. The name was also officially changed to Wayne Bank in 1993.

In 1996, the Bank’s holding company, Norwood Financial Corp, was created. Stock began trading on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol, NWFL. Additional acquisitions helped Wayne Bank to continue its tradition of expansion during the 21st Century with significant growth into Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties in Pennsylvania, and finally into Delaware, Sullivan, Otsego, Ontario, and Yates Counties in New York State.

Today, Wayne Bank has 30 Community Offices in two states and ten counties, including those operating under the Bank of Cooperstown and Bank of the Finger Lakes brands, and employs close to 300 local people.

Mr. Critelli commented, “Although so much has changed in 150 years, I am proud to say that Wayne Bank has remained committed to the same mission and core values that were instated upon our founding. We are a community bank that is dedicated to investing in the residents, businesses, and organizations who make our communities a better place to live. We are strong, secure, and excited to continue our legacy of ‘Helping the Community Grow’ for another 150 years.”

As part of the 150th anniversary celebration, the Bank has some exciting initiatives planned which will kick off in November with special product promotions and Customer Appreciation events. For more information, visit waynebank.com or facebook.com/waynebank/.

Johnson College Donates Food and Supplies to NEPA Youth Shelter

The Johnson College Diversity & Inclusion Committee sponsored a food and supply drive for the NEPA Youth Shelter in honor of National Coming Out Day. A local organization that provides emergency shelter and related services to unaccompanied youth, the NEPA Youth Shelter is especially affirming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth, as this population constitutes a high percentage of unhoused youth in our area. Food, drinks, and cleaning supplies were collected on the Johnson College campus from September 27 to October 8.

For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu. 

NBT Bank Makes Cybersecurity Resources Available to All

To mark National Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, NBT Bank has published a series of cybersecurity webinars addressing the trends and concerns businesses should be aware of. These on-demand webinars were exclusive to NBT Bank partners and customers until now.

“With the dramatic shift to more people working remotely, this year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month is more important to consumers and businesses than ever before,” said Terra Carnrike-Granata, Senior Vice President, Director of Information Security at NBT Bank. “While we provide our individual and business customers with robust fraud prevention tools and information, we felt there was an urgent need to get this information out to all members of our community to help them understand how to better protect themselves from cybercrime.”

In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission received 4.8 million reports of identity theft and fraud, up 45 percent from 3.3 million in 2019. The rise is mostly due to the 113 percent increase in identity theft complaints. 

Carnrike-Granata says the best defense against cyber criminals is knowledge and awareness. Any individual who uses an internet-connected device, whether for personal or business use, should make it a priority to understand how cybercrimes can occur and how to best protect our personal and financial information from a potential security breach. 

NBT Bank’s webinar series comes in four 30-minute videos on the following topics:

  • The Current State of Cybersecurity: Protecting the Intangible
  • Are You Covered? Proactive Controls You Need Now
  • After A Breach: Effective Incident Response
  • Cybercrime Survivors: Stories & Lessons Learned

To view each webinar, visit: www.nbtbank.com/cyber.

Wayne Bank’s Lancia Earns National Certification

Kristen E. Lancia, Assistant Vice President and Marketing Officer for Wayne Bank, was recently awarded the Certified Financial Marketing Professional (“CFMP”) certification from the American Bankers Association (“ABA”). 

President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, Lewis J. Critelli, noted, “Earning the CFMP certification validates Kristen’s experience and depth of education in the bank marketing arena. We are so pleased to congratulate her on this admirable achievement.”

The CFMP certification is awarded to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of financial services marketing. To qualify for the CFMP certification, individuals must have certain levels of experience and education in the financial services marketing profession, pass an exam, and agree to abide by a code of ethics. The CFMP exam covers many areas including financial principles, laws and regulations, market research, characteristics of marketing plans, and marketing components.

Kristen began her career with Wayne Bank in 2012 and currently serves as the Bank’s Assistant Vice President and Marketing Officer. She earned a B.S. in Design & Merchandising with a Writing Concentration from Drexel University and specializes in digital marketing. Kristen resides in Scranton with her husband, Ralph, and enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time outdoors.

