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OurLIC VIDEO CONVERSATION: John Fennell, Senior Vice President Director of Retail Banking, New York Community Bancorp, Looks at Long Island City

Queens County Savings Bank opened in Flushing 153 years ago. It was the first savings bank chartered by New York State in the Borough of Queens.

John Fennell, Senior Vice President, Director of Retail Banking, New York Community Bancorp.   Linda Marr, Vice President, Director of Community Outreach, Queens County Savings Bank   New York Community Bancorp headquarters in Westbury, New York     Full video coverage and follow up Q&A are available in the left column in 1 segments of approximately three to five minutes each. queens_county_savings_bank_20120328

Long Island City, NY March 28, 2012 - John Fennell, New York Community Bancorp, reminds us that "THE CUSTOMER IS KING".  At his community bank's branches, his bank's customers are "not just a number...you are a person". Being a community bank gives Queens County Savings Bank a competitive edge.  "We can afford to give you that one-on-one service...and it is consistent wherever you go." Community banks have always been an important part of the communities in which they provide banking services.  They have always been the financial backbone for the families and businesses that make communities strong and pertpetually sustainable.  Their hallmark is their "local" customer service which is always personal and respectful.  Relationships with customers in their communities are deeper and go beyond deposits and withdrawals.  Bankers at community banks understand their role in the health, prosperity, and socio-economic development of the communities in which they live and actively participate. Commercial banks have tried to emulate them. With community banks, the personal touch is important...not just a slogan. The local and personal touch becomes embedded in the operating philosophy of the bank.  It takes years to master it.  Managing it means hiring, training, and developing the right type of people.  It takes the right people, with the right personal commitments and characteristics, to perpetuate a community conscience within a bank. They have to grow through the company so that they know the philosophy. Some banks will tell you how many ATM machines they have.  A Community bank does not need to promote its ATM machine count.  They build their banking relationships the old fashioned way. Queens County Savings Bank opened its doors April 14, 1859 in the village of Flushing.  Over One hundred and fifty years later, there are 27 traditional branches in Queens, including branches on Northern Blvd (Pathmark store) in Long Island City and others in Astoria.  But it does not stop there. Of its 242 branches in five states owned by New York Community Bancorp, in New York they operate 123 branches of their Community bank through four local divisions, reflecting the growth of their franchise through a series of mergers with other local thrifts: Queens County Savings Bank, with 34 branches in Queens County; Richmond County Savings Bank, with 22 banking offices on Staten Island; Roosevelt Savings Bank, with eight branches in Brooklyn; Roslyn Savings Bank, with 55 locations in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island. With the unprecidented growth of Long Island City, and the next phase of growth being revealed by regional planners, and with Queens County Savings Bank's existing location in the Greater Long Island City market area, it is natural for their executives to be interested in opportunities in this community Families are moving here, and businesses are being established here. John Fennell, Senior Vice President, Director of Retail Banking, and Linda Marr, Vice President, Director of Community Outreach, Queens County Savings Bank; are an important part of today's success for New York Community Bancorp. OurLIC visited the headquarters of New York Community Bancorp in Westbury to learn more about Queens County Savings Bank.   This article includes an OurLIC VIDEO CONVERSATION with John Fennell as well as a photo profile of Linda Marr...an active advocate for Long Island City; Member of the Board of Directors for the LIC YMCA; member of the Lions Club, Board Member of the Queens Advisory Board for VISIONS; and member of the Board of Directors of the Long Island City - Astoria Chamber of Commerce. HIGHLIGHTS New York Community Bank was orginally Queens County Savings Bank, a division which still exists.  Growth came from acquisitions and mergers. Fennell's job is to run the branches and make them strong parts of the communities where they are located.  He says says that branch staff is from their communities, and that the bank's success is based on relatively simply practice of "treat the customer right and try to do the right thing".  He says "We don't overcomplicate things, and if you to our branches, they know you by name....if they don't they will."  Even in the back office, the customer service philosophy is to make the service experience a pleasant one. Fennell emphasizes the banks commitment to "better the community", sometimes through sponsorships like Little League.  He says that "At the end of the day, when you are in the community, and serve the community, the community then chooses to bank with us. So we find it to be a win-win situation." When John Fennell started with the bank nineteen years ago, they had only seven branches. Growth has been slow and steady. Fennell describes it as "very prudent" with acquisitions. Fennell says that the bank is "very proud of our community activities." The Long Island City community reminds Fennell of the Corona Heights market. He sees a lot of growth potential.   With Corona Heights, the community came to the bank because it needed a bank and assistance. In general, for banking, "the worst is behind us" he says.  Banks are learning their new steps and different government rules.  He doesn't think that the general economy is "out of the woods yet" saying that "People are more cautious." New York Community Bank has been through this last period and came through with flying colors.  They were not one of the banks that took TARP funds. The bank wants to do lending in the community, and will continue to be a prudent, cautious bank known for being consistent.     John Fennell, Senior Vice President, Director of Retail Banking, New York Community Bancorp. Linda Marr, Vice President, Director of Community Outreach, Queens County Savings Bank New York Community Bancorp headquarters in Westbury, New York Proclamation from US Hose of Representatives citing Linda Marr's community service for over 26 years as part of Queens County Savings Bank (2010)

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