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Bank Branch Is Latest Closure in Newfoundland

DREHER TOWNSHIP — A bank that’s been a fixture in part of Wayne County for decades will close later this year. But the PNC Bank branch is the latest...
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DREHER TOWNSHIP -- A bank that's been a fixture in part of Wayne County for decades will close later this year.

But the PNC Bank branch is the latest in a long list of businesses closing their doors in Newfoundland.

The PNC Bank covers two corners of the busy intersection in the village. By the time it closes in April, it will be the sixth business in the community to close in the past year.

The PNC Bank in the heart of Newfoundland will cash its last check come mid-April. The company is consolidating branches. For customers it means switching to an entirely new bank or taking a drive.

"Going to Hawley is too far, that's a 20-minute ride. I`m going to switch banks, stay local," said Nicholas Barassi.

A PNC spokesperson said the property right on Main Street will likely go up for sale and closing the branch is a result of more customers doing their banking online even on mobile devices.

Still, folks around here are surprised the bank will be empty.

"It's a shame to see them going out, they`ve been here ever since I was a teenager in high school I've had accounts here," said Barry Batzel of Canadensis.

"It's shocking to me, I didn't know there was a problem here in town," said Louis Schaeffer of Greentown.

A problem, just maybe, with several other businesses closing in recent months including restaurants and drug stores like Frank's Drug Store, next door to the PNC Bank and still up for sale.

Litening's Auto Care Center on Routes 507 and 191 in Newfoundland also closed within recent weeks, up for public auction at the end of the month after its owner passed away.

"It seems to be a pattern is developing. We just need more economic structure here and be refocused," said Michael Seagraves, owner of The Hotel in Newfoundland.

Business owners are concerned there's not enough here to support as many shops and stores as there once were going as far back as the 1940s when Newfoundland was thriving.

"It's just a shame to see the businesses closing up like this," said Batzel.

There will still be a couple of other banks located in the Newfoundland area when the PNC branch closes.

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