Norwich – Eastern Savings Bank is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year by ending a recession-driven delay on expansion projects and proposing a new full-service branch at 220 W. Town St.

Plans submitted this week in the city planning office call for a 1,200-square-foot building in the front portion of the 1.28-acre property at the corner of West Town Street and Clinton Avenue. A mixed-use commercial building that once housed Rena's Pizza was torn down several years ago. Eastern Savings Bank owns the property, zoned for neighborhood commercial development.

“We look at the areas we serve, and Norwichtown has been on the radar screen for a number of years,” said John Mancini, senior vice president of Eastern Savings Bank. “We stopped the process of expansion during the Great Recession. We anticipate Bozrah and points north and west of Norwich can be served from that location.”

Eastern has four branches, two in Norwich on Main and West Main streets, one in Jewett City and one in Plainfield.

The proposed new branch needs only site development plan approval from the Commission on the City Plan. Mancini said Eastern hopes to build and open by the end of the year. The proposed development would place the building in the center of the front half acre of the property, with an entrance and exit on West Town Street and a drive-through lane encircling the building.

Mancini said the branch would offer full teller services, a loan production office and drive-through teller and ATM services.

“We look forward to serving the community for the next 100 years,” Mancini said.

c.bessette@theday.com

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