Tompkins Community Bank

Press release:

Tompkins Community Bank announced that Diane Torcello has been promoted to president of the bank’s Western New York (WNY) market. Previously, Torcello served as senior vice president and community banking manager. In her new role, she is responsible for the bank’s growth, community and client engagement and stakeholder relations throughout its Western New York market as well as fostering relationships with clients of Tompkins insurance and wealth affiliates.

“Diane has a proven record of leadership expertise and excellence as a community banker throughout the region, from Rochester to Batavia to Buffalo and their surrounding communities,” said John McKenna, president of Tompkins Community Bank. “Having witnessed first-hand her dedication over the past ten years, I know that her vast knowledge of financial services and commitment to collaboration makes her the ideal leader to build on our success in Western New York.” 

A veteran of the banking industry, Torcello is well-known throughout the community for her expertise in retail, commercial, operations, and branch management. She began her career as a teller at The Pavilion State Bank and steadily rose through the company’s ranks into the position of commercial lender.

Torcello began her 18-year tenure with Tompkins as vice president and branch manager before being elevated to senior vice president and community banking manager in 2013, a position she has held for the past decade. In this role, Diane is responsible for the leadership of all staff and operations of the Western New York branch network, as well as the direct involvement and management of the largest deposit relationships. She also interacts routinely with the Tompkins WNY bank board on business development and strategy.

Most recently, Torcello was named one of the Rochester Business Journal’s Women of Excellence in the publication’s 2023 awards announcement. She is also a past recipient of the Women in Business Award from the Batavia Daily News and the 40 Under 40 from Buffalo News.

“Diane’s impact on both the Tompkins community and the community at large has been immeasurable over her remarkable career,” said Jim Fulmer, board chair of Tompkins Community Bank. “Her dedication to the professional growth of her team, and the economic health of her community, is emblematic of our mission to its core.”

Active in the community, Torcello has served as a board member and volunteer for several nonprofit organizations throughout her career, including the Genesee County Chamber Business Development Committee, Mary Immaculate Finance Committee, Children’s Home Committee, United Way, St. Mary’s Parish Council and Junior Achievement. She has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Genesee Community College for 14 years, including two as Chair. An upcoming graduate of Roberts Wesleyan University, Torcello resides in Pavilion with her husband, Ralph, although is frequently in Rochester and Buffalo visiting her two sons and their families.

Press release:

In its ongoing dedication to bettering the communities it serves, this Thanksgiving Tompkins Community Bank gifted a total of $15,000 to local nonprofits across western New York in celebration of its annual “Banksgiving” holiday donation. This year, Tompkins’ Banksgiving featured $1,000 donations to nonprofits whose focus is food insecurity and local to each of its fifteen branches across Erie, Cattaraugus, Livingston, Genesee, Wyoming, Monroe and Orleans counties. This is the third year Tompkins has supported local nonprofits through the Banksgiving program.  

“The holiday season can prove to be a difficult time of year for many folks, and even more so as we continue to encounter aftereffects of the pandemic as well as rising costs of goods,” said John McKenna, president of Tompkins’ Western New York market. “It’s our hope that these gifts will make a meaningful difference in all of these communities, because we’re a part of those communities, too.” 

The Banksgiving donations round out a year of community-focused initiatives for Tompkins. Throughout 2022, the bank has continued to offer free, virtual seminars on topics ranging from first-time homebuying to fraud protection, as a means of cultivating financial education and independence in the communities we serve.  

“Giving back and supporting the communities serve is central to our mission as a community bank,” continued McKenna. “We have the unique privilege of seeing the impact of our actions first hand, as our employees also live and work in these communities as well. Our efforts are inextricably linked to the community’s well-being, and this is what inspires us to continue evolving to meet the needs of the counties we serve.  

Submitted photo: Mickey Hyde (Tompkins in Le Roy), Judy Ridley (LeRoy Food Pantry), and Wendy Holmes (Tompkins).

Press release:

Following the kickoff of National Financial Planning Month in October, Tompkins Community Bank has announced the launch of Smart Spend, a unique new checking account that qualifies for “Bank On” certification.  

