Search Observer-Reporter

Search Archive

11/2/2009 3:32 AM

Email this article • Print this article  

By Michael Bradwell, Business editor, mbradwell@observer-reporter.com

This article has been read 3065 times.

PNC Bank will convert a number of local National City Bank branches this weekend, and Jim Balouris, PNC's market manager for Southwestern Pennsylvania, said the bank wants to ensure the transition goes as smoothly as possible.

Customers want to know that their money is safe, said Balouris. "We're stressing customer satisfaction and customer service. We are the ones causing the inconvenience for the clients."

PNC ended up with 158 National City branches in the Pittsburgh area as a result of its Dec. 31 merger with the Cleveland-based bank. Of those, 50 were among the 57 branches it sold to First Niagara Financial Group in September.

After consolidation, PNC will have 185 local branches, about twice as many as it had a year ago. In Washington and Greene counties, all of the branches PNC acquired will be converted.

Rate This Story:
1 the lowest - 5 the highest

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Current rating:

For the record, the National City branches in this area will close at 4 p.m. Friday and remain closed over the weekend until they reopen as PNC branches on Nov. 9.

National City customers were to have received new PNC Bank Visa check cards by Wednesday with complete activation instructions. Their personal identification numbers will remain the same. While they can use their existing National City check cards until Dec. 7, the new PNC cards can't be activated until 8 a.m. Friday. The new cards can be activated by going to any PNC or National City ATM, or by calling the toll-free number listed on the sticker on the new card.

Since ATMs will remain operational at all branches during the transition, National City customers can continue to have access to their checking accounts during the transition.

"At no point during the transition will we have both the ATM and branch closed at the same time," Balouris said. Online banking through National City will cease to be available at 3 p.m. Friday. Existing online banking customers can begin accessing their account information within PNC's online banking starting at 8 a.m. Nov. 9, by following the instructions outlined in their account transfer confirmation.

Balouris noted that National City customers will be able to use their existing checks even after the conversion is completed. While PNC will issue new checking account numbers, the old checks will still be valid for making payments, he said.

"People do not need to do anything with their checks," Balouris said, explaining that checks will be processed by PNC's back office.

The conversion of National City Bank branches will give PNC a far bigger footprint in the local area, Balouris said, noting that when the conversion is complete, PNC will operate branches in both Strabane Square and Trinity Point shopping complexes, despite the fact that the two branches are within sight of each other.

"Both are very, very busy locations," he said.

• National City Bank customers who have questions during next weekend's conversion of branches can call PNC at 1-877-762-5570. Weekend hours will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Detailed times and dates of events that will take place in the next few days.


Home

1 comments

check card : 11/9/2009
why does it say "suspended" when I try to activate it by phone?

S. Whiteman

---

All comments will be reviewed by administrators and posted to their respective articles within 24 hours. Comments deemed inappropriate will not be posted.

Subject:
Body:
Poster:

Enter text seen above: