Ridgewood Savings Bank Opens Bayside Branch

Ridgewood Savings Bank announced on February 14 the opening of a new full-service branch in the Baybridge Commons Shopping Center. Located at 208-24 Cross Island Pkwy., this new location is the bank's 10th branch in Queens.

Occupying 3,700 square feet and with 13 employees on staff, Ridgewood's new Bayside branch will offer an array of banking products that include checking, savings and certificate of deposit accounts, diverse mortgage and consumer loan options, retirement plans, free online banking with bill pay plus the convenience of a walk-up window, bank-by-phone service and a 24-hour ATM.

William C. McGarry, Ridgewood Savings Bank chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, "We look forward to expanding our presence in Northern Queens and becoming a vital part of the Bayside community, just as we have throughout several other local neighborhoods. We are excited to bring our wide variety of customerfocused banking services to the residents of this vibrant neighborhood."

Yvette Strong and Brian Bernstein will lead the management team at the new Bayside branch. Strong and Bernstein have 30 years combined service to Ridgewood Savings Bank. Strong has been an integral part of the bank's management team since 1994 and previously managed the Whitestone and Laurelton branches. Bernstein has been a part of Ridgewood's management since 2002 and previously was an assistant manager at the Breezy Point branch.

Walter Reese, Ridgewood Savings Bank retail banking division senior vice president, commented, "Bayside is a flourishing residential community that we believe will enjoy one-on-one banking relationships, which are at the core of Ridgewood Savings Bank's mission as a community institution. Our bank thrives on providing personalized services to its customers."

To commemorate the opening of its Bayside branch, Ridgewood Savings Bank is hosting a variety of special customer appreciation sweepstakes.

+ Customers who enter the Better Banking Sweepstakes (until March 3) will have the chance to win one of four prizes. The grand prize winner will receive a Panasonic 42-inch plasma television. The first prize winner will receive an Apple 13- inch iMac. The second prize winner will receive a Yamaha portable keyboard and bench, and the third prize, for seven other lucky winners, is a Sony DVD player.

+ A variety of "super gifts" (at varying deposit levels) will be offered for special 5-, 7- or 10-year CDs, including a Sony Home Theater system, Apple 2GB Silver Nano, Toshiba 15-inch notebook computer and XBOX 360, among other items.

+ Additionally, customers who open a new checking or savings account, or a 13-month CD, will receive a free gift.

The Bayside branch will have special extended hours of operation during the grand opening celebration. Through Saturday March 3, the extended hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call the Bayside branch at 718.423.3508.