by Rick Winterson
This Monday morning, on August 15 at 8:30 a.m., Dedham Savings (“your bank”) opened the doors of its Branch at 636 East Broadway for the first time. Six key Dedham Savings people did the honors (please see the photo above). At the end of the day at 4:30, they cheerfully expressed their satisfaction at how it all went. Please note this was Dedham Savings so-called “soft” opening, but don’t be fooled by the word “soft”. They are fully opened, expertly staffed, and providing everything you would expect from a full-service branch bank.
The bank’s new quarters have an open feeling, with an unobtrusive but warm color scheme. The interior is clearly a place of business, but there are amenities – the Olympics were being quietly broadcast on the wide-screen and there are convenient rest rooms in an alcove off the main lobby. The branch’s service aspects seemed to be personified by the half-dozen Dedham Savings people, who created the soft opening’s welcoming scene. As another example, one of the booklets available is specific to family banking – “Your Kid’s Accounts – from birth to 18”.
There’s more – much more – to be said about Dedham Savings’ South Boston operation, but it’s reasonable to first ask, “Why did Dedham Savings come to 636 East Broadway?”
In a telephone interview last week with Gerard R. “Jerry” Lavoie, who is the Chief Operating Officer and EVP with Dedham Savings, he stressed that their South Boston Branch will be a full-service bank having a strong background in retail banking experience – the South Boston Branch will be Dedham Savings’ ninth such branch. In recollecting the study of our area conducted by Dedham Savings, he made an even stronger point about how impressed the people at Dedham Savings were with South Boston’s growth demographics. His positive feelings extend to our whole community: “South Boston is where we want to be; we expect to do very well.”
During the interview, Dedham Savings President and CEO Peter G. Brown dropped in. He said that their participation in financing some of the Waterfront developments made them familiar with South Boston. Then, he reaffirmed Lavoie’s comments on the desirability of locating in South Boston: “We are always looking for other branch locations. And here in South Boston, we want to make a difference.” Brown pointed out that Dedham Savings is – and always has been – a regional bank, meaning that the bank and its Dedham Savings Foundation will become involved in the South Boston community right from the start.
Both Brown and Lavoie signed off by cordially inviting South Boston residents to Dedham Savings’ formal Grand Opening, which will take place late in September. A mid-morning ribbon cutting will be followed by an entire weekend of festivities.
Please watch for the announcement.
The Opening Day Dedham Savings team greets you – Heidi Brown, VP of Retail Banking; Charles Sittig, Branch Supervisor; Keisha Shirley, Assistant Branch Manager; Daniel Gratzer, Branch Supervisor; Michael Brennan, Branch Supervisor; Rob Erasmi, SVP Retail Banking.
The clean lines and business-like atmosphere inside the South Boston Branch of Dedham Savings are also spacious and welcoming.
