EBSB Mobile Bank Truck Makes First Appearance in Eastie

By John Lynds

On Thursday afternoon at the East Boston Saving Bank’s Orient Heights branch,  the bank’s new local bank on wheels made its first appearance in the neighborhood.

EBSB’s mobile bank truck includes a full staff of tellers, loan officers and of course a driver and features a teller window, ATM, and space for two desks, cameras and an alarm system for security.

EBSB mobile bank branch manager, Beth MacBride, said the truck is really a one of a kind concept in Massachusetts.

“I use to work for DCU  (Digital Federal Credit Union) and they had a mobile truck but it was not a full service bank on wheels,” said MacBride, Thursday at the Eastie unveiling.

MacBride was joined by EBSB Orients Heights staff and members of the East Boston Chamber of Commerce. At the event, EBSB handed out beach gear like sunglasses, frisbees and beach balls as well as free slush from East’s ‘The Slush King”.

The Massachusetts Division of Banks (MDB) signed off on EBSB’s mobile bank in May. EBSB Chairman and CEO Richard Gavegnano said that he got the idea to put EBSB on wheels while sitting in traffic in New York City and witnessed throngs on people lined up to get food at food trucks near a park in freezing weather. Gavegnano thought to himself, “If people are willing to stand in line in freezing weather at a food truck, why not an East Boston Savings Bank on wheels”.

Gavegnano said he has long believed the basics of banking is human interaction and personal relationships and that is something that gets lost these days as we move further and further into electronic banking, online banking and mobile app banking.

The EBSB mobile bank will be out at various locations throughout the area this summer from retirement and assisted living facilities and manufacturing facilities to community events.

According to Gavegnano,  Indiana-based Mobile Facilities is manufacturing the vehicle for EBSB and will cost between $120,000 to $220,000 depending on the size, which can run from 22  to 40 feet.

The EBSB's mobile banking truck. On Thursday, at the East Boston Saving Bank's Orient Heights branch the bank's new local bank on wheels made its first appearance in the neighborhood.

The EBSB’s mobile banking truck. On Thursday, at the East Boston Saving Bank’s Orient Heights branch the bank’s new local bank on wheels made its first appearance in the neighborhood.

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