June 11, 2004

People's Bank Brings Seven-Day Full-Service Banking To East Lyme

Will Open New Branch in Super Stop & Shop June 17

BRIDGEPORT, CONN. - People's Bank will open its first branch in East Lyme on June 17 in the new Super Stop & Shop located at the intersection of Flanders Road and Industrial Park Road.

The branch, one of 65 supermarket branches People's operates, brings seven-day banking to East Lyme area residents, as the branch is open seven days a week. The full-service branch will have three customer service stations, a night deposit box and an office in which customers may apply for a mortgage, invest funds or open a checking or savings account.

"We're pleased to offer a new service -- seven-day banking -- to those who live or shop in East Lyme," said Mary Jo Wlodecki, People's first vice president and growth manager for the Greater Norwich/New London market. "People's is the only bank in the area to offer convenient supermarket banking in this region. True convenience is having a branch near you that offers full-service banking -- from education or retirement planning to investments -- wherever and whenever you need to do your banking. Since all of us need to shop for groceries, we couldn't think of a better venue in which to open a branch that will be available to customers seven days a week."

The office will be staffed by seven financial services professionals: a financial services manager;an assistant service manager;three full-time financial services associates;and one part-time customer services associates.

Gregory Botello will serve as financial services manager for the new branch. Botello has more than eight years of banking experience with People's, with most of that time spent in the Greater Norwich/New London market. Botello worked for three years in People's Stop & Shop office in Groton, and two years in People's Stop & Shop office in Norwich. A graduate of Sacred Heart University, Botello resides in Canterbury and is active in many civic organizations, including The American Cancer Society, the United Way, Junior Achievement and the Chamber of Commerce. Botello holds Series 6 and 63 investment licenses.

Helen D'Alessio will serve as assistant service manager. D'Alessio also has eight years of banking experience, having worked for NCNB (North Carolina National Bank) in Charlotte and New Haven Savings Bank in New Haven. A graduate of Queens College and a resident of East Lyme, D'Alessio is active in many civic affairs including serving as assistant coach for the East Lyme Girls Jr. Lacrosse Team, and as a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

The new East Lyme office will be open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To celebrate People's opening in East Lyme, the bank will have a sweepstakes for prizes through July 31. Prizes will include $500 in free groceries, a $100 gift card for groceries, 10 $25 gift cards for groceries and 200 other prizes.

People's (peoples.com) is a diversified financial services company providing commercial, consumer, insurance and investment services. Founded in 1842, it is the largest state-chartered bank in Connecticut with assets of $11 billion, 155 branches and more than 240 ATMs. People's is a leader in consumer and commercial banking, residential lending, insurance sales, and supermarket banking. People's subsidiaries offer brokerage services, asset management, equipment financing and leasing, and insurance services.