Geisinger Offering COVID-19 Vaccines for Ages 5 to 11

Geisinger is ready to provide COVID-19 vaccines to those ages 5 to 11 years old beginning November 6 as access to the vaccine has again expanded following the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Appointments at Geisinger for COVID-19 vaccines for ages 5 to 11 years old are now available and can be made through MyGeisinger or by calling 570-284-3657. Vaccine appointments will be available at the following locations beginning Saturday, Nov. 6:

  • Geisinger Health Plan Building near Danville
  • Geisinger CenterPoint in Jenkins Township

Additional locations will begin providing vaccines for this age group beginning:

All vaccine locations will be staffed by pediatric care teams, including pediatric nurses and pediatricians. The locations are designed to be as child friendly as possible, with activities available like coloring sheets, stickers and similar items. Saturday appointments are available to accommodate family schedules.

“We know pediatricians and primary care providers are trusted sources of information on vaccines for parents, and we encourage and want parents and guardians to connect with their pediatrician or primary care doctor to ask any vaccine questions,” said Stacey Cummings, M.D., vice chair of Geisinger’s outpatient pediatric services. “Our pediatric team is ready to help families understand the facts behind the vaccine and how to coordinate the COVID-19 vaccine with other age-appropriate vaccines kids need.”

Parents and guardians are reminded that the COVID-19 vaccine is a two-dose series, scheduled three weeks apart, so keep that in mind when scheduling a child’s first dose. All vaccines for this age group are Pfizer BioNTech and will be a 10-microgram dose, which is one-third of the dose given to those 12 and older. There is also a 15-minute observation period following the vaccine administration.

An appointment is required for each child, and we ask that only one parent or guardian accompany a child for an appointment.

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit Geisinger.org/COVIDvax. As a reminder, masks must be worn by everyone in all Geisinger buildings and facilities.

The Wright Center Accepting COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments for Children Ages 5-11

The Wright Center for Community Health began scheduling and administering kid-sized doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 on Wednesday, Nov. 3at four regional primary care practices in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties after the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the vaccines for the pediatric age group.

The unanimous decision by the CDC on Nov. 2 enables this new age group to receive 10-micrograms of the Pfizer vaccine – a third of the amount given to teens and adults. With parental consent, eligible children will receive two shots, three weeks apart. The Food and Drug Administration gave emergency use authorization of the vaccine on Oct. 29.

“Approval of the pediatric vaccine by the CDC is an important development as we work together to end the global pandemic through vaccinations, masking and social distancing,” said Dr. Jignesh Y. Sheth, chief medical officer and senior vice president at The Wright Center for Community Health. “The vaccine will offer a high level of protection for children ages 5-11 and slow the spread of the virus among others in our community, especially during the upcoming holiday season. It is also another step closer to normalcy for society and helping our school-aged children to remain in school for in-person learning.”

Due to the CDC’s recommendation, which was also fully endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatricians, about 28 million children in the new age group will be eligible to receive a vaccination. The CDC recommended vaccinations for children, ages 12-15, in May.

“We will continue to encourage all Pennsylvanians to get their COVID-19 vaccine, and we are very excited that we can now include children ages 5 and over in that effort,” Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said in a state Department of Health press release. “To fellow parents I say: If you have a child between 5 and 11, get them vaccinated and give your child the power to safely learn, play and be a kid.”

Appointments to receive the pediatric vaccine may be made at the following Wright Center for Community Health clinics: Scranton Practice, 501 S. Washington Ave.; Mid Valley Practice, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn; South Franklin Street Practice, 335 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, and West Scranton Intermediate School-Based Health, 1401 Fellows St., Scranton. To make an appointment, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.

The CDC approved third-dose boosters of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine on Oct. 22 for certain age groups. The Wright Center for Community Health has been administering third doses and booster shots of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to eligible age groups since Oct. 22. People should talk to their health care provider about their medical condition and whether or not getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.