Customers welcoming MCSB's new Mercer's branch

Michael Roknick, The Herald, Sharon, Pa.
·2 min read

Oct. 4—MERCER — Jim Hicks has found a new business in Mercer he can bank on.

Mercer County State Bank opened its full-service Mercer branch a couple weeks ago, giving the town its first banking service in five months.

Over a period of a couple of years, Mercer lost all three bank branches, with the last PNC Bank, closing in April.

"It means a lot to have a bank here," Hicks, owner of J. Hicks On The Square restaurant in Mercer said.

Julius Brodie, MCSB's Mercer branch manager, said the bank has logged about 30 new accounts have been opened with more commitments on the way. About 70 percent of those accounts — including Hicks' restaurant — are for businesses.

"People are glad we're here," Brodie said.

That includes Hicks.

His restaurant is housed just a block down from MCSB's new office, located at the former PNC branch on North Diamond Street. When all the institutions closed he had to drive out of town for banking.

"It's so much easier now to get change and do transactions," Hicks said.

An added bonus — MCSB hired former employees at bank branches once housed in Mercer. That includes Brodie, who previously worked at Huntington's Mercer office. He's worked at MCSB's Hermitage office for the past couple of years.

"We're familiar with the people," Brodie said. "Most of the people who live here have lived here all of their lives."

With Mercer County Courthouse across the street, it's an ideal location, he added.

"The courthouse brings in a lot of people," Brodie said. "We've gotten attorneys asking us to create estate accounts for their clients."

Pennstar Federal Credit Union has an office, which remains open, on the same street.

Like other businesses, the banking industry's supply chain is running slow, Scott Patton, MCSB's CEO and president said.

"We're expecting to get our signage and ATM by the end of this month," Patton said.

With assets over $560 million, MCSB is based in Sandy Lake with 11 offices in Mercer, Crawford, Venango and Butler counties.

Patton has shown he's willing to resurrect old-style bank marketing. If a customer brings in a new client opening an account they'll get a gift such as a blender or non-stick skillet.

"I was a little skeptical," Patton said of the program. "But it works."