Citizens Bank Lobby closing: ye, Schwartz Giveth, Morse taketh away....again

[OldManTime]

I just received this week that the Citizens Bank on Avenida is closing down its lobby, effective October 25th. Drive through will remain open. Another Morse decision to remove as many amenities as possible in the Lady Lake area, and build up in Sumter...guess he is following the money.

[kittygilchrist]

lost here...following whose money?

[pooh]

Not sure why you feel this way. There are many Citizens banks around, this isn't the only one. Sadly for some, many banks have few physical buildings....with so many services available online, ATM cards for making deposits and withdrawals, making deposits with one's computer or smart phone, there is less need to actually go into a bank. Social Security checks, pension checks, retirement checks, etc, are or can be automatically deposited. Loans can be secured online, also. If that particular bank has less activity than others, it probably isn't worth the financial loss to keep it open....true for this bank and other banks, too.

[deltaguy]

I just received this week that the Citizens Bank on Avenida is closing down its lobby, effective October 25th. Drive through will remain open. Another Morse decision to remove as many amenities as possible in the Lady Lake area, and build up in Sumter...guess he is following the money.

Consider the possibility that volume is down at that branch and there are several other options within a very short distance. Criticize him for "the wall" if you will but not for what is probably a very logical business decision. Either love the guy or hate him. Put me somewhere in the middle based on the facts.

[gerryann]

Normally I am never physically inside of a bank. On Friday, I had the occasion to enter a bank here in the villages 3 times in the same day. Two of those times, I was the ONLY one in there. One time, there was ONE other person there. So...I believe that quite possibly, lobby's are not needed much anymore.

[zcaveman]

Too bad. This was the first Citizens bank that I dealt with. It is the only one in the middle of town. It was probably the first Citizens bank in TV. You would think they would keep it just as a nostalgia thing.

Z

[njbchbum]

Too bad. This was the first Citizens bank that I dealt with. It is the only one in the middle of town. It was probably the first Citizens bank in TV. You would think they would keep it just as a nostalgia thing.

Z

don't know how much $ can be made on a nostalgic citizen's bank - but the parking sure was a lot easier at that location than the one in town.

and, pooh, re on-line banking - after the stock mkt shut down because of possible hacking - can one really trust anything that electronic? sure the institution will make accts whole - but who knows who can grab your confidential info.

i love asking cashiers anywhere if they still accept cash! ;)

[Bogie Shooter]

Just good business, nothing more , nothing less.

[ilovetv]

We never go inside the bank unless it's for something unusual. We use Drive-Thru, ATM, direct deposit of income, and internet banking.

Now if the postal service would build drive-thru windows and ATM vending machines to drive up to, they'd be up to the 20th century.

At the post office across from Spanish Springs, people stand in a long, SLOW line just to hand the clerk an outgoing letter already stamped, when there is a drop box right outside the front door they could have dropped it in.....while people who need to buy something at the counter stand behind them in line. The whole thing is stagecoach era.

[janmcn]

I just received this week that the Citizens Bank on Avenida is closing down its lobby, effective October 25th. Drive through will remain open. Another Morse decision to remove as many amenities as possible in the Lady Lake area, and build up in Sumter...guess he is following the money.


And now there is talk of closing the Tierre Del Sol restaurant. By my count, if that closes, that will be the fifth restaurant to close in the original Villages.

[Mikeod]

Too bad. This was the first Citizens bank that I dealt with. It is the only one in the middle of town. It was probably the first Citizens bank in TV. You would think they would keep it just as a nostalgia thing.

Z

Z, the branch that is closing the lobby is the one at Avenida Central, not the one on Main Street in the center of town. I thnk the closing relates more to having two locations so close together.

And they are only closing the lobby. The drive-through is still open so you can still talk to a person, albeit via microphone/speaker.

[Shimpy]

And now there is talk of closing the Tierre Del Sol restaurant. By my count, if that closes, that will be the fifth restaurant to close in the original Villages.

Based on my last visit there for breakfast about 2 months ago I won't miss them. It takes good food, service and reasonable prices to bring in customers.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I don't get it. What would the Morse family have to do with the closing of a bank branch. Don't the banks that are on Villages property simply rent the space from the developer?
And how would a bank lobby in Lady Lake affect anything in the newer area?
I would bet that this was a decision made by Citizens Bank without any input from the developer.

