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For Immediate Release
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Contact: Anthony P. Costa
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Empire State Bank, N.A.
(845) 451-7801
THE NEW FORCE IN BANKING TARGETS STATEN ISLAND
New Empire Branch Opening Scheduled for November 13th
Newburgh, New York, November 13, 2007 - Empire State Bank ("Empire"), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of ES Bancshares, Inc. (OTCBB: ESBS), today announced
the planned opening of its third full-service branch office located at 284 New
Dorp Lane, Staten Island, NY. The new office will begin operation on November
13th and be open for business six days a week with extended Saturday hours to
accommodate the needs and busy schedules of families and businesses throughout
the community. Empire's new branch opening follows the successful operation of
its Staten Island Lending Center at 4459 Amboy Road for about three and a half
years, which has resulted in more than $68 million in consumer and commercial
loan originations to date.
The management team of the new branch includes three Staten Island banking
experts and seasoned financial specialists with a combined total of more than 60
years in serving the banking needs of Staten Island businesses and families.
Michele Fallo, Assistant Vice President and New Dorp Branch Manager has teamed
up with two of Empire's Business Relationship Managers, Leonard J. Bosso, Vice
President and Jeanne Sarno, Vice President, to serve the banking and financing
needs of Empire State Bank's growing roster of clients in the Staten Island
market. Commenting on the management staff of the new branch, Phil Guarnieri,
Empire's President and COO, and also a Staten Island resident himself, said,
"Their unique financial expertise and first-hand understanding of the Staten
Island community from a grass roots perspective make them a formidable force to
deliver top quality financial solutions to both area residents and companies in
a manner that will surpass the capabilities of the larger, more impersonal
banks."
Michelle Fallo is a Staten Island native with more than 12 years banking
experience who recently joined Empire from HSBC. Len Bosso, also a Staten Island
native, has been a senior member of the Staten Island financial arena for over
30 years and has built deep roots with numerous community and philanthropic
organizations, including Kiwanis International and the Staten Island Chamber of
Commerce. Len recently joined Empire from Richmond County Savings Bank, now a
division of New York Community Bank. Jeanne Sarno, a Staten Island resident, has
built a solid base of satisfied clients since she spearheaded the opening of
Empire's Staten Island Lending Office in June 2004.
Grand Opening Celebration & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
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A Grand Opening Celebrationfor the new branch will kick off on Friday, November
16th and run through December 20th featuring special premiums for all visitors
and a Winter Get-Away Sweepstakes with a Grand Prize Trip for two to the
Bahamas. The drawing for the Sweepstakes will take place on December 20, 2007.
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 16th at 11:00am.
In addition to Directors and Senior Officers of Empire State Bank, a number of
elected officials and local dignitaries will participate in the Ribbon Cutting
Ceremony at the branch, during which the bank's charitable
arm, Empire StateBank Charitable Foundation, will announce a grant to the Dr.
Theodore A. Atlas Foundation, Inc.
"Our continued expansion on Staten Island is the direct result of both the
successful growth we've achieved here thus far, along with an increasing demand
expressed by area businesses and consumers for more of Empire State Bank's style
of community-focused and relationship-oriented approach to banking. We're
confident that our new Staten Island branch office and its highly experienced
team of financial professionals will continue to build upon our positive
reputation within the community and provide greater financial options to
Richmond County businesses and families," commented Tony Costa, Empire's
Chairman and CEO.
About Empire State Bank
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Empire State Bank, N.A. is a nationally chartered stock commercial bank that was
founded in 2004. The Bank operates as a community-oriented institution offering
a broad array of financial services to meet the needs of the communities it
serves. The Bank is headquartered in the town of Newburgh in Orange County, New
York and operates an additional branch in the city of New Paltz, Ulster County,
New York, and two loan production offices, one in the New York City borough of
Staten Island, New York, and one in the village of Lynbrook in Nassau County,
New York. The Bank's deposits are insured up to the maximum allowable amount by
the Bank Insurance Fund of the FDIC. For more information, visit the Bank's
website at www.esbna.com.