PS Bank Nationally Ranked on American Banker List

PS Bank is pleased to announce it has been ranked as the #42 highest bank on American Banker’s list of the Top 200 Community Banks under $2 billion in the United States as published in its June 2023 edition of the magazine.

The 2023 ranking marks the eleventh consecutive year that Peoples Ltd. (PPLL) was included among institutions that are ranked based on three-year average Return on Equity (ROAE). For the fourth time in five years, Peoples Ltd. was the highest-ranked Pennsylvania-based institution on this list.

With a three-year average ROAE of 14.84%, PS Bank continues to be a strong bank proudly serving customers throughout northeastern and central Pennsylvania.

Anthony J. Gabello, President & CEO, said “I am extremely proud of the hard work being done on a daily basis by our PS Bankers throughout the communities we serve. Earning the #42 ranking from American Banker and the highest ranking in Pennsylvania is a testament to the dedicated service we provide to our customers and to our strength as a community bank.”

Wayne Bank Supports United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties

Jim Donnelly, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, is pleased to announce that Wayne Bank has supported the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties with a donation through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Scholarship Program.

The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne counties works with a dedicated team of educators and community stakeholders to help better align Early Childhood Education and school districts, while building a strong bridge for families to help ensure every child in our community is supported through all the stages of growth and development. For the past 13 years, the United Way has been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED) as a Pre-Kindergarten, Educational Improvement, Scholarship, and Opportunity Scholarship organization. Through their support and the generosity of local companies, hundreds of children from Preschool to High School are on the path to a bright future.

Matt Ceruti, Vice President of Resource Development & Campaign with the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, accepted a check in the amount of $5,000 from Senior Vice President and PA Retail Market Manager of Wayne Bank, Joseph Castrogiovanni.

“We are so pleased to make this donation to the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counites. Wayne Bank is proud to support the goals and initiatives of the United Way and feels strongly about investing in our local youth and giving back to our communities,” stated Mr. Donnelly.

The gift was made possible as a result of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program offered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acting through the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Geisinger to Continue Maternity Needs for NEPA

With the recent announcement that Wilkes-Barre General Hospital will close its labor and delivery services, Geisinger wants to assure the communities of northeastern Pennsylvania that Geisinger will work hard to fill that care gap.

Rest assured that labor and delivery services will continue at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre and Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton.

Leaders from both Geisinger facilities are holding recruitment events in hopes of filling staff vacancies and bolstering our OB-GYN services throughout the northeast. Teams are finding ways to create additional space to accommodate a potential volume increase in births. Logistical plans for providing transportation quickly and effectively for a mother and child are also being put in place.

Geisinger accepts all major insurances, including Aetna, Cigna, Highmark, United Healthcare and Medicare.

Geisinger will stay true to its mission to make better health easier for families in the communities we serve. Mothers-to-be who need to make a birthing plan can contact Geisinger to schedule an appointment by calling 570-808-7916.

Geisinger also offers full OB-GYN and Women’s Health services at our outpatient Women’s Health clinics in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. To find a provider near you, visit providers.geisinger.org, type in your zip code and search women’s health or pregnancy.

Crystal President Named Queens Power Leader

The success and growing prestige and influence of Crystal Window & Door Systems and its top executives continue to be recognized by the press and public.  Recently, Steve Chen, President of Crystal Windows, was included by City & State New York Magazine in its notable Queens Power 100 List for 2023.  The list, published in the magazine’s May 22, 2023, print and online editions, highlights the top 100 movers and shakers in the New York City Borough of Queens.  Queens is home to almost 50,000 businesses and 2.4 million people, making it the fourth largest city in America if ranked separately.

