Donation Check Returned to Northwest Savings Bank

Closest Brick and Mortar Bank to Austin, Costello and Wharton

Using Yahoo Maps, I have determined that the closest brick and mortar bank to Austin, Costello and Wharton is the First National Bank of  Port Allegany - Coudersport Branch.

The address of the First National Bank of Port Allegany - Coudersport Branch is:

118 East Second Street
Coudersport, PA 16915

Telephone Number: 814-274-9488

Yahoo Maps indicates the following distances and drive times:

From Austin: 14.84 miles with approximately 18 minute drive time.

From Costello: 18 miles with approximately 23 minute drive time.

From Wharton: 25.16 miles with approximately 35 minute drive time.

Directions:

Proceed on Route 872 North to the T-intersection of Route 872/Route 6.

Turn Left on Route 6 which also becomes East Second Street, Coudersport.

Go 1.7 miles.

The First National Bank of Port Allegany is on the left.

Borough Council Accepts Northwest Savings Bank Agreement

This evening the Austin Borough Council accepted the proposed Agreement presented by Northwest Savings Bank, including the restricted use clause.

The vote was 4 to 3.

Voting in favor of accepting the clause were:

1. Bucky Blainer
2. Victoria Setzer
3. Bill Solomon
4. Jesse Valenti

Voting against the clause were:

1. Nathan Burgett
2. Bernard Fowler
3. Fred Fowler

The Agreement appears below:

I wonder how future generations will look upon those four individuals who voted to accept this Agreement.

Dateline: May 21, 1969. Austin Sells Lot on Turner Street to FNB Coudersport for $1.00

Back in the mid to late 1960's, The members of the Austin Jaycees worked very hard in negotiating with the management at the First National Bank of Coudersport and collecting signatures from Austinites to petition them to open a branch in Austin, Pennsylvania.

It worked.

On May 21, 1969, the Community of Austin sold a lot on Turner Street to the First National Bank of Coudersport for $1.00. Refer to the deed below.

At least one member of the Austin governing body, through his actions and statements, has apparently given up on Austin obtaining another financial institution to locate here.

Will the majority of those Austin Borough Council Members attending tonight's meeting also give up so easily?

I hope to see a large crowd there tonight voicing their opinions on this issue. If not, it will tell me that you just don't care!

The picture below appears in the Austin Area School District 1975 Yearbook:

What's Happened at Northwest Savings Bank

Well, tonight's the night when the Austin Borough Council meets to accept or reject the Agreement presented to our Community prohibiting us from forever using their former branch office on Turner Street as a financial institution.

I have read and re-read a Press Release dated May 5, 2014, WARREN, Pa.,/PRNewswire/ listing the awards Northwest Savings Bank earned in 2014, as I still cannot believe this is the same banking institution who should know that our not having a financial institution in town will severely  hinder our recovery from a disastrous 2014.

In 2014, J.D. Power ranked them the "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in the Mid-Atlantic Region.  This was their fourth award in five years from J.D. Power.

Also, in 2014, they were named to the "Bank Honor Roll" by Keefe, Bruyette and Woods. which is a list of thirty-one top performing banks in the country for the previous ten years.

Forbes included Northwest Savings Bank in their 2014 list of "The Top 50 Most Trustworthy Financial Companies in American."

NWSB President and CEO William J. Wagner was quoted in the article as making the following statement, "We are pleased with the significant recognition Northwest has received in 2014 as it demonstrates our company's commitment to building loyalty, trust and value among our employees, customers, communities and shareholders".

I can understand Northwest Savings Bank wanting to increase shareholder value.  That's the name of the game.  What I can't understand is their wanting their cake and eating it too at our expense.  We are a community of about 600 people striving to survive.  We have individuals buying and creating businesses in our community. They obviously believe that their is money to be made here. Our school, the smallest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a public school in a private school setting.  The Austin Area School District is at the forefront of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). They consistently meet the Annual Yearly Progress standards and are frequently cited for various educational awards.  This past week's Endeavor contained two articles on the Austin Area School District.  One article was titled "Smart Lab coming to Austin" and the other "Recognized as 'distinguished school' at Title 1 Conference."  It is also noteworthy that they already have a 3-D printer inhouse.

Furthermore, I have heard the word "gift" used a couple of times describing Northwest Savings Bank giving the building on Turner Street to our Community.  They have valued this piece of property at $46,033.68 and will write this off as Goodwill or in some other manner. So, with this write-off and the use restriction, they are really putting it to the Community of Austin.

Who out there believes that this is a fair deal for the Community of Austin?

Main Street Austin, Pennsylvania Today

Today is Sunday, February 1, 2015.

These pictures were taken around noon today.

The pictures were taken and posted for all the Facebook Friends who have friended me in the last three (3) months who are either former Austin Area School District Students, friends of former Austin Area School District Students, or, individuals who have an interest in Austin, Pennsylvania, The Town Too Tough To Die.

The pictures will be posted proceeding west on Route 607 from the T-intersection of  Roue 607/Route 872, right-hand side of Main Street

Big Mike's. Formerly the Dairy Dine.

Walt Goodwin Jr's Garage.  Formerly Ritsicks Garage

The Masonic Building. Right side is Another Time Around Resale Store.  On  left is the post office.

View of Turner Street from Main Street

The Gazebo and E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society Museum

The Fire Hall housing the Austin Fire Department and the Austin Ambulance Association

The old Bank Building which survived both the 1911 and 1942 floods.


I am back at the T-intersection of Route 607/872 and will post pictures on the left side of Main Street.

Paul Perry Enterprises. Formerly Gaelotti's Fine Italian Restaurant

Building owned by Bub Crosby.  Formerly owned by Danny Gaelotti.  Mr. Crosby bought the building this past summer.  He and his daughter, Rhonda, have spent many hours fixing up the inside and making it a very attractive addition to Main Street.  They currently are storing vehicles during the winter months in the back of the building. Unfortunately, the windows are coated with a thin layer of ice and we can't see inside.

Harry Long's Cafe

Harry Long's Laundromat

NOTE:  Both of these businesses are for sale as Mr. Long has health issues.

Cooney's Hardware

Famous restaurant and tavern: The Cock-eyed Cricket

Historically Significant Borough Council Meeting Tuesday Night

The Austin Borough Council will meet Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Fire Hall on Main Street.

Most certainly, the Agreement presented to the Borough containing a clause restricting the use of the former Northwest Saving Bank building at 21 Turner Street will be discussed.

The Agreement contains the following restriction:

FURTHER,  however, it is agreed that neither the said party of the second part nor the heirs, successors or assigns of the party of the second part shall or will erect, or cause or suffer to be erected, or use or cause or suffer to be used on any portion of said premises for any bank, savings and loan, credit union, or any consumer discount company purposes.

Accepting the terms of the Agreement presented to the Borough of Austin will obviously slow our Community's recovery from a disastrous 2014.

I encourage everyone, young and old, to attend this meeting.  Costello and Wharton, if you had banked with the Northwest Savings Bank Branch on Turner Street in Austin, you are welcome also.