WILKES-BARRE — Changes are coming to the historic Market Street Square.
The Citizens Bank branch there will close in February.
Elsewhere in the complex, Dunkin’ Donuts with a drive-thru is being planned for the site that was originally intended to be a Burger King at Market Street and Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, according to local developer George Albert.
Citizens Bank’s branch at 111 E. Market St. will close 2 p.m. Feb. 19, 2020, according to a letter the bank sent to customers.
The bank’s closing follows the closing of other Citizens Bank locations in Ashley and on West Market Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Branches remain in East End in Wilkes-Barre, Forty Fort, Kingston, Dallas, Nanticoke, Mountaintop, West Hazleton and Clarks Summit.
“Based on changing customer behaviors and our real estate strategy, occasionally we have to make the business decision to close a branch,” Rory Sheehan, vice president of media relations for Citizens Bank, said in a statement. “We value our customers and make every effort to transition them to the nearest local branch as seamlessly as possible, in addition to continuing to invest in our digital and mobile capabilities to allow them to easily bank with us in any location.”
Customers’ accounts will be transferred to the branch at 351 Kidder St., East End, which is approximately 1.3 miles away, Sheehan said.
Sheehan said when bank officials decide to close a branch, they encourage employees to apply for open positions within the bank.
“We work closely with them to make sure they are aware of all of their options up to the date of closure so it’s too early to speculate,” he said.
Thom Greco, who owns the building that houses Citizens Bank, said he’s looking at options for the space in the future. The site was formerly United Penn Bank and Mellon Bank, he said.
Greco said while some banks in other areas are becoming more modern by putting in cafes and extending hours into nights and weekends, many banks in Northeast Pennsylvania are still “holding on to the traditional way.”
He cited FNCB Bank’s new $2.4 million full-service office that opened in Dunmore with a cafe, four large television screens with news and weather feeds and cash recyclers to speed transactions as an example of a more modern branch.
When asked if another bank is one of the options he is considering when Citizens Bank closes, Greco said, “We certainly like to be on the cutting edge.”
Contact the writer:
dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com;
570-821-2115;
@CVAllabaugh on Twitter