SUMMER
2014
TOMPKINS
BANK OF
CASTILE
New Castile WE’RE OPEN for Business
Center is
Reason to
Celebrate
The wait is over! Our new Pittsford office at 3140 Monroe Avenue is open for business.
The architecture of the new branch fits in perfectly with the ascetics of the Pittsford
community.
It features a 24-hour Drive-Up ATM as well as a friendly and caring staff.
Almost two years ago, the Castile
Town and Village offices were
destroyed in a terrible fire. Since
that day, the two governments
set up shop in our Castile Branch
while they constructed their new
building. In early May, the building
was completed, and it looks
beautiful.
“We feel very fortunate that we
were partners with Tompkins
Bank of Castile and Tompkins
Insurance Agencies for many
reasons,” said Stephen Tarbell,
Castile Town Supervisor. “We
were extremely pleased that
Tompkins made space readily
available for us to help get us
up and running in 48 hours.
“The people who work there
were phenomenal. We are
thankful to work with such a
great company. Being partners
with Tompkins Bank of Castile
and Tompkins Insurance is the
best thing we ever did.”
The new government center was
dedicated in early May. As part of
Continued on page 4
“The new Pittsford office demonstrates
our commitment to the Monroe County
community,” said Jim Fulmer, president
and CEO. “We are very excited to
have a presence on the east side of
Rochester and look forward to making
this a location that is convenient for
our current and prospective customers.”
Tompkins Insurance representative
Carmen Cavatassi will be able to
discuss personal and business
insurance, plus employee benefits,
one of our fastest growing services.
Investment and financial planning
services are among the offerings
of Tompkins Financial Advisors and
Christine Lane will be happy to meet
with you.
Our Pittsford branch’s opening proved to be a “ducky”
day for Pittsford Youth Services. To celebrate our
opening, Tompkins Bank of Castile donated $500 to
their annual Duck Drop, which helps raise money for
the various programs they provide the community. At
the presentation were, from left, Lisa Fulmer, Clinical
Director of Pittsford Youth Services; Jim Fulmer, Bank
President and CEO; Jill Lennox, Executive Director
of Pittsford Youth Services; and Lisa Ford, Pittsford
Branch Manager.
Stop by to check out the new building and meet our friendly staff.
Award Winning Banker
Tom Kishlar, Vice President, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager, has always been a
winner to us. Now he has been recognized in Monroe County for being one of the Bankers
of the Year in 2014.
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, on behalf of Monroe County
Economic Development Group, presented the award to Tom. He has
been with Tompkins Bank of Castile for more than 12 years.
This award is given annually to the banker with the most qualified
leads to the Monroe County Economic Development Group. It is
tied to the 504 program, which is a program in Monroe County that
assists businesses by offering incentives to help them succeed in their
beginning stages.
Congratulations, Tom; we couldn’t be prouder!
Banker of the Year
winner, Tom Kishlar.
Jim Byrnes: Visionary Leader of
Tompkins Financial for 25 years
After more than 25 years with Tompkins Financial, our Company Chairman, Jim Byrnes, retired
effective as of our Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 12, 2014. He has truly been a visionary
and inspiration to all of us at Tompkins Financial, says current President and CEO Steve Romaine.
Mr Byrnes a Cornell graduate, joined
Tompkins in November 1988 and was
elected President and CEO of the Trust
Company in Ithaca, NY, on Jan. 1, 1989.
During his years as CEO, the Company
grew from a single bank of $338 million
in assets to a $2.2 billion financial
services company with three strong
community banks, Tompkins Insurance
Agencies and Tompkins Financial
James J. Byrnes
Advisors. After Mr Byrnes retired as
CEO in 2006 and remained as Corporate Board Chairman, the
Company continued to grow all lines of business, added a fourth
bank and increased in size to $5 billion in assets.
When Mr Byrnes started work at Tompkins Trust Company the
bank had 10 full service branches, three supermarket branches
and 11 ATMs, all in the Ithaca area. Today, we have 67 branches
and 84 ATMs in Western, Central and Hudson Valley New York
and Southeastern Pennsylvania. During that time, the number
of jobs at the Company increased by 883. That is a tremendous
contribution to the people and communities we serve.
Here are some of the key accomplishments during Mr Byrnes’ time
at the Company:
• Mr Byrnes oversaw the formation of the holding company in
1995 and was instrumental in getting our stock listed on the
American Stock Exchange in 1997.