[asianthree]

i very rarely go into a bank most is done online

[kittygilchrist]

I don't get it. What would the Morse family have to do with the closing of a bank branch. Don't the banks that are on Villages property simply rent the space from the developer?
And how would a bank lobby in Lady Lake affect anything in the newer area?
I would bet that this was a decision made by Citizens Bank without any input from the developer.

somebody who knows step up? I thought this bank was owned by developer.

[deltaguy]

I don't get it. What would the Morse family have to do with the closing of a bank branch. Don't the banks that are on Villages property simply rent the space from the developer?
And how would a bank lobby in Lady Lake affect anything in the newer area?
I would bet that this was a decision made by Citizens Bank without any input from the developer.

How about if they own it!

[CaptJohn]

i very rarely go into a bank most is done online

Same here. In fact, I just refinanced my house online. Only reason I had to leave the house was to get a notary, which wasn't at a bank either.

[bkcunningham1]

http://www.ffiec.gov/nicpubweb/NICDataCache/BHCPR/BHCPR_2012315_20130630.PDF

Villages Bancorporation, Inc. in The Villages FL - Company Profile (http://www.corporationwiki.com/Florida/The-Villages/villages-bancorporation-inc-4060898.aspx)

Notice of Change in Control of a Bank Holding Company

From the Daily Sun

H. Gary Morse (The Villages, Florida), H. Gary Morse Family Trust (The Villages, Florida), Mark G. Morse (The Villages, Florida), Mark G. Morse Family Trust (The Villages, Florida), Jennifer L. Parr (The Villages, Florida), Jennifer L. Parr Family Trust (The Villages, Florida), Tracy L. Mathews (The Villages, Florida), and Tracy L. Mathews Family Trust (The Villages, Florida), intend to apply to the Federal Reserve Board for permission to acquire up to 100% of the shares and thereby control of Villages Bancorporation, Inc., whose main office is located at 1050 Lake Sumter Landing, The Villages, Florida 32162. Villages Bancorporation, Inc. controls Citizens First Bank, 1050 Lake Sumter Landing, The Villages, Florida 32162. The Federal Reserve considers a number of factors in deciding whether to approve the notice.
You are invited to submit comments in writing on this notice to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, 1000 Peachtree Street N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309-4470. The comment period will not end before September 10, 2013 and may be somewhat longer. The Federal Reserve's procedures for processing applications may be found at 12 C.F.R. Part 262.25.
To obtain a copy of the Federal Reserve Board’s procedures, or if you need more information about how to submit your comments on the notice, contact Chapelle Davis, Assistant Vice President at (404) 498-7278. The Federal Reserve will consider your comments and any request for a public meeting or formal hearing on the notice if they are received in writing by the Reserve Bank on or before the last day of the comment period.
#469917 August 21, 2013
Ad# 30751173 posted on Aug 21, 2013

[Hancle704]

Purely a business decision. The bank is not, and never was an amenity.

[Easyrider]

I just received this week that the Citizens Bank on Avenida is closing down its lobby, effective October 25th. Drive through will remain open. Another Morse decision to remove as many amenities as possible in the Lady Lake area, and build up in Sumter...guess he is following the money.

Not enough cutomers coming in to warrant a lobby. With the drive through still open and an ATM it appears a non issue, lobby service is hardlly ever really needed and there are plenty of other locations with lobby service.

[mikeandnancy1112]

Why? His food is fabulous!!

[njbchbum]

I just received this week that the Citizens Bank on Avenida is closing down its lobby, effective October 25th. Drive through will remain open. Another Morse decision to remove as many amenities as possible in the Lady Lake area, and build up in Sumter...guess he is following the money.

