Germantown KeyBank to close in May

GERMANTOWN — KeyBank plans to close its Germantown branch on Route 9G this spring to consolidate with the Hudson branch, news that disappointed local customers.

The bank, which opened the Germantown branch in 2003 at 4291 Route 9G, sent letters Feb. 8 notifying clients the branch will close May 10. Their accounts will be transferred to the Hudson branch at 1 Hudson City Center, also effective May 10.

Clients said the Germantown location is convenient for them and complained about the move to close it down.

“I wish they would stay there, I hate to see them go,” said Debra Dibble, of Germantown. “It is convenient because I live four or five miles away. Now I am going to have to go to Red Hook because that is closer than Hudson.”

Dibble co-owns Upstate Auto in Germantown, and said the Germantown branch is also conveniently located for the needs of the business.

“Sometimes when we go to an auction we need to go to the bank right away,” Dibble said.

Will Bernoft, of Germantown, works just down the road from the bank in Taghkanic and said he goes to the bank on his lunch.

“It seems busy enough to me that I don’t know why they are closing it,” Bernoft said. “I live 10 minutes away. I have to figure out how to get to Hudson, which is inconvenient to me.”

Clients will not have to do anything for their accounts to transfer to Hudson, according to a statement released Thursday by Matthew Pitts, KeyBank communications manager for the Western and Central New York Region.

“Anytime we decide to consolidate a branch, we do so in a deliberate and thoughtful manner,” Pitts said. “This decision is based on client patterns in our branch network and our clients’ ability to make transactions using other channels, including digital and mobile banking. In no way should this decision be perceived as a negative reflection on any community we serve or the performance of our employees.”

Bernoft argued that he likes going to a brick and mortar facility to do his banking.

“It’s nice to go into the same local bank,” Bernoft said. “You get to talk to people.”

Bernoft may have to move to the Bank of Greene County branch just up the road from KeyBank, 4266 Route 9G, he said. The Bank of Greene County is the only other bank branch in the town proper.

Pitts refused to disclose how many clients the Germantown branch served or how many people work at the branch.

The company will have individual meetings with branch employees to discuss employment options during the transition. Transferring employees to other branches is done on a case-by-case basis, Pitts said.

“We transfer employees to other positions at KeyBank if there is a fit,” Pitts said. “At KeyBank, like all businesses, we continually review the structure of our organization to maintain a strong position in the marketplace to meet the specific needs of our clients, and to meet our business needs.”

Germantown Town Supervisor Robert Beaury expressed disappointment that KeyBank is closing the local branch.

“I think it’s too bad we are losing a local business and the convenience of a local bank branch,” Beaury said. “I wonder what will happen to the building after they leave town. It is a bank building. It is not as though anything else can be done with it without significant modifications.”

KeyBank leases the building, Pitts said, and it is up to the landlord to decide its future. The property is owned by Riptide Properties LLC, according to Columbia County property records.