The new product aims to expand community access to banking through the elimination of overdraft fees for account holders. In addition to minimizing opportunities to overdraw, the Smart Spend accounts have no minimum balance requirement, making it one of Tompkins’ most inclusive banking options for underbanked or previously unbanked community members.   

“Offering Smart Spend will make banking more equitable and accessible for all in our community, and it’s an important step in the right direction,” said John McKenna, president of Tompkins, Western New York and CEO of Tompkins Community Bank. “It’s our hope that Smart Spend will cater to the ever-growing diversity of financial needs we serve, and allow more individuals to establish a financial footprint, securely build their credit history and develop healthy saving and spending habits.” 

As part of its ongoing commitment to offering financial education, Tompkins hosts an ongoing series of free, virtual webinars on a variety of topics, including fraud protection, first-time homebuying, and overall financial wellness. For a schedule of upcoming events and instructions on registering, please visit https://www.tompkinsbank.com/about-us/community-events. 

Smart Spend is now available in all 16 branches serving the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming and Erie Niagara counties in Western New York. Key features of the account include a monthly maintenance cost of only $5.00, no overdraft or nonsufficient fund fees, the ability to pay bills and make purchases, and federal deposit insurance. In addition to the new program, Tompkins has also developed a corresponding Smart Spend savings account, available only to Smart Spend checking account holders. For more information, please visit https://www.tompkinsbank.com/. 

Smart Spend is officially certified by the national Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) as meeting the Bank On National Account Standards for 2021–2022. The national safe account Standards, co-created by consumer advocates, leading national nonprofit organizations, civic leaders, and other financial institutions, designate both core and strongly recommended features that ensure low cost, high functionality, and consumer safety. 

Tompkins Bank of Castile will host a Virtual First-time Home Buyer Webinar on Tuesday evening.

It is free and available to anyone interested in learning more about the first-time homebuying process.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the special programs Tompkins Bank of Castile offers to first-time home buyers. There will also be an opportunity for registrants to ask questions.

The webinar will be led by three Tompkins’ representatives: Sherri Catalano, senior vice president and regional lending manager; Diana Carney, mortgage loan originator; and Josephine Valderrama, mortgage loan originator.

It's from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 9.

To register, click here.

Press release:

Tompkins Bank of Castile has launched its online application portal for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) second round of funding for businesses, and is now accepting applications from businesses located within its geographic service areas who do not yet maintain an active business checking or loan account with Tompkins.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer this SBA (Small Business Administration) funding,” said Tompkins Bank of Castile President and CEO John McKenna. “Our team understands how challenging these times have been and we are glad we can help members of our community access these vital funds.”

New business customers must visit a Tompkins branch location to apply for a business checking account prior to the submission of their PPP application through the portal. Minority and women-owned businesses are encouraged to apply.

To learn more about the application process or to submit an application for PPP Funding, please visit the online portal here (same as link above).

Photos and information from Ben Dennis, director of Services, GC Department of Social Services:

There's an amazing generosity in the people and businesses that exist in this community. Each year, I am contacted by local businesses who want to be able to help their fellow citizens by sponsoring a family for the Holidays.

These businesses are really amazing -- how they come through with gifts for the kids and the parents who ordinarily could not afford to have a nice Christmas.

This year, the employees at O-AT-KA Milk Products Cooperative, Inc., and Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU) and Tompkins Bank of Castile (408 E. Main St.), each separately reached out to me and sponsored a separate family.

The employees themselves did all the shopping and wrapping of the gifts for each member of the family they sponsored.

Last week, the DSS caseworkers delivered the gifts to the families and they are overjoyed and incredibly grateful for the donations.

Times are very difficult right now for many families trying to make ends meet.

We have hard-working people that have had to quit their job in order to stay home and help their children with their remote school work, or we had folks who were laid off due to business closures or downsizing.

"I have to say that the way that this community comes together in a time of need is really heartwarming to me personally," Dennis said. "This community is really amazing."