Consider the possibility that volume is down at that branch and there are several other options within a very short distance. Criticize him for "the wall" if you will but not for what is probably a very logical business decision. Either love the guy or hate him. Put me somewhere in the middle based on the facts.

citizens first bank
Citizens First Bank in The Villages FL - Company Profile (http://www.corporationwiki.com/Florida/The-Villages/citizens-first-bank-5961559.aspx)
a subsidiary of villages bancorporation inc
Villages Bancorporation, Inc. in The Villages FL - Company Profile (http://www.corporationwiki.com/Florida/The-Villages/villages-bancorporation-inc-4060898.aspx)

[billethkid]

I just received this week that the Citizens Bank on Avenida is closing down its lobby, effective October 25th. Drive through will remain open. Another Morse decision to remove as many amenities as possible in the Lady Lake area, and build up in Sumter...guess he is following the money.

To build up Sumter ......either you jest or are prejudiced or bitter (about something)..... Or whatever but oh so incorrect.
Your opinion and entitled......but not correct.

btk

[rkimball]

I just received this week that the Citizens Bank on Avenida is closing down its lobby, effective October 25th. Drive through will remain open. Another Morse decision to remove as many amenities as possible in the Lady Lake area, and build up in Sumter...guess he is following the money.

Same with the restaurants:When we first moved to The Villages years ago the restaurant at the Santiago Club was standing room only. The developer then allowed the tenant to let this property fall into disrepair. So now its up to us residents to buy and maintain this building as another small rec. center/pool hall. If he, the developer did not want to be in the restaurant business he should not have built them in the first place.

But, of course, they were big selling points to future home site buyers. A restaurant/club house right across the street. Remember Chula Vista. Now El Santiago. Next Tierra Del Sol and then Havana.

[graciegirl]

Same with the restaurants:When we first moved to The Villages years ago the restaurant at the Santiago Club was standing room only. The developer then allowed the tenant to let this property fall into disrepair. (?)So now its up to us residents to buy and maintain this building as another small rec. center/pool hall. If he, the developer did not want to be in the restaurant business he should not have built them in the first place.

But, of course, they were big selling points to future home site buyers. A restaurant/club house right across the street. Remember Chula Vista. Now El Santiago. Next Tierra Del Sol and then Havana.

Whoa. Here I am in defense of the developers...again. In the beginning they ran the restaurants and believe me they ran them well. It appears to be part of their earlier business plan to establish the business and then sell the established restaurant business to someone to run.

Just recently both The Lighthouse and Cane Garden were sold to the people that had managed them for some time. I hope they will continue to be successful. The Developer still owns and rents the physical buildings as I understand it. Havana, Evans Prarie and Bonifay were all rented to restaurant business tenants immediately on completion.

Why do some posters attribute so many failures to the Morses? Because they are rich? Because they are successful?

Why do so many people just out and out hate them? I don't know of a soul who has ever KNOWN any of them. There is a possibility they might be nice.

[Challenger]

Whoa. Here I am in defense of the developers...again. In the beginning they ran the restaurants and believe me they ran them well. It appears to be part of their earlier business plan to establish the business and then sell the established restaurant business to someone to run.

Just recently both The Lighthouse and Cane Garden were sold to the people that had managed them for some time. I hope they will continue to be successful. The Developer still owns and rents the physical buildings as I understand it. Havana, Evans Prarie and Bonifay were all rented to restaurant business tenants immediately on completion.

Why do some posters attribute so many failures to the Morses? Because they are rich? Because they are successful?

Why do so many people just out and out hate them? I don't know of a soul who has ever KNOWN any of them. There is a possibility they might be nice.

Gracie,

The answer to the naive comments about the Developers are most often because the posters have no concept of what it takes to run a succesful business. As for the haters it seems to me to be envy.

'Better to be silent and have people think you are a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt":spoken:

[Warren Kiefer]

I don't get it. What would the Morse family have to do with the closing of a bank branch. Don't the banks that are on Villages property simply rent the space from the developer?
And how would a bank lobby in Lady Lake affect anything in the newer area?
I would bet that this was a decision made by Citizens Bank without any input from the developer.

You surely aren't so naive that you think the Citizens Banks are totally independent of the developer. :a040::a040:

[Mikeod]

Same with the restaurants:When we first moved to The Villages years ago the restaurant at the Santiago Club was standing room only. The developer then allowed the tenant to let this property fall into disrepair. So now its up to us residents to buy and maintain this building as another small rec. center/pool hall. If he, the developer did not want to be in the restaurant business he should not have built them in the first place.