• The holding company acquired The Bank of Castile and
a majority interest in Mahopac National Bank in 1999 and
completed the purchase of Mahopac in 2001.
• As we looked to diversify our Company, we entered the
insurance business at the same time, through the acquisition of
what became Tompkins Insurance Agencies.
• We bolstered another fee-based business, wealth management,
with the addition of AM&M Financial Services in Western New
York.
• And, finally, we purchased VIST Bank in 2012.
As Mr Byrnes is leaving, we are left well positioned as a firm to
continue thriving and growing. Over the years, Tompkins Financial
has been recognized for its leadership, sound management
and outstanding financial results by a variety of independent
organizations.
Giving back both professionally and to the communities he served
was of primary importance to Mr Byrnes. At the time of his
retirement as CEO, Mr Byrnes sat on 12 area boards not affiliated
with the Trust Company. His interests included the Hangar
Theatre, Ithaca Neighborhood Housing, the United Way, Legacy
Foundation of Tompkins County and Cornell Athletics.
Professionally, he was active in the New York Bankers Association
and the Independent Bankers Association of New York State
serving on boards, committees and numerous task forces. He
supported industry and commerce through his involvement in
the Chamber of Commerce, Cayuga Venture Fund and Tompkins
County Area Development. Mr Byrnes was a very active Cornell
alum, but he also found time to support Ithaca College in a
number of ways.
Commitment to the community is one of the core values of
Tompkins Financial. Mr Byrnes lived this value to its fullest.
Giving back to the community has always been very important to
him. We remain committed to this value, both personally and as a
Company, as we move forward.
Mr Byrnes’ devotion to his family is remarkable. His wife, Terry,
and son, Andrew, always came first. Both shared Mr Byrnes’ deep
commitment to family and community.
In Mr Byrnes honor, Tompkins Financial made a donation to the
Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County, which maintains the
Tompkins Trust Company’s Awards for Excellence given annually
to a nonprofit or group of individuals who make a significant
contribution toward improving the quality of life for others in
Tompkins County. Our contribution will rename this annual award
the “James J. Byrnes Awards for Excellence.”
“Jim built an excellent team that will continue to move Tompkins
Financial forward,” President and CEO Romaine said. “We are
thankful to him for leaving the Company in such a good place and
for creating strong succession at the board and throughout the
Company. It will serve us well as we move forward.”
Small Business Myths
Tom Rochon
About a Helpful Bank
Becomes Board
Service: Remote Deposit
Chairman of
Tompkins Financial
Thomas R. Rochon has
been appointed Chairman
of the Board of Tompkins
Financial following the
retirement of Jim Byrnes
in May. The President of
Ithaca College, Dr. Rochon
has served as a Director of
the Company since 2009.
Successful small businesses keep a laser-like focus on efficiency and
the bottom line. Yet many business owners are apprehensive about
using a time-saving service that could help speed their cash flow.
“For small business owners, time is money,” says Charles Hellmich, Vice
President, Manager of Sales Effectiveness. “They wear many hats but often
may have concerns about new processes that could benefit their business.”
One example is Remote Deposit, which allows businesses to scan and
deposit checks to the bank securely over the Internet.
Charley and his colleagues have discovered a number of common
misconceptions about the service as they work with business customers:
Thomas R. Rochon
“I’m pleased and proud to be selected to lead
such a strong Company that provides essential
financial services with far-ranging impact on the
communities we serve,” he said. “Steve Romaine
has built a strong leadership team, and Jim
Byrnes led a very capable Board that will continue
to move the Company forward.”
Prior to moving to Ithaca in 2008, Dr. Rochon
served as the Executive Vice President and Chief
Academic Officer for the University of St. Thomas
in Minnesota, following a career as professor
of political science on the faculties of Princeton
University and Claremont Graduate University.
From 2000 to 2003, he was the Executive Director
of the Graduate Record Examinations program at
the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
He is on the board of directors of New York
Campus Compact, an association of colleges and
universities committed to community service,
and also serves on the Executive Committee
of the Council of Independent Colleges and
Universities, the association of private institutions
of higher education in New York State. He is
also actively involved with several local charitable
organizations.
In August 2013, the Board of Directors concluded
a succession planning process for Chairman Jim
Byrnes, and named Dr. Rochon as his successor.
Myth #1: My business is so small, I don’t need such a sophisticated service.
