PS Bank Donates to Neil Armstrong Elementary School PS Bank recently made a donation of $4,000 to Neil Armstrong Elementary School in Scranton. This contribution, made possible through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, will help fund instructional materials for early literacy programs, including materials used during before-school and after-school tutoring. The donation will support the school’s ongoing efforts to enrich student experiences, both inside and outside the classroom. Neil Armstrong has strong participation in before-school and after-school tutoring sessions, and the PS Bank donation will allow for teachers to have greater access to materials to enrich those programs. “We are so grateful for PS Bank’s generous donation,” said Jennifer Bradley, Principal of Neil Armstrong Elementary School. “This funding will make a huge impact on our ability to provide enhanced educational resources to our teachers who facilitate the before-school and after-school tutoring program.” The donation holds special significance for PS Bank, as the school is located in the heart of North Scranton where PS Bank is set to open a new branch this spring. PS Bank President & CEO Anthony Gabello,who attended Neil Armstrong Elementary School growing up, expressed deep pride in supporting the institution that shaped his early educational experience. “It’s a true honor to give back to the school that played such a pivotal role in my own education,” said Gabello. “Neil Armstrong Elementary School has always been a cornerstone of the North Scranton community. We’re proud to support their efforts and look forward to continuing to invest in the future of Scranton’s students.” PS Bank’s donation is part of the bank’s commitment to supporting educational opportunities in the community through the EITC program, which allows businesses to provide financial support to approved educational organizations while receiving a tax credit in return.
PS Bank Adds Walter Sarafinko Anthony J. Gabello, President and Chief Executive Officer, is pleased to announce the hiring of Walter Sarafinko as Commercial Loan Officer / Vice President. With over 40 years of experience in banking and more than 25 years specializing in commercial lending, Walter brings a wealth of expertise to the team, especially to the Northeast PA region. Walter joins PS Bank at an exciting time as it prepares to open its newest office on Keyser Avenue in Scranton, further expanding its footprint in Lackawanna County and surrounding markets. The new location aims to make PS Bank retail and business services more accessible to the Greater Scranton area. “I’m excited to join the team at PS Bank, a bank with a long-standing tradition of building strong relationships through community banking. This team has a great reputation within the business community, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to join them” said Sarafinko. “I look forward to helping our clients navigate their financial needs, and continuing to grow PS Bank’s presence in a market that I have called home for most of my career.” Anthony J. Gabello, President & CEO of PS Bank, added, “Walter will play a vital role in increasing our presence in Lackawanna County and the surrounding markets, as we prepare to open our newest office in North Scranton. His vast knowledge of the region, combined with his extensive background in commercial lending, will be instrumental in helping us to better serve both new and existing customers.” A resident of South Abington Township, Walter resides with this wife, Robin, and has two adult children, Colin and Kelsey.
PS Bank Donates $5,000 to Tunkhannock Area High School Robotics Program PS Bank was proud to recently make a contribution of $5,000 to the Tunkhannock Area High School robotics program. This donation was made possible through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit program. The Robotics Team has been in Tunkhannock since 1997 and has helped many students find a passion in engineering and robotics. Over the last few years, the growth in technology and automation in engineering and manufacturing has increasingly highlighted the importance of learning the basics of robotics. With this increase, robotics has made its way into the classroom as part of the electronics laboratory. This donation will help fund resources for the class, club, and team by almost doubling the supplies to design, build, and program robots. Matthew Wincek, Tunkhannock Area High School principal, accepted the donation on behalf of the robotics program. “The Tunkhannock Area High School Robotics Club and Team would like to thank you for your support and generous donation to the program. The increase in supplies allows for more students to get to experience the fun and education of robotics, while growing the team’s motto, “Tigers Today, Leaders Tomorrow,” said Wincek. At the check presentation, PS Bank officers had the chance to meet the leadership of the Tigertrons, including Robert Hug, Advisor; Erik Arndt, President; Emmalee Campbell, Public Relations and Electronics Lead; and Aiden Pallman, Manufacturing and Build Lead.
PS Bank Ranked #36 Nationally on American Banker List PS Bank is pleased to announce it has been ranked as the #36 highest bank on American Banker’s list of the Top 100 Community Banks under $2 billion in the United States as published in its June 2024 edition of the magazine. The 2024 ranking marks the twelfth consecutive year that Peoples Ltd. (PPLL) was included among institutions that are ranked based on three-year average Return on Equity (ROAE). The 2024 ranking is an improvement of six spots from last year’s #42 ranking. With a three-year average ROAE of 16.15%, PS Bank continues to be a leading bank strongly serving customers throughout northeastern and central Pennsylvania. Anthony J. Gabello, President & CEO, said “I am extremely proud of the hard work being done by our PS Bankers throughout the communities we serve. Our customers continue to value our services and support our bank, allowing us to improve each year. Being able to improve our ranking to #36 in a turbulent year for banking is a testament to the dedicated service we provide to our customers and to our strength as a community bank.”
PS Bank Announces Promotion of David B. Wintermute PS Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of David B. Wintermute to Senior Credit Administration Officer / Senior Vice President. Wintermute has been with PS Bank since 2021, previously serving as Senior Credit Officer. Under his leadership, the credit function has further developed and expanded. As Senior Credit Administration Officer / Senior Vice President, Wintermute will continue to oversee the credit area in addition to loan operations, consumer underwriting, and collections. “Over the last four years, Dave has been a critical factor in the success and growth of PS Bank. I’m excited for Dave’s new role as he will be a valuable asset to our senior leadership team,” said Anthony J. Gabello, President & CEO. Wintermute holds a bachelor’s degree from East Stroudsburg University. He resides in Waverly with his wife Alyssa and three daughters.
