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Northwest Plans Spring Closure Of Warren County Branch

WARREN, Pa. — A Warren County, Pa., branch of Northwest Bank will be closed in the spring.

“Our Sheffield office will permanently close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13,” Communications Manager Melanie Clabaugh said Thursday.

The branch is located at 101 S. Main St.

The closure is a sign of the times — when there is less and less foot traffic through banks.

“Because our customers are choosing to use more convenient ways to interact with our bank, retail network traffic and transaction volumes continue to drop,” Clabaugh said. “This movement led us to evaluate our retail network.”

“Over the past 10 years, significant enhancements in technology have dramatically changed customer preferences, behavior and expectations,” she said. “These shifts span not just our own financial services industry, but almost every other facet of our lives as we all seek the ability to research, purchase, connect and transact with the tap of a button.”

Bank branch closures became even more common with the pandemic.

“In 2020, our desire for convenience through technology became a need when the outbreak of COVID-19 forced the closure of bank retail branches around the world, including our own. During this time, customer reliance on digital channels like online and mobile banking and our network of ATMs increased — which also increased the level of comfort our customers have in using and expecting more from these channels,” Clabaugh said. “To keep up with this ever-evolving trend and to provide our customers with greater access, convenience, control and flexibility, Northwest invested heavily in alternative channels like online and mobile banking.”

“In 2021, we released enhancements to our digital experience, including improvements in account opening, person-to-person digital payments, budgeting tools, account alerts and card controls,” she said.

The bank’s online services, ATM locations, telephone banking, and other branches remain available to the customers who are losing their local branch.

“The terms and conditions of customers’ accounts will remain the same and they will continue to have free access to their accounts through online and mobile banking, our free ATM network, automated telephone banking and live service through our contact center and remaining retail network,” Clabaugh said. “As we evolve, we are dedicated to remaining independent and investing in our people, processes, solutions and remaining office network to be sure customers receive the high-quality, friendly and efficient service that has been the benchmark of our company for more than 125 years.”

Employees at the branch will have opportunities to move to other positions and those who do not stay with the bank will receive some compensation.

“We are making every effort to reassign our employees within our retail network and corporate departments, and will continue to work closely with management to identify open positions for placement,” she said. “Employees who are not retained will be offered a severance package for their years of dedicated service.”

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