Local, Independent Bank Celebrates Milestone

As a crowd gathered around him, ready to celebrate Valley Green Bank's fifth birthday, bank President and CEO Jay Goldstein got ready to tell a story.

According to Goldstein, a woman came into the bank Nov. 17, 2005—its first day of operation—and asked if she could bring her bicycle inside. Goldstein said she could, and the woman came in with her bike and opened an account, quickly explaining that she was going to transfer all her funds from a nearby bank to Valley Green. 

The reason for that, she said, was because her other bank wouldn't let her bring her bike into its office.

"That experience," Goldstein said, "is demonstrative of the bank's philosophy that it exists to serve the needs of it customers and the community."

The bank is celebrating its fifth birthday in a variety of ways all week but held an official birthday party this morning. People who attended the event were treated to a buffet of morning foods, coffee, tea and a piece of anniversary cake. An unusual ribbon cutting ceremony, in which a chain of play money was broken to celebrate the anniversary, was also part of the festivities.

has branches in Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy. This morning's celebration took place at the Mount Airy branch.