NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
30 July 2003

COMMUNITYBANKS OPENS DOWNTOWN BRANCH IN STRAWBERRY SQUARE

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today conducted grand opening ceremonies for the new downtown branch office of CommunityBanks, one of the state’s fastest growing full service financial institutions. The 3,900 square foot branch is located on the first floor of Strawberry Square at Third and Walnut Streets.

CommunityBanks CEO and President Eddie L. Dunklebarger said “ the Strawberry Square office is an important component of our plans to expand our operations in the Greater Harrisburg region. We are proud to become part of the vibrant downtown Harrisburg commercial district, which was recently enhanced by the opening of the ‘Shops on Third’. We are confident the personalized service which characterizes our style of community banking will be welcomed by downtown businesses and organizations. The new office will also provide greater convenience for our customers throughout the region who work in the city.”

“Harrisburg has long served as the region’s corporate and financial center,” said Mayor Stephen R. Reed, “and we are delighted to welcome one of the Common-wealth’s fastest growing financial institutions to the downtown. CommunityBanks has distinguished itself through its commitment to customer service and the wide array of services it offers to clients. With more than 25,000 workers and visitors passing by each day, we think CommunityBanks will do very well here.”

Russell C. Ford, President and CEO of Harristown Development Corporation, the managers of Strawberry Square, added “CommunityBanks will be a welcome addition to the other fine retailers within Strawberry Square. We are pleased with their innovative and creative reuse of a unique and historic building and storefront along N. Third Street.”

The Strawberry Square office is CommunityBanks’ seventh in the Harrisburg area, and will be open Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. The Bank also has offices on Jonestown Road, Linglestown Road, Derry Street, St. John’s Church Road, Pennsboro Commons, and five other branches in northern Dauphin County. CommunityBanks has 46 banking offices in central and northeastern Pennsylvania and in northern Maryland. The Strawberry Square office will complement three propriertary ATM’s that CommunityBanks maintains in the Strawberry Square complex.

Recently recognized by Central Pennsylvania Business Journal as the midstate’s fastest growing bank, CommunityBanks is the principal subsidiary of CommunityBanks, Inc., a financial holding company based in Lower Paxton Township. In addition to community banking services, the corporation offers complete trust, investment, insurance and settlement services. For more information visit www.communitybanks.com.

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