News

05.18.2011 - Community Organizations Receive $10,000 at Hammond Ribbon Cutting

Centier donated a total of $10,000 to eight local Hammond agencies. Pictured (L to R) are: Sylvia Planer (Hammond Hispanic Community Committee), Ronald Mullins and Lolita Weems (Hammond Human Relations Commission), Art Russell and Mike Schrage (Centier Bank), Jennifer Dildine (Hammond Housing Authority), Mark McLaughlin (Hammond Development Corporation), Kelly Kearney (United Neighborhoods, Inc.), Greg Boyan (Hammond INnovations Center), and Ardell Young (Neighborhoods, Inc.).

Centier is celebrating the grand opening of its new, full-service banking center in Hammond, located at 5433 Hohman Avenue (southeast corner of Hohman Avenue and Douglas Street). The opening of this new branch marks the anticipated return of Centier to the Hammond community.

To commemorate the grand opening of the 45^th Centier location, Bank President and CEO, Mike Schrage, made a community donation totaling $10,000 to eight prominent community outreach organizations: Hammond Human Relations Commission, Northwest Indiana Reinvestment Alliance, Hammond Housing Authority, United Neighborhoods, Inc., Hammond Development Corporation, Hammond INnovations Center, Neighborhoods, Inc., and Hammond Hispanic Community Committee. The donation was presented during the bank’s ribbon cutting.

“We may appear to be the new kid on the block, but we’ve been working in Hammond for years,” stated Art Russell, Director of Community Lending. “We’ve been meeting and working with many Hammond agencies to develop and promote programs for the residents and businesses of Hammond. I’ve seen first-hand how hard these agencies work to provide fair, responsible, positive changes for the City of Hammond and its residents and we’re glad to be a part of that effort.”

Centier opened its first Hammond office in 2003, inside of Sterk’s on Columbia Avenue. After relocating the branch into a leased space in the outlot of the grocery store in 2007, the branch closed in 2009, when its lease expired. Since then, many customers have patiently waited for the bank to find a permanent location. After an intensive search, Centier decided upon an empty lot across the street from St. Margaret’s Hospital and the Federal Courthouse.

Centier broke ground for the 1,923 square foot branch last October. The new branch hosts offices for Branch Manager, Dana O’Neal-Best, and Centier Director of Community Lending, Art Russell. The full-service branch will serve a complete range of financial products and services, including personal banking, mortgages, commercial lending, investments and wealth management. Centier partnered with Larson-Danielson Construction and Germetta & Kinel Architects on the construction project.

“We put a lot of time and effort into choosing the best location for our new branch,” stated Russell. “The Hammond Downtown business corridor has been the hub of many community banks throughout the years, and as a community bank, we feel that we belong here. “

Centier Bank has been a familiar institution in Northwest Indiana for more than 116 years. Originally named the Bank of Whiting, Centier Bank has been owned and operated by the Schrage family since 1895. Managed by four generations of visionary business bankers, the Schrage family has established a company that has become a rarity in today’s market: Independently owned and operated. During a time of buy-outs and mergers among other financial institutions, Centier has remained true to its promise that it is “Not For Sale”. It is this “Not For Sale” promise that allows associates and clients to take comfort in a corporate culture that affirms the traditions of yesterday and the legacy of tomorrow.

In 2011, Centier was named among the Best Places to Work in Indiana for the fifth year in a row. The Bank was also named “Best Bank for Business” for the past nine years by the Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly publication.

The new Hammond branch hours are: Lobby: (M-F) 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and (Sat) 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Drive-Up: (M-F) 8:00a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and (Sat) 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

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