NexTier opens first full branch in Central Pa.

NexTier Bank has deepened its reach in Central Pennsylvania with the opening of a full-service branch in Hampden Township.

The new branch joins a loan production office opened by the Butler County-based bank in 2017, according to Clem Rosenberger, president and CEO.

The loan office, at 4231 Trindle Road, was the bank’s first office outside western Pennsylvania, he said. “We opened it there to test the waters before establishing a full-service branch.

The loan production office will continue to operate in the same building as the new branch, according to Maria Amoruso, NexTier’s chief marketing officer.

The Trindle Road location was last used as a branch for FNB, which closed the office in 2016 as part of its acquisition of Metro Bank.

The Hampden Township location is NexTier’s 29^th branch, Rosenberger said.

“We are thrilled to expand our footprint into Central Pennsylvania. We saw the potential to partner with local residents and businesses and hope our Camp Hill location will become a center for both business and community in the region,” Rosenberger said in a news release.

Bree Vance, a 10-year banking veteran, has been named branch manager. John Havas, who has run the loan production office since it was opened, will serve as senior vice president and Central Pennsylvania market manager, according to the release.

Havas has 13 years of banking experience, including nine years with Integrity Bank, which was acquired by Indiana-based S&T Bank in 2015. Havas specializes in lending for commercial real estate, tax-free entities and commercial and industrial businesses.

He is a Cumberland Valley High School graduate and a lifelong resident of Central Pennsylvania, according to the release.

The bank has also hired two full-time associates and one part-time associate for the branch, according to the release.

NexTier Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NexTier Inc. and has assets of $1.3 billion.

It has 29 branches and five loan production offices in western and Central Pennsylvania.

A grand opening for the new branch will be held during the week of May 6, according to a news release.