Rockville Bank Exec Sledgehammer Building, Kicking Off Demolition of Branch

Today, Rockville Bank Executive Vice President Richard J. Trachimowicz swung a sledgehammer into the door and windows of the former Lafayette Square branch building to signal the start of demolition of that office. This demolition is the first step of the Bank’s project to rebuild a new Lafayette Square branch at the same location on 20 Hyde Avenue in Vernon. Back on January 14, Rockville Bank closed the office because of possible roof damage related to record heavy snow. Building inspectors determined severe structural damage and, on March 23, Rockville Bank announced plans to build a new and better branch on the original site.

The new full-service Lafayette Square branch is expected to open in late fall 2011. It will include four teller counter stations, two drive-up teller windows and a drive-up and walk-up automatic teller machine (ATMs), and customer convenience items such as a coin counting machine, document shredder, and one flat-panel LCD screen which will provide customers with news, weather, sports and business information. The branch also will feature a refreshment center, offering complimentary beverages and cookies.

A temporary Lafayette Square branch has been open at a nearby location in the former Tim Hortons shop at 1302 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon. Rockville Bank’s temporary Lafayette Square branch’s office hours are: Mondays through Wednesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. While this temporary location does not have a drive-up window or ATM machine, customers who want these services can go to the Bank’s 25 Park Street branch in Rockville, which is less than five minutes away by car. In addition, safe deposit boxes from the Lafayette Square office will remain at the 25 Park Street branch in Rockville until the opening of the new building.

Rockville Bank is a 21½-branch community bank serving Tolland, Hartford and New London counties in Connecticut. It provides a convenient banking lifestyle for Colchester, Coventry, East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Glastonbury, Manchester, Rockville, Somers, South Glastonbury, South Windsor, Suffield, Vernon, seven days a week in Tolland, and three Big Y supermarket locations. For more information about Rockville Bank’s services and products, call 860-291-3600.

Architect’s Rendering of Rockville Bank’s Lafayette Square Branch - Expected to Open Late Fall 2011