Norwood residents suffered an unexpected shock when a popular Chase Bank branch quietly shut it’s doors on Oct. 22. The branch at 311 E. 204th St. would have celebrated it’s fourteenth year of business in the neighborhood next month.
Many residents were furious that no notices were ever posted on the walls or windows of the bank. One longtime customer claimed they did tell customers that they were closing at the end of October. The Norwood News reported on the bank’s impending closure over the summer.
Another customer recalled the “verbal warning,” recalling but admitted to never receiving a date. The longtime resident said of the closing, “It’s unfortunate, because it was so convenient.”
Photo by David Greene
The customer added, “Going to the other bank could take me out of my way, but it depends on which way I’m coming from.” She walked away with the thought of walking up Bainbridge Avenue in the sleet and snow.
Residents east of East 204th Street must now walk the long block-and-a-half up a steep incline to the second Chase Bank at 3169 Bainbridge Ave., where the main teller and customer service section of the bank were closed on Oct. 25 as nearly a dozen workers were observed ripping out walls and tearing out light fixtures. The bank’s outside ATM machines were open to the public and after a quick remodeling of the bank, it was re-opened early the following week. Chase has a third location at 3408 Jerome Ave.
After repeated attempts, the bank declined to discuss the decision for the closure, or if any layoffs were involved.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.
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The other branch is a block and a half away. Come on…that’s no big deal. There are a lot of other things to complain about in this community. It’s not like it was their only branch in the area. I’m more concerned as to what, if anything, will ever move into the old CVS space on Perry and Gun Hill…..
Shocked? No way. I saw the sign for a long time on the front door saying it would close October 20th. I remember well because that was my birthday. It’s a steep climb to the one next to Sal’s and I can’t say I’ll go there now.
Shocked? No way. I saw the sign for a long time on the front door saying it would close October 20th. I remember well because that was my birthday. It’s a steep climb to the one next to Sal’s and I can’t say I’ll go there now.
Hey Joe, just thinking a lot of disabled residents & seniors in the area… Up a hill in the sleet & snow doesn’t sound like much fun, but I take your point. They must have taken the down, because I never saw it. And they lost Marlene as a customer, so I’m not far off! Thanks to you both for you for the input.