But, of course, they were big selling points to future home site buyers. A restaurant/club house right across the street. Remember Chula Vista. Now El Santiago. Next Tierra Del Sol and then Havana.
It appears the developer has made a business decision. Having two banking locations so close together was not making sense, so he cut lobby services in the one with less foot traffic. BUT, he kept the drive-thru and ATM available for those who still want to bank at that location. Sounds reasonable to me.

With regard to restaurants, it appears the developer started off placing restaurants within neighborhoods. It also appears that patronage at those fell off after a while, so the emphasis switched to restaurants at the squares and at the championship courses, especially where they could be accessed without passing through a gate. Restaurants within TV are under great pressure to maintain services residents expect while keeping to the price point villagers demand. Not always possible.

[Warren Kiefer]

Whoa. Here I am in defense of the developers...again. In the beginning they ran the restaurants and believe me they ran them well. It appears to be part of their earlier business plan to establish the business and then sell the established restaurant business to someone to run.

Just recently both The Lighthouse and Cane Garden were sold to the people that had managed them for some time. I hope they will continue to be successful. The Developer still owns and rents the physical buildings as I understand it. Havana, Evans Prarie and Bonifay were all rented to restaurant business tenants immediately on completion.

Why do some posters attribute so many failures to the Morses? Because they are rich? Because they are successful?

Why do so many people just out and out hate them? I don't know of a soul who has ever KNOWN any of them. There is a possibility they might be nice.

Is it also a possibility at times they aren't so nice ??

[jbdlfan]

It only made sense to close the Avineda branch. What I find amazing is some have more concern for the lack of convenience(you have to drive another half mile now) than about the people that just lost a job......

[perrjojo]

The Morse family runs a huge business with many layers. I doubt Mr Morse himself sits down and decides to close a bank lobby. The corporation has many layers and he pays a lot of people to make decisions that are good for his business.

[OldManTime]

The Morse family runs a huge business with many layers. I doubt Mr Morse himself sits down and decides to close a bank lobby. The corporation has many layers and he pays a lot of people to make decisions that are good for his business.

In your typical corporation you would be correct, trust me on this one, he has the final say.

[njbchbum]

It only made sense to close the Avineda branch. What I find amazing is some have more concern for the lack of convenience(you have to drive another half mile now) than about the people that just lost a job......

were they not offered positions at other locations of that bank?

[eweissenbach]

Is it also a possibility at times they aren't so nice ??

Whether the Morses are nice or naughty is a highly subjective question, and one unlikely to elicit unanimity. What is without question is their unique ability to create a retirement community which people are virtually standing in line to buy into (1% of ALL new home sales in the COUNTRY in 2011 - unbelievable). They seem to be extraordinarily capable business people, and part of that business is to provide the residents of TV with a great lifestyle and services as they profit from every business in TV to a greater or lesser extent. I would have a hard time criticizing any business move they make, naughty or nice.

[Challenger]

In your typical corporation you would be correct, trust me on this one, he has the final say.

Tell us how you are privy to this info

[festusrules]

Could that be because of all the restaurants on and N of 466?

[ugotme]

Personally, I do not know the Morse family or much about them.

My only comment would be is, if Bank of America or Chase or any other bank closed one of its' branches, there would probably be a little grumbling but most would see it as a slight inconvenience.

Many would see it for what it is - a wise business decision.

What is wrong with that?

[skyking]

Not enough cutomers coming in to warrant a lobby. With the drive through still open and an ATM it appears a non issue, lobby service is hardlly ever really needed and there are plenty of other locations with lobby service.

But what about the popcorn??? :)

[Lbmb24101]

Technology and convenience is fine and dandy
We use direct deposit, etc
But as my old man used to say:
'always have a contact in the bank so they get to know you. One never lnows when one needs a small favor"
I have not needed the favor, yet, but one can never say never.
Too much automation i think, is not great in an industry, like banking, where accuracy and privacy are so crucial. Technology is not infalible, neither are humans, but humans have the human touch.
My sis is a vp in pnc in pa. And she does lament about what is trending in the banking industry right now; more tech and a lot less personal servce?.. Alas!

