A renovated historic building steeped in banking tradition marked its official opening in Palmerton.

The Neffs National Bank — Palmerton Branch held a ribbon cutting at the facility at 372 Delaware Ave. on Wednesday.

Those who attended were able to view the renovations, enjoy light appetizers, and meet with local officials, trusted vendors and valued customers and staff.

April is Community Banking Month, and so The Neffs National Bank recognized all that local community banks do for their communities and had promotions/giveaways, coloring contest, shred event, etc.

Kevin Schmidt, president and CEO, The Neffs National Bank, said the event marked the culmination of a year of improvements to the building.

“It’s a great opportunity for people in the Palmerton area, it’s a great opportunity for the residents, businesses,” Schmidt said. “We tried to keep the integrity of the building, and maintain a lot of the amenities that are here.”

Schmidt touted The Neffs National Bank motto of Strength, Trust, and Community.

“We want you to feel comfortable,” he said. “We want to get to know you, and we want you to get to know us.”

Schmidt said Palmerton is a growing area.

Borough Mayor Bo Rodrigues noted that Palmerton is thriving.

Rodrigues praised the bank for keeping the building’s tradition, and for keeping the community, first.

Kevin Shivers, president and CEO, Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers, spoke to its “grandeur, beauty and nostalgia.”

Lynn Shupp, president of the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce, said it’s nice to see familiar faces, as that’s what makes small towns, adding there’s a soul to small towns that no city will ever have.

“I’m so glad you kept some of the beauty, and chose to keep this as a bank,” Shupp said. “Hopefully you’ll be around for many, many years.”

The Neffs National Bank began operations in February at the new Palmerton branch location in the historic building that once housed the Citizens Bank and Trust Company.

Chartered in 1928, the Citizens Bank moved into the current building in 1930, and operated there until 1999.

Over the next 23 years, the building housed other banks before becoming vacant.

Schmidt noted that the Palmerton branch office underwent various renovations and upgrades to restore the building to its past state.

He said the building has all new windows, new floor tiling and carpets, chandelier, additional offices, restrooms and a kitchenette.

Schmidt said other features include a new roof, HVAC system, electric, new parking lot, new ATMS and new drive-through equipment.

He said the building has all new data, as well as new TVs to promote the bank, and added they also restored the bank vault.

The Palmerton office is the third branch/office, joining locations in Neffs and Walnutport.

Since 1923, The Neffs National Bank, a subsidiary of Neffs Bancorp Inc., remains committed to serving the financial needs of their clients and local communities with high quality customer focus. With their roots firmly planted in the local community, The Neffs National Bank is proud to be growing and expanding their footprint to better serve their current and future customers, and providing community service including food drives, school supply drives, Toys for Tots, EITC Tax Credit giving, a generous donation policy and more.