Regardless of the size of your business, or whether it deposits 10 or 1,000
checks on a regular basis, Remote Deposit saves time and money.
Myth #2: I have time to go to the bank to deposit checks (besides, I like
going to the bank).
“We hear business owners and their staffs say ‘there are not enough hours
in the day,’” Charley says. “While bankers love seeing their customers walk
into the branch, we believe that it’s in everyone’s interest to give them
options. With Remote Deposit, customers can scan and deposit checks from
work or home 24/7, which gives them ultimate flexibility.” If the scanned
checks are received by 6 p.m., funds are credited the next business day. In
addition to giving the business faster access to funds, it helps them avoid
potential overdraft fees.
Myth #3: The technology is complicated.
Remote Deposit technology is exceptionally user friendly. The process
involves installing a scanner and a shortcut to a customized Remote
Deposit website at the business site (no software is put on the customer’s
computer). Training is conducted as soon as the scanner is installed, and
we have a dedicated Remote Deposit help desk.
Myth #4: Remote Deposit will make my business vulnerable to fraud.
It’s like taking checks to the bank, but without the risk of loss or theft in
transit. Customers have two types of reports available as soon as the checks
are deposited: a detailed report of each check submitted and a deposit
report for the total number of checks and funds deposited.
Myth #5: Remote Deposit is expensive.
We provide the scanner at very low or no cost, so there is nothing to
purchase. “Given the convenience and faster access to funds, we believe it’s
expensive NOT to have Remote Deposit,” Charley says.
With unlimited checks, a low or no cost scanner, quick training program
and 24/7 ability to scan checks, Remote Deposit is highly recommended for
business customers.
A Community Bank with a Community Focus
When it was time for the spring chores
across our area, volunteers played a huge
role for many non-profit organizations.
And when it comes to volunteering, our
employees are the first to raise their hands.
Our employees, armed with volunteerism and power tools, built a
raised vegetable garden bed for the residents at East Side Nursing
Home that is accessible by wheelchairs.
Across Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming counties, our
employees participated in the United Way Day of Caring.
They were out and about in the sunshine, and in some cases,
rain, lending a hand to help spruce up the community. From
yard work in cemeteries to planting vegetable gardens for
the elderly, our employees worked hard for the communities
we serve.
“SEW” EXCITED
for our United Way Quilt
The leaders of our United Way campaign
wanted to expand awareness and exposure
to the various United Way agencies and
programs that make our communities a better
place. Campaign organizers thought a joint
quilt project would help accomplish that goal.
All of the Western New York offices for Tompkins Bank of Castile,
Insurance Agencies and Financial Advisors were invited to
participate and given a quilt square to complete.
Working together, our employees designed the squares to
communicate how we help change the world through the United
Way campaign. The result is a beautiful quilt that highlights the
diverse communities we serve and how United Way improves
where we live and work. It also demonstrates the talent and
creativity of our employees.
Proudly displaying the quilt created by Tompkins Financial
employees in Western New York are, from left, Bob Bennett,
Tompkins Bank of Castile sales manager, who was the United Way
County Campaign Chairman; Heidi Raines, Tompkins Insurance
Agencies, who assembled the quilt blocks; Tompkins Campaign
Coordinators JoAnne McInerny of Tompkins Insurance and Kelly
McColl of Tompkins Bank of Castile. The other internal campaign
coordinator was Sara Mattingly of Tompkins Bank of Castile.
Bob Bennett, Sales Manager for Tompkins Bank of Castile, chaired
the Genesee County United Way campaign this year, leading the
community effort for all businesses and individuals. The campaign
raised more than $375,000 for 11 United Way agencies in Genesee
County.
Reason to Celebrate
Continued from page 1
the bank’s celebration of its 145th anniversary, Tompkins
Bank of Castile and Tompkins Insurance Agencies
sponsored the open house reception that accompanied
the dedication. We were proud to help the town and
village through that trying time and are elated they have
settled into their new home.
PLEASE SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS ON TOMPKINS BANK OF CASTILE’S SERVICES.
Marketing Department 585-345-6154
TOMPKINS BANK OF CASTILE | 90 Main St. | Batavia, NY 14020
[email protected] | www.BankofCastile.com
Tompkins Financial Advisors800-444-6640 | Insurance Services 888-229-6151
24-HR Telephone Banking 888-890-2580
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