[Bogie Shooter]

In your typical corporation you would be correct, trust me on this one, he has the final say.

And what might this be based on?

[Bogie Shooter]

Personally, I do not know the Morse family or much about them.

My only comment would be is, if Bank of America or Chase or any other bank closed one of its' branches, there would probably be a little grumbling but most would see it as a slight inconvenience.

Many would see it for what it is - a wise business decision.

What is wrong with that?

And they would not take the opportunity to bash the developer.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

You surely aren't so naive that you think the Citizens Banks are totally independent of the developer. :a040::a040:

I wasn't aware that the developer's corporation had control over that particular bank. I don't use Citizen's bank and I don't keep track of what the developer owns and doesn't own. I honestly don't care.

[rubicon]

Developer runs a tight ship. He is good to those employees close to him and rewards them with trips to the Carribbean, etc. He pretty much has the final say on those things he deems essential.

I can understand why some folks are wowed by The Villages, however, I believe some folks go overboard. Its nice here but there are other towns, cities or developments that can also wow you.

There are some residents especially the those who knew the father that have romanticized this family viewing them as being benevolent maternal, etc. so when the see something like a wall going up they over react.

[Bogie Shooter]

Developer runs a tight ship. He is good to those employees close to him and rewards them with trips to the Carribbean, etc. He pretty much has the final say on those things he deems essential.

I can understand why some folks are wowed by The Villages, however, I believe some folks go overboard. Its nice here but there are other towns, cities or developments that can also wow you.

There are some residents especially the those who knew the father that have romanticized this family viewing them as being benevolent maternal, etc. so when the see something like a wall going up they over react.

Careful Rubicon, you will kick up the wall firestorm...........again.

[skip0358]

Two banks close by, visit to the bank are down, why keep 2 open. Here's another thought. Maybe as there was a post a week or so ago about the post Office on the old side moving, MAYBE don't know for sure they'll move to the bank lobby, more room and more parking, just a thought. Another thing is in all big businesses consolidate and cut your overhead and you'll do better. As for the restaurants the family is getting of the food business period.

[villagerjack]

And now there is talk of closing the Tierre Del Sol restaurant. By my count, if that closes, that will be the fifth restaurant to close in the original Villages.

Probably closed the restaurants because they were too successful and the bank because it was too busy.

[jbdlfan]

Well, I can say (for an absolute fact) up until about six months ago he still would come to the meetings and visit branches often. Have no direct information since.
It was a very practical decision for goodness sakes.

[njbchbum]

snipped
Maybe as there was a post a week or so ago about the post Office on the old side moving, MAYBE don't know for sure they'll move to the bank lobby, more room and more parking, just a thought.
snipped


still scratching my head over that one! biggest parking lot ever located to the left of the bldg and there will not be any growth that needs to be serviced since those neighborhoods are long build out! any time other that 'the season' does not usually present a parking or crowd problem. and why woud a post office want to be in the a bldg with a drive-up bank and vice-versa?

[elainecohen]

Why? What are the other four? How is the new Havana singing waiters?

[CFrance]

To build up Sumter ......either you jest or are prejudiced or bitter (about something)..... Or whatever but oh so incorrect.
Your opinion and entitled......but not correct.

btk

But wait... you can't just say the OP's opinion is incorrect without stating why.

You're both entitled to your opinion, but back it up with something.

[CFrance]

Technology and convenience is fine and dandy
We use direct deposit, etc
But as my old man used to say:
'always have a contact in the bank so they get to know you. One never lnows when one needs a small favor"
I have not needed the favor, yet, but one can never say never.
Too much automation i think, is not great in an industry, like banking, where accuracy and privacy are so crucial. Technology is not infalible, neither are humans, but humans have the human touch.
My sis is a vp in pnc in pa. And she does lament about what is trending in the banking industry right now; more tech and a lot less personal servce?.. Alas!

I agree with this. We have kids who live overseas, and for whom we do a lot of banking here in the US. And we ourselves have had to transfer monies overseas for various personal reasons. It requires a face-to-face time with a banking personnel to accomplish this. This is not something you can do online. They have had to make a few telephone calls to other departments to find out the proper ways to do some of the things we have needed to do. This is not an infrequent occurrence for us. Several times a year.

