Locally-owned and operated neighborhood banks are becoming a thing of the past. Dialing an 800 number to speak to a bank representative located who knows where can be extremely frustrating… and good luck getting the same person twice.
There’s a much more personal approach to banking at the neighborhood's Pulaski Bank, #10 Maryland Plaza. Anthony Baima, above, graduated from SIUE on a Friday 7 years ago and by the following Monday had started work as a teller at a Pulaski Bank. He moved up the banking “ladder” and was transferred to the CWE location where at age 30 (or just about) he is now Branch Manager, Assistant Vice President. Banking happens to run in Anthony's family; his mother is also an employee of Pulaski Bank, though at a different location.
Anthony is active in the CWE community, which he describes as his home away from home (he lives in Illinois). He serves on the Central West End Association board, and ensures that Pulaski Bank helps to sponsors every event that takes place in the neighborhood. You’ll see Pulaski listed on posters for the upcoming Halloween festivities (October 25), the Holiday Window Walk (in late November), and the Sinquefield Cup Golf Tournament, which took place earlier this month.
Pulaski Bank was founded in 1922 as a Building and Loan Association to assist people of Polish descent with saving money and ultimately to purchase homes. In 1923, under the direction of Stanley Wardenski, a number of meetings were conducted in all Polish parishes in the city to inform people of the benefits of becoming members of the association. In 1927 a committee negotiated the purchase of a building at 1505 Cass Avenue to house the business activities of Pulaski Bank. The bank, which has grown to 13 locations throughout the St. Louis area, is still considered, according to Anthony, as a bank that will do business with the “underbanked.”
Anthony describes the CWE branch as a “model” of what a community bank should be. 100% of the customers at the Maryland Plaza location are CWE business owners and/or residents. Returning to my opening thoughts, there’s a real value in knowing a banker who will go the extra mile for you. Recently for instance, we needed copies of bank statements, and it was so convenient to call Anthony and pick them up a few minutes later.
Stop by to say hello and see what Pulaski Bank has to offer. The bank is offering end-of-month specials on CD's with extremely competitive rates. Or drop in any morning when the doors open at 9 for a freshly-baked cookie. There are doggie-treats available too, which I understand can be a problem if you take the same route with your dog each morning.
Email Anthony at [email protected] or call him directly, (314) 317-4851, for more information on what's available at Pulaski Bank, #10 Maryland Plaza, (314) 367-8333.