Local bank opens doors to everyone

The First National Bank of Long Island has been in Valley Stream since 1994, but only recently has it expanded for all local residents. The bank recently opened its new location on East Merrick Road in the old Bank of New York building.

Mike Vittorio, chief executive officer of First National Bank of Long Island, said the Valley Stream location previously was open to just commercial and professional businesses. “We knew to keep expanding, we would have to open a full service bank,” Vittorio said.

Vittorio noted the loss of both of the Bank of New York and a Capitol One branch in the community, making Valley Stream residents eager for something new. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Vittorio said. “The local community is just so happy that we’ve opened up.”

The bank held a ribbon cutting with village and Chamber of Commerce officials on Oct. 5. The new location, managed by Toni Ann Valente, officially opened on Aug. 31.

First National Bank of Long Island started in 1927 as the Glen Head National Bank. It was created for farmers and businessmen who had trouble getting loans from big New York City banks. The business changed its name in 1972 when it started expanding. Today, it has 29 locations with four more under construction and another three in the planning stages.

“The bank is growing,” Vittorio said, nothing that First National Bank of Long Island has more than $1.5 billion in assets and took no government bailout money.

Vittorio said that most important to note is that they are a community bank. “We do anything we can to accommodate people and businesses,” he said. “The customer comes first.”