NOVEMBER 16, 2001

People's Bank Opens
Southington Branch

SOUTHINGTON, CONN.
People’s Bank has doubled its presence here by opening its newest branch at 812 Queen St. To mark the grand opening, a ribbon-cutting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 8:15 a.m. Bank personnel and local and state officials will be on hand.

The new branch is part of People’s 30-branch expansion plan, announced in 1999, which will increase the bank’s presence throughout the state, particularly in New Haven and Hartford counties. The Southington branch, which complements an office at the Southington Stop & Shop opened in 1996, is the 147th in the People’s network.

“We’re committed to Connecticut and to Southington,” said Daniel R. Dennis, senior vice president, manager, Eastern Market at People’s Bank. “Our Stop & Shop office has been very successful, and now we’re providing our customers with an extra convenience – a second branch that increases the business and consumer banking possibilities available to them at People’s in Southington.”

People’s new Southington branch offers a full array of financial services, including investments through People’s Securities, Inc., People’s brokerage subsidiary.

The new branch’s lobby is open Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The branch’s drive-up window is open Monday through Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m..

Southington customers can also visit the Stop & Shop branch seven days a week. That branch is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The public is invited to visit Branch Manager David Cavanaugh and learn about People’s grand-opening specials, including an offer of free checking for one year and a special grand-opening CD offer. Additionally, at the grand opening, Cavanaugh and People’s will announce a corporate donation that will benefit the Southington community.

People’s is a diversified financial services company providing commercial, consumer, insurance and investment services. Founded in 1842, it is the largest independent bank in Connecticut, with managed assets of more than $13 billion, 147 branches and more than 220 ATMs. People’s is a leader in commercial banking, residential lending, Savings Bank Life Insurance sales and supermarket banking and is the nation’s 15th largest issuer of MasterCard and Visa credit cards. People’s subsidiaries offer brokerage services, asset management, equipment financing and leasing and insurance services.