Williamstown Bank is building a new office next to Aldi at the entrance to Kohl’s in South Parkersburg where a groundbreaking was held on Oct. 3. The banking facility will open in summer 2023. From left: Teresa Cunningham, vice president mortgage lending; Joseph Flinn, senior vice president lending; Jason Lee, vice president collections; Melissa Douglas, vice president and Parkersburg office manager; Michael Fleak, vice president business development; R. Todd Cunningham, vice president commercial lending; Kelly Allen, senior vice president risk management; Sharon K. Anderson, president and CEO; Alan Criss, chairman of the board; Robert Criss, vice chairman; Walter “Pete” Butcher, director; and John Hays, director. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Williamstown Bank is opening an office in South Parkersburg next year.

A groundbreaking for the new facility was held on Oct. 3 at the site adjacent to Aldi at the corner on the entrance to Kohl’s. The new office will open in the summer of 2023.

“As a locally owned and operated community bank, we are excited for the opportunity to better serve both new and existing customers in the southern part of Wood County and surrounding areas. With our focus on personalized and relationship-based banking, while providing the convenience and technology customers expect, we believe we can provide a unique customer experience,” said Sharon K. Anderson, president and CEO of Williamstown Bank.

Williamstown Bank operates at three locations in Williamstown, East Seventh Street in Parkersburg and in Lubeck with assets of about $205 million. The new full-service location will feature a non-traditional floor plan with space designed for use by the public and will be staffed by universal bankers to provide services such as new accounts, deposits, loans, digital banking assistance and the use of interactive teller machines to provide expanded business hours for customers.

The new office also will be home to the second location of the Giving Cup, a donation-based coffee shop where customers donate to one of the Giving Cup beneficiaries and as thanks receive a beverage of their choice.

The original Giving Cup opened in the Lubeck Office in 2020. Despite the lobby being closed for close to 10 months during the COVID pandemic, to date more than $20,000 in donations has been given to local non-profit organizations with all donations being returned to the community.

“We understand the need to stay relevant and differentiate ourselves as a local community bank in an ever changing banking environment,” Alan Criss, Williamstown Bank chairman of the board, said. “As competition increases from fintech providers that challenge the traditional banking model especially of smaller institutions, we believe our approach is one that will be adaptable and position us for long term viability so we can continue to serve our customers well into the future.”

Williamstown Bank was founded in 1919.