Recognized once again as one of America’s Best Regional Banks, Community Bank is delivering sophisticated finance methods to local clients, retaining a personal touch with a bedrock commitment to the communities it serves.
For the second year in the row, Community Bank has been named one of America’s Best Regional Banks by Newsweek magazine. It’s a fitting recognition. Community Bank is giving local clients sophisticated, state-of-the-art banking methods, while maintaining the personal touch embedded in the Bank’s culture for over a century.
Four years into an ambitious 10-year strategic growth plan, Community Bank, based in Washington, Pa. continues to serve its traditional markets while expanding into the greater Pittsburgh area and beyond. Across its full range of services for consumers and businesses alike, Community Bank is deepening its strengths in Commercial Banking, Treasury Management, Fraud Detection, and Specialty Finance.
Leading the charge is John Montgomery, President & CEO of Community Bank. He describes the Bank’s strategy as “delivering sophisticated solutions combined with financial insights, with a focus on the client experience.”
Community Bank continues to recruit top talent from financial institutions around the region and nation.
“We’re getting the best of the best,” Montgomery says. Talent is drawn to “a bank that is growing and committed to delivering outstanding client experiences” and driven by “a mission to be part of the communities we serve.” Simply put, he says, “We live where you live. We’re with you at the local games, celebrating at local events and working every day to make our communities stronger.”
Jim Mele, a seasoned Treasury Management executive, joined Community Bank last year as Director of Specialty Deposits, Payments, and Treasury Services. A 30-year veteran of Pittsburgh-area regional banks, he brings a wealth of experience in financial technology and strategic management. Jim’s experience translates into giving local companies the most efficient and secure procedures for managing cash flow and making financial decisions.
In the field of fraud detection and protection, Community Bank is keeping ahead of the game. Its comprehensive suite of services gives businesses and consumers the tools to protect assets. “It’s not just cybercriminals out there. ‘Check-washing’ is back,” says Mele, describing the crime of stealing checks in the mail, altering them, and making a fraudulent deposit.
Community Bank’s “Check and ACH Positive Pay” service stops thieves in their tracks by verifying the legitimacy of checks and ACH items presented for payment. It’s just one element in the full range of Fraud Prevention Services.
The Bank’s Specialty Finance services are becoming ever-more sophisticated under the leadership of John Bartolini, who became President of Specialty Finance in January. Bartolini joined Community Bank in 2022, bringing a wealth of experience from larger banks in the region.
“Community Bank is a people-centric organization built around the needs of our clients and prospects,” says Bartolini. “As the needs of our clients become more sophisticated and complex, it is imperative that our solutions evolve to meet and anticipate those demands. At Community Bank, we are committed to innovation and tailored services that empower our clients to achieve their financial goals.”
The team that Bartolini leads is focused on “helping companies grow, acquire new assets, or restructure,” says Montgomery. “Our Bankers have the finance skills found in large national banks and deliver them to our clients directly.”
Traditional commercial banking is a core competency for Community Bank, equipping companies with the working capital to grow and invest in the region. “Our highly educated bankers are able to provide financial insights to our clients that exceed their expectations,” says Nick Walsh, Regional President for Community Bank.
Along with all this human know-how, Community Bank has been investing heavily in the technology that keeps its banking systems on the cutting edge. “Our core systems — the massive machines that move money — have recently been upgraded and new improvements are constantly being added,” says Montgomery. “We process transactions in an instant and can detect attempts at fraud in real-time.”
But central to every aspect of Community Bank is the human touch. Our team members are “empowered to make decisions and provide an excellent client experience on the spot” says Montgomery. It all stems from Community Bank’s commitment to be “people-centric and tech-forward.”
Community Bank: 888-223-8099, bank@cb.bank. Member FDIC.