Today I went to Bank Of America on Parr drive (off 466) to deposit birthday $ into our younger son's account. He lives and works in Australia with his wife. I can't do this at an atm. I don't have a bank card for his account. I need to go into the bank. I could possibly do this at a drive-through, but communicating to them that I don't have a deposit slip, what his bank account number is, and providing my ID proof is... well, I much prefer to deal with all that in person.

Oh, and the teller... I can't believe how nice they are in there. It's not even our bank. Did you know her son plays the string bass and so does ours? And that his real passion was drums but they agreed he would only play them while she was at work? And how many times have we been to Australia, and BTW another patron was in earlier wiring funds to her daughter in OZ who was having a little too much fun...? And she hopes we have a great next trip over in November.

Sorry... got carried away. I loooooooooooove online banking, and that's all we do for ourselves. But this really reminded me how great face-to-face interaction can be.

Sorry your lobby is closing.

[twinklesweep]

It only made sense to close the Avineda branch. What I find amazing is some have more concern for the lack of convenience(you have to drive another half mile now) than about the people that just lost a job......

I find this lack of concern for others�in this instance for working people who've lost their jobs�more pervasive here in TV than I have in any other place I've lived. And I've heard this feeling expressed by others as well. And to think we criticize younger generations as living by a "me, me, me first!" attitude....

[deltaguy]

I find this lack of concern for others�in this instance for working people who've lost their jobs�more pervasive here in TV than I have in any other place I've lived. And I've heard this feeling expressed by others as well. And to think we criticize younger generations as living by a "me, me, me first!" attitude....

And how do we know that anyone lost their jobs???? Ever consider retirement or possible relocation to other branch locations?

[Bogie Shooter]

I find this lack of concern for others�in this instance for working people who've lost their jobs�more pervasive here in TV than I have in any other place I've lived. And I've heard this feeling expressed by others as well. And to think we criticize younger generations as living by a "me, me, me first!" attitude....

What does this mean "here in TV"? Village employees or employees of businesses around the villages or both? What lack of concern can you cite?

[Ragman]

I find this lack of concern for others�in this instance for working people who've lost their jobs�more pervasive here in TV than I have in any other place I've lived. And I've heard this feeling expressed by others as well. And to think we criticize younger generations as living by a "me, me, me first!" attitude....

The manager of the semi-closed branch will be the new manager at the Pinellas branch opening in late October. Probably the staff will have the option of going there or another branch when personnel are reshuffled.

Waiting for the facts before jumping to conclusions is a good idea.

[graciegirl]

I find this lack of concern for others—in this instance for working people who've lost their jobs—more pervasive here in TV than I have in any other place I've lived. And I've heard this feeling expressed by others as well. And to think we criticize younger generations as living by a "me, me, me first!" attitude....

Twinklesweep.

Business is run to stay in the black. That means that if a building is not being used, the upkeep, the heat and air, the insurance, the salaries paid for those who work in it, and their benefits, than WHAT FUND is going to pay for it? It takes a lot of balancing to keep business so that it will continue to make money, which is the goal and in so doing keep people employed.

When types of business become pass� such as railroads here in the U.S. than people lost their jobs. Even if the owners funded the bank staying open from their private funds, it would not be a sensible move, a very kind one granted, but it isn't the way business is run.

It is very sad when people lose their jobs. It than requires all the things that we Americans are good at. Strength, stamina, courage, ingenuity and perseverance to find another job. Most of us have faced losing jobs sometimes in our lives and I would guess most of us truly understand and sympathize.

Big business is run by people who sometimes are nice. Some of them are retired now and live here.

[twinklesweep]

And how do we know that anyone lost their jobs???? Ever consider retirement or possible relocation to other branch locations?

Maybe you're right. But is it possible that you're wrong, that a bank branch lobby closed and its employees (or some of its employees) are out of work?

What does this mean "here in TV"? Village employees or employees of businesses around the villages or both? What lack of concern can you cite?

I can cite the 56 preceding posts on this thread, that with the exception of the poster I quoted and myself, there is not a single one that addresses even the possibility of people being out of work as a result of the closure and the impact on their lives! If anything, the focus seems to be on the minor inconvenience of having to use a different branch—of the many branches in TV—of this bank.

