By Miguel Almeida, Staff Reporter
Giving Hunts Points residents their first taste of after-hours banking, the Banco Popular de Puerto Rico branch at 1046 Southern Boulevard extended its automatic teller machine service three weeks ago to evenings and weekends.
The decision to open the doors of the bank's lobby after banking hours gives Hunts Point residents access to services wealthier neighborhoods take for granted. Depositors will now be able to use the ATM from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
Response to the ATM has been enthusiastic -- 9,000 people have used the service since its hours were extended.
"For years, the bank was reluctant to increase ATM hours because they feared for safety. But with new houses sprouting up in the area, and stores moving into local retail strips, the promise of an untapped market outweighed concerns over safety.
``We see this as a vote of confidence in the community's future," said Luis Callazo, the branch manager." It'll give residents more flexibility."
To get money on evenings and weekends, Hunts Point residents previously had to bank five subway stops away in Parkchester or to tolerate high service charges at neighborhood check-cashing stores. "Isn't this great?" marveled David Ugarte as the machine spewed out fresh bills on a recent Saturday. "We really needed this."
In making the decision, bank officials responded to demands from community residents and local business employees for after-hours coverage.
"It used to be a hassle," said John Robert, the district manager of Hunts Point's community board. "You always had to get in before the bank's doors closed at 3 p.m."
In the fall, the Hunts Point Chamber of Commerce installed lampposts along the sidewalks of Southern Boulevard to increase the lighting, addressing local residents' biggest fear.
Banco Popular, which has branches in East Tremont, the Hub, Fordham Road and is also exploring the possibility of opening a branch in Mott Haven, bills itself in its ads to the borough as the corner bodega. It is the borough's largest originator of Small Business Adminstration loans.
Supporting growing ethnic communities has been good for business. In just five years, Banco Popular has expanded its city branches from eight to 38.
Withdrawing money from her checking account on a recent weeknight, Maria Ortiz rejoiced.
"This is great," she said. "I don't remember how many times I couldn't leave work before 3 p.m. Now I can go after work. This makes a big difference to us here in the community."