In selecting Chen for the auspicious list, City & State editors noted the size of the company’s Queens workforce, product compliance with new aggressive energy codes, and the company’s community, philanthropic, and educational support.  Crystal’s headquarters and production facility in Queens employs 350 workers, with 99% residing in New York City or State, and 98% are minorities.  Crystal supports many local educational, art, and charitable institutions and programs such as the Queens Museum, Queens Theatre in the Park, and Queens Library Foundation.  The company recently established a $1.1 million endowment for Queens College School of the Arts for art exhibits and scholarship programs.

“At Crystal Windows, we are always focused on doing what’s best for our customers, our employees, and our community,” said Steve Chen.  “It is very rewarding to see these corporate values recognized.”

City & State New York, a weekly publication, is the leading political and public policy publication for New York City and New York State.  The annual Queens Power 100 List includes numerous elected officials, key government agency heads, major non-profit and advocacy group leaders, and a select group of business leaders based in Queens.

Citizens Savings Bank Names New President and CEO

Raymond C. Hebden was recently named as President & CEO of Citizens Savings Bank.

A veteran with over 25 years of financial services industry experience, having worked previously as a CEO at two credit unions. Mr. Hebden has held numerous leadership positions in local financial institutions and has an extensive background in all lending and lending operations.

“We’re confident that Mr. Hebden can guide our bank into the future. He has a great track record of strategic insights and growth,” said Douglas G. Allen, Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Hebden has been an active member of several local Northeastern PA community organizations, such as Lackawanna, Luzerne and Montgomery Chambers of Commerce, a member of the Mayfield Crime Watch, the Honesdale Area Jaycees, and a coach on various local school district sports teams.

Mr. Hebden earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from Wilkes University.He attended the PA Banker’s Association Advanced School of Banking at Bucknell University and The Stonier Graduate School of Banking at The University of Pennsylvania. He also successfully completed the Wayne County Leadership Program.

As Mr. Hebden states, “It is an honor and a privilege to be chosen as the next leader of Citizens Savings Bank.I am excited to work with our talented management team, employees and Board of Directors to continue our commitment to serving Northeast PA as we have done for over 120 years. Together, we will continue to build lasting relationships with our customers.”

Mr. Hebden resides in Greenfield township with his wife Lisa. They have two adult children.

HNB Welcomes New Branch Manager

Thomas E. Sheridan, President, & CEO of The Honesdale National Bank, announced James Marsh has joined HNB as a Branch Manager of the HNB Forest City Office.

In this role, he is responsible for oversight of the operations of staff and customer service in our Forest City office.  He will provide opportunities for staff to grow by coaching and leading by example. Marsh will retain any relationships this bank has with all current customers and expand or create relationships with new customers.

President & CEO, Thomas E. Sheridan Jr., noted, “We are excited to have James join our team in Forest City, and his enthusiasm mirrors HNB’s interests in supporting our communities. He said, “His overarching career experience will allow ease of development internally while ensuring the provision of great costumer service for our current and future customers of HNB.”

Marsh has eight years in the financial industry, previously working at another area financial institution as a Teller and Customer Service Representative. He also has seven years of experience teaching at Stroudsburg Area School District and Commonwealth Charter Academy.

He grew up in Clarks Summit and currently resides in Lake Ariel. He is a graduate of Abington Heights High School, attended Keystone College for a bachelor’s degree in education with a minor in psychology, and currently attending The University of Phoenix for a master’s degree.

In mentioning his role at HNB, Marsh noted, “Working with HNB has given me ample opportunity to grow professionally and learn not only about this company, but about myself. Each employee has been very gracious, kind, and very helpful with my entering the company.” He continued, “This point in my career has been very rewarding to say the least. I hope to learn and grow with this company for many years to come.”

Outside of work, he likes to sing, cook, play with his 3 dogs, and be outside whenever possible.

Pennsylvania Treasury Department Warns for Scam Alerts

Treasurer Stacy Garrity today warned the public that scammers are imitating the Pennsylvania Treasury Department with sophisticated phishing emails targeting Pennsylvanians.

