WARREN, Ohio, Jan. 3, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- First Place Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:FPFC) opened a Regional Banking Center in Austintown, Ohio. The new office is located at 101 S. Canfield-Niles Rd. (Route 46), behind Sheetz and across from Panera Bread. First Place also opened a new in-store location in Lorain, Ohio. The new office is located inside the Apples Grocery Store at 400 Sheffield Center.
"We are very excited about our new Regional Banking Center, designed to better meet the financial needs of businesses and households in the Austintown community. With the construction of this approximately $1 million financial center and the opening of our Canfield Regional Banking Center on Route 224 near Tippecanoe this past summer, we continue our commitment to invest in the Mahoning Valley. This new facility is designed to offer customers more banking convenience. We are open seven days a week: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 7:00pm, Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday 10:00am to 3:00pm. Plus, the new office will offer a wider array of financial services including: personal and business banking services, investment, insurance and private banking services all under one roof," said Steven R. Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of First Place Bank.
The new 2,750 square-foot state-of-the-art facility built by Angelilli Builders and designed by Baker Bednar and Associates offers convenience with three drive-up lanes, a drive-up ATM and more teller stations. The unique interior design is visually appealing with the use of First Place's corporate colors -- red, black and gray. The decor includes a very open and bright environment with a red floating ceiling, a corporate identity mural and red, gray and black mosaic glass along the teller line. The building design also incorporates some unique features that employ the corporate logo.
"We are equally excited about our expansion in the Lorain County market with our first in-store location. We continue to be Lorain's community bank and we are happy to be partnering in business with a local grocer," stated Lewis.
The new Apples location is a full-service branch with four full time employees. They offer convenience with seven-day-a-week banking options for their customers: Monday-Friday 10:00am-7:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-6:00pm and Sunday 12:00-4:00pm.
About First Place Financial Corp.
First Place Financial Corp., a $3.2 billion financial services holding company based in Warren, Ohio, is the largest publicly owned thrift headquartered in Ohio. First Place Financial Corp. operates 43 retail locations, 2 business financial service centers and 18 loan production offices through the First Place Bank, and Franklin Bank divisions of First Place Bank. Additional affiliates of First Place Financial Corp. include First Place Insurance Agency, Ltd.; Coldwell Banker First Place Real Estate, Ltd.; TitleWorks Agency, LLC and APB Financial Group, Ltd., an employee benefit-consulting firm and specialist in wealth management services for businesses and consumers. Information about First Place Financial Corp. may be found on the Company's web site: www.firstplacebank.com.