PNC Bank branch in Ann Arbor to close in April
The Arlington Square PNC Bank at Washtenaw Avenue and Huron Parkway in Ann Arbor.
Daniel Brenner I AnnArbor.com
The closing marks the second bank branch to go out of business on Washtenaw Avenue between Huron Parkway and US-23 in one year. Bank of Ann Arbor closed its branch and drive-through location on Washtenaw at Pittsfield Boulevard in May 2012.
In a notice sent to branch customers, Mike Bickers, executive vice president and market manager, tells customers that the closing is a result of constant studying of “the effectiveness of our branches based on the physical capacity and the number of customers frequenting each location.”
PNC spokeswoman Amy Vargo said the consolidation of branches is “not unusual” throughout the PNC network.
“We are always looking at our branch network to make sure we’re serving customer needs and doing that in a cost efficient way,” she said.
“Customers are using branches in a very different way today. They’re using other ways of reaching the bank, such as online and mobile banking much more, as well as our advanced ATMs.”
PNC will not be leaving an ATM at the Arlington Square location, Vargo said, due to a high density of PNC Bank ATMs in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
With the closing, there will be 5 PNC branches in Ann Arbor and one just west of the city on Jackson Road in Scio township. The remaining branches include the Huron Parkway branch, branches downtown on Main Street and South University, a branch on Maple Road in the Maple Village shopping center, abranch on Eisenhower Parkway between State Street and Main Street and the Scio Township branch on Jackson Avenue near I-94.
There are also branches in Saline, Dexter and Ypsilanti Township.
PNC came to Washtenaw County in 2010 as part of their acquisition of National City Bank in 2008.
Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Reach out to Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2
Comments
Foote
Thu, Jan 31, 2013 : 4:13 a.m.
Yes Bob, PNC has a slightly better then average balance sheet, not stellar, and you are correct, probably alot of the "troubled assets" were acquired by PNC. As far as service goes I have gotten very good service at PNC and TCF, but if you want fast access to funds and low fees nothing beats a credit union. As far as this little shopping center, the genesis of it was pretty hasty. In 1986 or 87 a well known Ann Arbor developer had begun building a large condo project just south of there. At the time there was a motel at the location of Arlington Square. A proposal had been made to create a halfway house in the location and the condo developer felt that this would impact the his development adversely so he put in an offer on the hotel, bought it, razed it and built the center. First of America Bank did the construction financing for both projects and presumably took space in Arlington Square to make it a more solvent project.
Martha Cojelona Gratis
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 9:44 p.m.
@Urban Sombrero You, sir, are a blatant liar. There is no way that PNC Bank would hold cash that you recently deposited until next day, two days, three days, one week, etc. As @YpsiLivin stated, cash is legal tender and as long as a bank member verified that you did indeed give them cash and not monopoly money, then you would be entitled to it. Then again, your story didn't make sense to begin with because why would you deposit cash if only to retrieve it a few moments later? I have accounts with numerous banks throughout the area and I've never once, including PNC, have had any cash I've deposited inside the bank to have any kind of a hold. Not even one minute. Now checks, that's completely different and understandable why there is a float period there.
Hmm
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 7:32 p.m.
I'm sure the area bank robbers will shed tears at this news
Bob W
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 1:56 p.m.
Gee, I can't recall the last time I actually went into my bank.
Basic Bob
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 4:16 a.m.
I will miss the branch. We have used it for the last 13 years and have received personal service that you only get by walking into the branch and having face-to-face contact with the teller and branch manager. The standard configuration with drive-up windows and ATMs might work for most people. This branch served many people like us who needed to walk inside the bank to conduct business. But if your marketing vice presidents are only looking at turnstile count rather than serving the community, it is doomed. We had already planned to move some of our accounts to another bank. This will certainly accelerate that transition. As far as "troubled assets", National City Bank had too much risky mortgage debt and the Fed forced them into a sale to PNC. Those troubled assets are still on the books, and we should all be grateful that they did not take a bailout instead.
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 2:37 a.m.
I WANT to like PNC bank. And, this particular branch, is the one I (and my husband) use most frequently. We cannot say enough nice things about the customer service at the PNC branches. No matter which one we go to, they all make us feel like we're welcomed and that our business is appreciated. HOWEVER....it's PNC's practices that make us want to switch banks. When we deposit our paychecks (which ALWAYS happens before 1 PM EST on a Thursday), our deposit is held until the next day. I would understand this if it happened to be that we deposited our cash after 3 PM, EST. However, that is not the case. I can make a (payroll) deposit at 9 AM on a Thursday, but my deposit won't be posted to my account until a Friday. And, the most egregious violation is/are cash deposits. I deposit cash every week. Every single week. Before the (usual) 3 PM cut off time that most banks have. And, yet, PNC bank holds my cash deposit until the next business day. There is absolutely NO reason for this! I'm putting cash in my account at 9 AM on a Wednesday and yet, it's not available until Thursday afternoon. Why? Why is that? Cash should be credited IMMEDIATELY! Payroll checks should be credited SAME DAY. Yet, PNC puts a hold on them both. RIDICULOUS. And that, my friends, is why my husband and I are going back to TCF. We'd rather pay a monthly fee than have payroll, and CASH, deposits be held for a day. Who cares how good PNC's customer service is? Their corporate policies Suck Donkey B&*ls. SO not worth it.