[twinklesweep]

Twinklesweep.

Business is run to stay in the black. That means that if a building is not being used, the upkeep, the heat and air, the insurance, the salaries paid for those who work in it, and their benefits, than WHAT FUND is going to pay for it? It takes a lot of balancing to keep business so that it will continue to make money, which is the goal and in so doing keep people employed.

When types of business become pass� such as railroads here in the U.S. than people lost their jobs. Even if the owners funded the bank staying open from their private funds, it would not be a sensible move, a very kind one granted, but it isn't the way business is run.

It is very sad when people lose their jobs. It than requires all the things that we Americans are good at. Strength, stamina, courage, ingenuity and perseverance to find another job. Most of us have faced losing jobs sometimes in our lives and I would guess most of us truly understand and sympathize.

Big business is run by people who sometimes are nice. Some of them are retired now and live here.

I am a former business owner, so please trust me when I say that I understand the requirements of operating a business. I certainly understand the closure of the lobby of one bank branch in an area where there are countless other branches of the same bank to do one's banking in. But this is not what I'm talking about.

Prior to creating my own business (and I might add an extraordinarily successful one), I too experienced the loss of a job at a time when I had a young family to support. I appreciate your expression of sadness [my emphasis above] at the loss of their jobs, and yes, hopefully they'll find another quickly. But please re-read through this entire thread and see if you see any concern expressed for those displaced employees. I could not....

[twinklesweep]

The manager of the semi-closed branch will be the new manager at the Pinellas branch opening in late October. Probably the staff will have the option of going there or another branch when personnel are reshuffled.

Waiting for the facts before jumping to conclusions is a good idea.

What facts are you talking about? What conclusions did I jump to? All I cited was a lack of any concern expressed for these employees on the part of virtually all of the posters on this thread. If you say I am wrong, please cite the numbers of the posts that expressed any consideration for these displaced employees. Thank you.

[graciegirl]

I am a former business owner, so please trust me when I say that I understand the requirements of operating a business. I certainly understand the closure of the lobby of one bank branch in an area where there are countless other branches of the same bank to do one's banking in. But this is not what I'm talking about.

Prior to creating my own business (and I might add an extraordinarily successful one), I too experienced the loss of a job at a time when I had a young family to support. I appreciate your expression of sadness [my emphasis above] at the loss of their jobs, and yes, hopefully they'll find another quickly. But please re-read through this entire thread and see if you see any concern expressed for those displaced employees. I could not....

I don't know what to say.

[twinklesweep]

I don't know what to say.

There's nothing to say; it is what it is. And I'm sure you know the story about "killing the messenger." All I did was notice something and point it out....

[collie1228]

I'm biased, as I really like dealing with Citizens First Bank. Prior to my move to TV I was a loyal credit union member for about 25 years and never wanted to deal with a commercial bank again. Citizens changed my mind with its excellent customer service and convenience. That being said, I mostly use the branch office they are closing and I often wondered how they could justify keeping it open as there was seldom any waiting line, even on Friday afternoons. So I'll just have to use the branch office that's probably less than 1/2 mile away, one block off the town square. Not an inconvenience at all.

[skip0358]

still scratching my head over that one! biggest parking lot ever located to the left of the bldg and there will not be any growth that needs to be serviced since those neighborhoods are long build out! any time other that 'the season' does not usually present a parking or crowd problem. and why woud a post office want to be in the a bldg with a drive-up bank and vice-versa?

I know nothing definite, as I said it was just a thought. One can never tell what will happen in TV. As I said it was an earlier post about the PO moving. I believe there was also something about it in one of the papers also but can't remember which one. Bank & a PO one stop shopping.

[njbchbum]

I know nothing definite, as I said it was just a thought. One can never tell what will happen in TV. As I said it was an earlier post about the PO moving. I believe there was also something about it in one of the papers also but can't remember which one. Bank & a PO one stop shopping.

double dipping potential for criminal activity, too! ;)

[KathieI]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a "drive through" post office??? Wow,,, I'm gonna propose that (to someone??)