“I urge everyone to always be on guard for scams and suspicious messages,” Garrity said. “We know these criminals will pull out all the stops to commit fraud, but Treasury will always fight back. If you have doubts about an email claiming to be from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, here’s the most important tip: Do not click any links, and do not share any personal information. And always remember: Treasury will never seek personal information through an unsolicited email.”

The scammers’ phishing emails are designed to look like they have been sent from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department and include a link that leads to a fake version of Treasury’s website. Anyone who clicks on the link is then prompted to enter login credentials. Do not do this! Treasury will never use unsolicited emails or texts to request personal information for any if its programs.

If you’ve received one of these messages, or have any other questions, please contact Treasury by visiting patreasury.gov/contact.

PennDOT Engineering District 4 Traffic Bulletin

The PennDOT Engineering District 4 Traffic Bulletin advertises current and upcoming travel restrictions scheduled on state-owned highways in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. The Traffic Bulletin is updated in real-time during normal business hours. Please note: The schedule is subject to change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.

The Traffic Bulletin link will be emailed on Fridays each week but can be viewed at your convenience any time of the day. To view the current Traffic Bulletin, go to the PennDOT Engineering District 4 website homepage, click on Traffic Bulletin, or click here: Traffic Bulletin (pa.gov).

Motorists can check conditions on major roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District4.

Information about infrastructure in District 4, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D4Results.

Follow local PennDOT news on Twitter and like the Department on Facebook and Instagram.

The Dime Bank Celebrates Their Indian Orchard Branch

The Dime Bank celebrated their Indian Orchard branch at 1055 Texas Palmyra Highway, Honesdale, PA, its newest addition to the community bank’s branch network, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 27, 2023. This new branch brings personal banking with universal bankers and high-tech solutions to the community. The Dime Bank universal bankers are cross-trained to take care of all customer needs in one place. They act as a dedicated personal financial assistant, helping to simplify the financial complexities of life. The branch offers an iPad kiosk for customers to log into their online accounts as well as a drive-up ATM, which brings 24/7 high-tech convenient access to funds.

Additionally, The Dime Bank is committed to enhancing our communities by supporting our aspiring entrepreneurs and business customers with an Entrepreneurial Center located at this new facility. The Dime Bank Entrepreneurial Center offers customers a comfortable and secure environment with a variety of technological resources. Space can be reserved at www.thedimebank.com/entrepreneurial-center.

Moreover, The Dime Bank’s Customer Care Center (CCC) is in this building. The CCC offers customers telephone assistance with a live, knowledgeable, local care team. Telephone assistance is available after branches are closed and on weekends, for the hours and phone number, visit: www.thedimebank.com/ways-to-bank. This location also hosts The Dime Bank’s Support Center with back-office departments including information technology, digital banking, retail support, fraud, bank security, deposit operations, loans, human resources, marketing, compliance, training, and facilities management.

The Dime Bank staff were available at the celebration to give tours of this state-of-the-art banking facility and answer questions. County officials and many customers of The Dime Bank were present to show their support. The community is invited to visit The Dime Bank Indian Orchard branch to meet the staff and discuss how The Dime Bank can help you meet your financial goals. The Indian Orchard branch offers customers access to trusted, dependable professionals who bring financial solutions to the community during these hours:

Lobby Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – Noon

Drive Up Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – Noon

President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich expressed, “Branches are core to The Dime Bank’s business. In addition to catering to individuals with bank accounts and home loans, our branches also support businesses and non-profit organizations in the community. We’re excited that this new facility is not only a branch, but it offers an Entrepreneurial Center to expand the scope of solutions we offer to our customers. Our expert staff are available to provide the ultimate customer experience. Our mission to serve the financial needs of all continues to hold true as we strive to build strong partnerships for years to come. We thank you for your continued support and hope everyone will be able to take full advantage of this new advanced banking facility and all that we offer as a community bank. The Dime Bank’s commitment to provide quality financial solutions for our customers and our communities remains unchanged since 1905.”