WARREN, Pa. (EYT) – Warren-based Northwest Bancshares, Inc., recently announced plans to consolidate 24 of its Northwest Savings Bank offices into nearby locations and convert two full-service offices into drive-up only facilities.
“It’s difficult for us to keep brick and mortar locations open,” said Shawn Walker, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “With the way banking has gone the last several years with online banking, mobile banking, and other channels, our banking has shifted from branches to online.”
In recent years, the company has invested heavily in alternative delivery channels such as online and mobile banking, depository ATMs, and automated telephone banking which enable customers to transact business outside of the branch and beyond normal business hours.
As a result, the number of transactions conducted in offices has decreased by approximately 25% over the past several years, according to Walker.
“We are allowing people to bank when and where they want,” said Walker. “Customers have told us, that’s the way they want to bank.”
Walker confirmed that one of the closures is the Sligo branch in Clarion County; however, he was unable to say if any other local branches would be closed.
The company is expected to release a full list of offices affected by the consolidation at a later date.
(Photo by Dustin Kifer)
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