North Bay Mayor Al McDonald expects good things to happen to the community during the new term of council and the good news is already underway.
McDonald says the theme for city council is growing the city and one part of the community will soon reap the benefits with the announcement that Caisse Populaire Alliance is bringing face-to-face financial services back to West Ferris.
McDonald says with 12,000 people living in West Ferris, the Caisse saw an opportunity and seized it.
“I think it sends a lot of confidence not only to young families but businesses as well,” McDonald said.
“You’re going to see a lot more announcements coming”.
West Ferris earlier lost its only two bricks and mortar banks when the TD and Scotiabank pulled up stakes.
McDonald says that Norm St-Amor, the Caisse’s regional manager, approached him eight months ago with the idea of the Caisse opening an office in West Ferris.
“When Norm first mentioned this I said it’s wonderful and we stand behind you,” said the Mayor.
McDonald said he plans to be the Caisse’s first customer when the new branch opens next spring something St-Amor has agreed will happen.
The new outlet will occupy the former Scotiabank site at Nipissing Plaza.
It will initially be staffed with three to five people with plans to increase that number to eight or nine workers.
St-Amor is expecting to sign about 350 new customers during the first year of operation and has his sights on seeing 1,000 to 1,500 new accounts over the first five years of operation.
The Caisse currently has an office on Cassells and there are no plans to change anything at that location.