Banking on Hewlett

There are eight banks along Broadway and West Broadway in Hewlett, and a ninth is expected to open this summer. And since banks are where the money is, the Hewlett-Woodmere Business Association is soliciting the financial institutions to support community events and organizations.

The banks include Bank of America, Bridgehampton National Bank, Capital One, Chase, Citibank, First National Bank of Long Island, HSCB and Wells Fargo. A TD Bank is under construction on the former site of a Burger King between Broadway and West Broadway, across from the Veterans Memorial Plaza triangle.

“I met with Lydia Ross from Bridgehampton National Bank, which was the old Chase on Broadway, and she’s been terrific,” said David Friedman, president of the HWBA. “They’re a Long Island-based bank, and they’re our 2016 flag sponsors for Memorial Day.”

Ross said that BNB has also donated $1,000 to the Hewlett-Lawrence Soccer Club. “It’s important to support and give back to the community so the residents and business owners can thrive,” she said.

Friedman said that he also met with Audrey Rieman, the manager of the new First National Bank, which was set to celebrate its grand opening with a cocktail reception and ribbon-cutting on May 12.

“Audrey introduced me to the marketing director, and we’ll talk about them sponsoring a soccer team in the Hewlett-Lawrence Soccer Club as well as the other opportunities to support the Memorial Day Parade,” Friedman said. “The bank is looking to join the Hewlett-Woodmere community and participate in any way they can.”

First National Bank opened on Feb. 7. Rieman, who has 32 years of banking experience, has lived with her husband, Barry, and their son, Ross, 25, and daughter, Margo, 21, about five blocks from where she now works, since 1998.

“I’m very honored and privileged to bring a personalized banking experience,” said Rieman, whose family is familiar with giving back to the community. Ross is a volunteer emergency medical technician in the Woodmere Fire Department.
Officials at First National said they are looking for ways to get involved in the community. Two of the larger events that the HWBA and other civic groups support are the Memorial Day Parade and the Arts Below Sunrise festival in the fall.

With so many banks already operating nearby, why is TD Bank opening a Hewlett branch? “We chose this particular location because it provides us with high visibility and easy access for our customers,” said Lisa Sawicki, the bank’s vice president of corporate communications. “It’s a great location, and we look forward to continuing to contribute to the area.”

TD Bank officials can expect a call from the HWBA, Friedman said, because the bank’s proximity to the Veterans Memorial Plaza would help extend local celebrations if the bank allowed the use of its parking lot and if the street between the bank and triangle were blocked off.

Kevin Friedlander, corporate communications manager for Wells Fargo, said that the bank is involved in every community it serves. With 15 branches on Long Island and 80 throughout New York state, employees volunteered 1.9 million hours in their communities last year, and Wells Fargo donated $9.1 million to nonprofit organizations, Friedlander said. “We supplement small businesses, arts and culture, community development and education initiatives,” he said. “We are very involved, and look to have a presence everywhere we are.” The Hewlett branch is the former site of a Wachovia bank.

The Town of Hempstead has planning jurisdiction over the hamlet of Hewlett and reviews all applications for businesses. Town spokesman Michael Deery said the economics of the area appear to support the current proliferation of bank branches.

What do you think about all the banks in Hewlett? Send your letter to the editor to jbessen@liherald.com.