YpsiLivin
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 3:56 p.m.
a2gretta, Cash is cash, and everyone in the US recognizes the inherent value of cash-in-hand. When you go to a store and make a purchase with cash, the merchant recognizes that you've paid for your goods and closes the transaction. Likewise, when you give the bank a $20 bill, the bank should credit your account right away because you gave them something that everyone recognizes as valuable. I can see not making funds available on a check immediately, but seriously, cash is cash. It's not like your $20 bill is going to bounce. There's no reason for any bank to hold cash for 24 or more hours before crediting it to a customer's account. Cash is legal tender and should be treated as such by everyone, including the bank. I moved to credit unions nearly 30 years ago and have never looked back. I can't imagine why any individual would prefer to do business with a bank.
a2gretta
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 2:15 p.m.
From what I understand, the reckoning takes place in the middle of the night. Deposits are added in before check debits are taken out. I believe, unless you are withdrawing cash (why would you deposit cash to withdraw cash) or using a debit card, which I don't, you should be fine writing checks on your account the same day you make deposits. What you are criticizing might be due to automation, not a PNC money-making scheme.
Gorc
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 2:07 p.m.
A2comments - TCF Bank has a checking account with no minimum balance and no monthly service fees. If you overdraw your account, like any other financial institution, there will be fees.
bunnyabbot
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 6:56 a.m.
when a bank holds your money before making it available to you (even cash) that is part of what they call the "float" the those hours they have access to your funds they can go make interest on it without you touching it. I came into PNC by way of National City by way of that previous change of hands. Two years of PNC was enough. Terrible customer service, fees etc, a very noticable difference when it changed hands. Even CLOSING my checking account took over an hour. I switched to Bank of Ann Arbor because I wanted a local bank and heard good things, I have been nothing but pleased.
ypsicat
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 3:13 a.m.
What I didn't say in my previous rant was that I took the document to my own bank, TCF, after we decided we had to get separate notarizations. I told the notary the story about what happened at PNC and she told me to tell my brother to bring the document to her, she would gladly notarize it. We had already made the separate arrangements, but it was a nice touch.
A2comments
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 2:50 a.m.
TCF is awful. Fees, fees, fees.
ypsicat
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 2:33 a.m.
PNC is a terrible bank. All of their branches should close, IMHO. Their snotty notary at the downtown branch refused to notarize a document that required my brother's and my signatures because I was not a customer (my brother is). She said it was against policy for her to do so. Great policy to alienate people, good luck with that.
PineyWoodsGuy
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 5:34 a.m.
You got that Right ypsicat!!!
HereAndThere
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 2:20 a.m.
I will miss having a bank within walking distance (and on the same side of Washtenaw!) of my home. I guess I'll have to chose another bank in this vicinity, as I don't care for going out of my way to do my banking!
Steve Bean
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 1:10 a.m.
PNC continues to hold a high ratio of troubled assets: http://banktracker.investigativereportingworkshop.org/banks/.
timjbd
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 11:55 p.m.
Is it too late to bring back Zelda's?
Paula Gardner
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 8:58 p.m.
A few years ago, Fifth Third bought the Big Boy so it could raze it and build a branch on this corridor - these more recent closures are quite the opposite move.
johnnya2
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 10:20 p.m.
This is a HORRIBLE location for a bank. Most bank branches require drive thrus and easy in and out parking. This has neither.
justcurious
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 8:51 p.m.
Hope this doesn't say anything about the health of PNC. We have not been very happy with them since they took over National City.
Greg Mitchell
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 8:48 p.m.
I have been going to that branch for years, they could at least leave the ATM. I use that branch because I don't know where any other PNC ATM is located.
YpsiLivin
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 2 p.m.
3175 W Clark (Clark @ Golfside, across from WCC) is probably closer to the closing branch than any of the other options mentioned.
Jon Saalberg
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 2:05 a.m.
There's one at the Maple Village Shopping Center.
FrankOZ
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 8:46 p.m.
Honestly, Arlington Square is like the Bermuda Triangle of commercial real estate. A bad building configurations with an oddly designed dangerous parking lot.
HereAndThere
Tue, Jan 29, 2013 : 3:10 a.m.
I hate that parking lot! That's why I like to walk there.
glimmertwin
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 10:17 p.m.
Agreed. Too much hassle to navigate.
Paula Gardner
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 9:03 p.m.
I've seen some positive changes there lately - but agree the parking lot is awkward.
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 8:57 p.m.
The owners were trying to change the zoning in 2011 to help with some of the vacancies. They wanted to get approval for barber/beauty shop, restaurant and medical office uses. http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/arlington-square-office-and-retail-center-on-washtenaw-looking-to-rezone-property-for-additional-ret/
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 8:27 p.m.
Wonder what will replace both banks on Washtenaw..