Adirondack Trust Co. Opens New Branch Close To Northway Exit 11 In Ballston Lake

Officials conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of Adirondack Trust Co.’s 12th branch office, featuring amenities like a café seating up to 20 people

The Adirondack Trust Co. officially opened a new branch in Ballston Lake, its 12th full-service branch, this one at 322 Ruhle Road, one-quarter mile west of Northway Exit 11.

The new branch is approximately 2,400 square feet and offers traditional banking services such as four drive-up lanes (including a drive-up ATM), teller and customer services areas, company officials said.

The Exit 11 branch also features a new drive-up ATM that allows customers to deposit checks or cash without using a deposit ticket or an envelope. Customers have the option to receive a receipt with a printed image of the checks deposited.

The office provides the full array of financial services, including retail and commercial banking as well as trust and investment services. The bank also provides personal and business insurance through its affiliate, Adirondack Trust Insurance.

Company officials said the new branch is the first to be designed with an environmentally friendly theme in mind. The design also incorporated over 50 comments from a survey the bank had taken in this market area asking members of the local communities for suggestions concerning the branch’s design.

Items incorporated include a customer lounge area, a self-service coffee bar, a coin counter, free Wi-Fi, high definition televisions and café seating for up to 20 people, the company said. The branch incorporates a passive solar design, solar panels on the roof, large, south facing windows, concrete flooring to absorb and radiate heat, high-efficiency LED lights and bike racks to encourage low impact travel. The exterior landscape design incorporates a mix of native plants and a retaining pond along with natural stonework.

“We are very excited to open this new branch and firmly believe that the green and tech-savvy design elements requested by members of the local communities create a unique and attractive look that is very efficient,” said Charles V. Wait, president and CEO of the company. “The rapidly changing market dynamics of this area created by the expansion of GlobalFoundries and others provide us with a significant opportunity to extend our presence to the southern part of Saratoga County. This expansion further demonstrates the bank’s long-term commitment to, and confidence in, this area while strengthening our branch network.”

The new Exit 11 Branch is managed by Sally Harrison, who has extensive banking experience. She is supported by two staff members. The bank’s grand opening celebration ran Feb. 14 through March 2. The bank gave away a $1,000 gift certificate to Green Conscience Home, an Apple iPad mini and $250 in cash with its “fresh greens” $1 bill promotion.

Founded in 1901 in Saratoga Springs, The Adirondack Trust Co. is an independent, employee and locally owned and operated, community bank offering a wide variety of business and personal services. The bank has over $1 billion in assets and 12 branches. It is rated by Bauer Financial as a 5-Star bank for the period ending September 30, 2012. The bank’s website is www.adirondacktrust.com.