Lindenhurst First National Bank Holds Grand Opening

The First National Bank of Long Island Lindenhurst branch is now open.

Actually it opened quietly on December 27, according to FNBLI President/CEO Mike Vittorio.

After being built through last Summer and Fall, Vittorio told Lindenhurst Patch at the branch's official grand opening celebration on Tuesday night it was originally scheduled to open a week after Hurricane Sandy hit.

And, in fact, the branch was also supposed to have its gas installed on October 29 - the day the superstorm hit.

But like many other plans and lives in the wake of Sandy, the branch's long-awaited opening on the corner of South Wellwood Avenue and East Montauk Highway - the former location of Island Jeep - was knocked off course.

Vittorio said the branch had to wait to open after the hurricane, not only because it was South of Montauk and needed its gas - which wasn't yet installed - and its electric - which was knocked out for a good while like most homes and businesses South of Montauk.

In the initial days after the storm hit the bank branch's parking lot served as a staging point for Suffolk Police and the National Guard, which helped secure the homes and businesses South of Montauk, from Babylon to Amityville.

And, now, as of the grand opening on January 29, the branch has electric and heat, but is still waiting on gas from National Grid.

"The gas company said there was infrastructure damage that needs to be repaired. But we have electric and heat, and the COs for that, so we were able to open on December 27," Vittorio said.

The grand opening drew quite a crowd - more than 100 people - that included the Lindenhurst Chamber of Commerce, fellow business owners in the community, local residents and Village, Babylon Town and Suffolk County officials.

On hand for the ribbon cutting were Mayor Tom Brennan, Village Administrator Shawn Cullinane, Village Trustees Maryann Weckerle, Joan M. Masterson and Mike Lavorata, Deputy Town Supervisor Tony Martinez, Suffolk County Legislator and Legislature Deputy Presiding Officer Wayne Horsley, Chamber President JoAnn Boettcher, Lindenhurst BID President John Frenna, Knights of Columbus-OLPH Council #794 Grand Knight John Reynolds and Rotary Club President Jackie Milton.

They joined Vittorio, Vice President/Branch Manager Michelle Moreira-Jodice, Assistant Vice President/Assistant Branch Manager Laura Mazzilli and FNBLI officials in celebrating the branch's grand opening.

The Lindenhurst branch is now one of 36 branches in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and Manhattan. Vittorio added FNBLI will be opening two more branches this year in Massapequa Park and Sayville.

In addition, according to FNBLI officials, the branch is offering a grand opening promotion. Customers could receive special promotional rates on selected banking products, as well as free gifts such as a Kindle Fire, HDTV, digital camera and GPS, they said in a release following the January 29 event.

The branch also features a drive-thru and 24-hour ATM service, plus a fireplace inside with seating for customers to enjoy it while banking. The branch's hours are Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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• Lindenhurst First National Bank Holds Grand Opening
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