By Dave Matlow
Fairfield County Bank will open its newly constructed Westport branch at the corner of Post Road East and Compo Road South next month and knows it has its work cut out to win community support.
The new Fairfield County Bank branch at 20 Compo Road South will open Jan. 11. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The branch adjacent to the town-owned Baron’s South property is scheduled to open on Jan. 11, according to Dan Berta, the bank’s executive vice president, strategic planning.
Referring to community concerns about commercial construction replacing a home on that corner, Berta said he recognizes that construction on the site was “a sensitive topic, but we delivered on our promise.”
“It was always our intent to build a building that fits into the community of which we are proud to be a part,” he said. (See WestportNow Oct. 24, 2008)
“We’ve been part of the Westport community for a long time. We’re not new to the town.”
Fairfield County Bank purchased the privately-owned, 1.56-acre corner property for $5.8 million in April 2008. (See WestportNow April 15, 2008)
The land adjoins the town-owned Baron’s South property of 22 acres purchased in 1998 for $7 million. 
Elish Warlop, general contractor, and Carl Lecher, a member of the Fairfield County Bank board of directors, work in a second floor office of the newly constructed bank branch. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
With the purchase, there are now banks on three corners of the intersection of Post Road East and Compo Road. Only the northwest corner with town-owned Winslow Park is bank-free.
Fairfield County Bank also has offices in Westport at 215 Post Road West in the Settlers and Traders Building (see WestportNow, April 6, 2009) as well as at 180 Post Road East.
Bob Connelly, president of the bank’s Westport division, which is comprised of all the branches in the Fairfield County coastline towns, will move his office from 180 Post Road East to the new facility which also will serve as its headquarters.
The Fairfield County Bank has 24 branches throughout Fairfield County.
Elish Warlop, the general contractor for the new facility, said that “LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is part of the construction process for this green building which is built to be energy efficient.”
She said it will be the first of the “green banks” within the Fairfield County Bank operations.
The bank did a great job. The building improves the streetscape of the intersection and the entire area. Commercial development, if done properly, can improve the looks and desireability of the Town. It will also help the Town by adding revenue via tax dollars.
Tom Bloch
Tom,
Yes, for what it is, it looks good. But I think the big trees and grass suited the town better. And we surely didn’t need another bank.
Let’s hope the Shell station doesn’t become a bank.
Maybe Westport doesn’t need another bank, but Tom’s point is an important one. They did a nice job of erecting a building that actually somewhat graces an important corner of our town. Imagine that it could have been another Arby’s!
I am a big booster of Fairfield County Bank. I am Treasurer of a non-profit in Norwalk and we have been dealing with the bank for years. Their customer service and their online system put the big banks to shame. BUT, why did they have to build such an ugly building?
I respect all the comments. When I moved to this Town in 1994 there were a few banks and that was it. I thought the service was very poor due to lack of competition amongst the banks. I currently use Bank of America but started with Shawmut and just worked my way through all the internal acquisitions. However I must say that the customer service now is great.
Perhaps the question we must ask ourselves is, are we better off being over banked or having way too many fast food stores. I vote to be over banked.
Tom Bloch
Respectfully disagree Tom. Westport certainly did not need another bank pouring more traffic onto Compo Road at that previously undeveloped corner
One more vote for trees and grass.
Given that choice, I would agree – but why be limited to that choice?
The other question is…what happened to the P&Z;on the size of this bank? is the second floor going to be a community center?