While big banks have been closing brick-and-mortar locations, small community banks are filling the gap.

“People might be concerned about bank closures in the news,” said Marty McGuire, director of marketing at Mauch Chunk Trust Co. “Community banks are a viable option. We’re here and we compete at a very high level. Anyone who feels like they’ve been left, try switching to a community bank. They’ll be glad to see what they can get.”

MCT has seven banking offices with two in Tamaqua, one in Nesquehoning, one in Lehighton, one in Albrightsville, and two in Jim Thorpe with one of those being the main office. MCT also has a trust and wealth management office, McGuire said.

“We might not be a national name, but we can serve a variety of needs,” he said.

After the pandemic, several big banks started closing branch locations. The lack of customers in the lobby coupled with staff shortages have led many large banks to close or consolidate branch locations.

Keith Schmidt, the president and corporate executive officer of Neffs National Bank, said his bank was able to help commercial customers during the pandemic when the big banks couldn’t. Neffs National helped them get loans, because they know the people in the community.

“We pride ourselves on serving the community,” Schmidt said. “You’re not just a number. You’re the person you see at church, at the grocery store, or at the clothing drive.”

Schmidt said large banks are tied to a strict bottom line where profitability is the most important factor.

“For them, they are just looking at a map, not the individual customers,” he said. “You call in here, you actually get a person. Customers want to be able to talk to someone.”

Talking to someone is what businesses really needed during the pandemic when computer systems at large banks became jammed with too many applications for the Paycheck Protection Program.

Gino DeGiosio, vice president of commercial lending at Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, said JTNB and other small banks were able to help them, because businesses could actually reach a person when they called the bank.

“Many people in the queue came to us, and we got it done,” DeGiosio said.

Craig Zurn, the president of JTNB, said many of those businesses have stayed, too. He said they discovered that just because a community bank isn’t as large as a national bank “doesn’t mean they are lacking in services. We meet all the needs of the next generation.”

The pandemic also brought an increase in online banking, and all three of these community banks are investing in technology.

“The pandemic hastened the use of technology,” Zurn said.

JTNB mixes a little of the old with the new.

If a business is having problems doing online banking or needs assistance setting up an online service, JTNB will send someone out to help them.

James Lordi, the information technology manager at JTNB, said, “If you have a problem with technology, you’ll get a person not a series of prompts.”

JTNB’s online and mobile banking options include features such as the mobile app, mobile cash share, person-to-person transfers, online bill pay, bank card protection, and electronic bill alerts.

For businesses, JTNB offers QuickBooks assistance to help businesses with their accounting, and an online feature called remote deposit.

“Businesses don’t have to leave their office to make a deposit,” said DeGiosio of JTNB.

Similarly, Neffs National and Mauch Chunk Trust are keeping up with technology with their own mobile apps and online banking features.

“We offer all the services that the big banks do,” said Kevin Schmidt. “We know we have to remain competitive with them.”

McGuire, at MCT, said his bank has made some large investments into its online banking services.

“The expectations are as high as ever,” he said. “We pay close attention to what the customers want and the convenience it brings.”

One of those conveniences is to make contactless payment easier. Their debit card will work with a variety of platforms including Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo and others.

“They can use their money when and where they need to,” he said.

MCT celebrated 120 years in business in 2022. Neffs National plans to celebrate 100 years in 2023, and has two locations in Neffs and Walnutport.

JTNB has been in business for 167 years, starting off as Mauch Chunk Bank in 1855. It has three offices in Jim Thorpe, and offices in Lehighton, Nesquehoning and Lansford.

Other choices include New Tripoli Bank, founded in 1907, with three branches; First Northern Bank and Trust founded in 1907 in Palmerton, with 10 branches throughout the area, and ESSA Bank & Trust, established in 1916, with 21 community offices throughout Pennsylvania.