PS Bank Announces Promotion of Sean Ann Schoen PS Bank is proud to announce the promotion of Sean Ann Schoen to Marketing Director / Vice President. Sean Ann has been with PS Bank since 2020. As Marketing Director / Vice President, Sean Ann will continue to oversee the bank’s marketing and communications as well as assume additional corporate and community-based responsibilities. “Over the last four years, Sean Ann has been critical in the development of the PS Bank brand across our markets. In this new role, she will continue to serve as the primary ambassador of our brand in the community as well as further develop the marketing role at our bank,” said Anthony J. Gabello, President & CEO. In the community, Sean Ann is a board member for the Deutsch Institute and serves the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce as a trustee for Lackawanna Industrial Fund Enterprises (LIFE). She holds a bachelor’s degree from East Stroudsburg University in communications with a concentration in public relations and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Bloomsburg University. She resides in Dunmore with her husband Timothy and their daughter Casey.
PS Bank Announces Promotion of Paul Walsh PS Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Paul Walsh to Senior Lender / Senior Vice President. Paul has been with PS Bank since 2015 serving as Commercial Loan Officer. Under Paul’s guidance, PS Bank’s lending presence in Lackawanna County increased exponentially and now represents the bank’s largest lending market. As Senior Lender, Paul will be responsible for overseeing the management and leadership of lending at PS Bank. “Paul has been an integral part of PS Bank’s growth over the last nine years. He was responsible for our designation as a Small Business Administration Preferred Lender in 2022. Paul’s dedication to his customers and his ability to recommend both simple and complex financing packages for projects of all kinds, have helped to propel PS Bank into a bright future. I am excited to see what he will accomplish as a member of our senior leadership team,” said Anthony J. Gabello, President & CEO. Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in financial services from Pennsylvania State University and graduated from American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He received a leadership certificate from the Wharton Executive Education Program in 2023. Walsh resides in Greenfield Township with his wife Gina and their two children, P.J. and Tessa.
John N. Grochowski Joins PS Bank Anthony J. Gabello, President and Chief Executive Officer of PS Bank, is pleased to announce the hiring of John N. Grochowski as Indirect Lending Department Manager / Vice President. With John’s hiring, a new line of business has been added to PS Bank’s robust portfolio. Indirect lending will allow for the financing of new and used automobiles for customers across all markets. Mr. Grochowski has over 35 years of banking experience and has spent the past 25 years in the indirect lending area. “With John’s leadership, we anticipate great success for the indirect lending department at PS Bank. He brings tremendous experience and quality relationships to our institution and is a great addition to our team.,” said Gabello. Mr. Grochowski holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Wilkes University. He has also served in various leadership and volunteer capacities for numerous community fundraising campaigns. Mr. Grochowski resides in Forty Fort with his wife Luciann.
PS Bank Supports Lackawanna Trail School District PS Bank is proud to support the Lackawanna Trail School District for the 2023-2024 academic year with a charitable contribution of $5,000. PS Bank is a committed supporter of the district as well as the greater Factoryville, Nicholson, and Dalton communities. This year’s donation supported the purchase of new curtains for the high school’s auditorium, which is named after PS Bank. In acceptance of the monetary donation, Business Manager Keith Glynn said numerous other projects were also funded including tools for vocational education, supplementary health class resources, and consumer science curriculum materials. Anthony Gabello, President & CEO of PS Bank knows that supporting public education is the foundation of a prosperous community and is proud to have such a great relationship with Lackawanna Trail. “PS Bank is proud to support the Lackawanna Trail School District again this year. Serving the students and faculty of the district with our annual sponsorship allows school leadership to continue to provide a quality educational experience,” stated Gabello. “We appreciate the ongoing relationship we have with Lackawanna Trail, its students and their families.” PS Bank serves the Lackawanna Trail community at 118 College Avenue, Factoryville. For more information about banking at this branch, please reach out to Janice Bevacqua, Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager at jbevacqua@psbanking.com.
PS Bank Hires New Chief Information Officer Anthony J. Gabello, President and Chief Executive Officer, is pleased to announce the hiring of Eli Tomlinson as Chief Information Officer/Senior Vice President. Mr. Tomlinson has over 20 years of experience working in banking at the senior level, with expertise in the areas of information systems, cybersecurity, strategic planning, risk assessment, project implementation, and process improvement. Mr. Tomlin is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Community Bank Technology Officer (CCBTO). He attended Rutgers University. Prior to joining PS Bank, Mr. Tomlinson worked at a regional bank as senior vice president of information technology. His previous work experience includes network administration and software publishing. “Eli brings tremendous experience to PS Bank. His strong knowledge of banking systems, technology, and cybersecurity will be a valuable asset as we continue to grow our bank. As our Chief Information Officer/Senior Vice President, Eli will be a vital member of our leadership team,” said Gabello. Mr. Tomlinson resides in Clarks Summit with his wife, Clel. They have two children, Alex of Scranton and Sean of Detroit, MI.
