When It Comes To Free Checking, Community State Bank Succeeds Where Larger Banks Often Fail.

Community State Bank customers have been enjoying free checking since the inception of the bank in 1997. "From the very beginning, we've offered free checking with absolutely no strings attached," said Stuart H. Lubow, President & CEO of the Bank.

date:12-10-02
contact:Keith Van Saders
S.V.P. Chief Financial Officer
(201) 836-8300, ext. 102
kvansaders@csbnj.com
contact:AGENCY
Debbie Gavin
(973) 227-8080, ext. 35
dgavin@turchette.com

When It Comes To Free Checking,
Community State Bank Succeeds
Where Larger Banks Often Fail

TEANECK, NJ -- Community State Bank customers have been enjoying free checking since the inception of the bank in 1997. Many larger banks -- Fleet, PNC and Commerce, to name just a few -- have been talking at length about their so-called free" checking, which very often is free only on the surface. From the very beginning, weve offered free checking with absolutely no strings attached," said Stuart H. Lubow, President and CEO of the bank.

According to Edward Mierzwinski, Consumer Program Director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Its free checking, but no canceled checks (returned), or free checking but no ATM card, or free checking but only for one year."

People feel that when they go to one of the big-name banks that advertises free checking, that theyll get exactly that," said Mr. Lubow. What they often dont understand is that there could be hidden fees associated with the account. Some banks can and do use a loophole in advertising regulations to get around a problem with saying free," then hit the consumer with a minimum balance requirement, a service charge for going below the minimum, or charge for an ATM card."

Since its founding, Community State Bank has prided itself in the kind of service it has provided its retail and business consumers. And, while the bank is committed to its one-on-one community-bank service, it presents itself with the kind of stature and assertiveness most often associated with far larger institutions. Even before our doors opened, CSBs management and staff looked for unique ways to better and more efficiently serve the banking public, and our free checking account is just one of those ways," said Mr. Lubow.

Another convenience that we offered customers long before some of the larger banks jumped on the bandwagon was opening our branches seven days a week," continued Mr. Lubow. And we dont just open branches drive-up windows; we open as we would any normal business day, with access to safe deposits boxes and the opening of new accounts."

Community State Bank customers have always enjoyed such benefits as no-fee ATM/debit cards, free telephone banking, the return of canceled checks, and the first order of checks at no charge.

And, in addition to traditional checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of
deposit, corporate and commercial loans, installment loans, real estate and mortgage loans, wire transfers, and ATM services, CSB has added non- traditional services to its offerings. For instance, to extend functionality of the banks services beyond the walls of its branch offices, CSB opened -- for both its
retail and business customers -- branch24.com, an online banking service that provides the full gamut of banking services via the internet.

Through its affiliation with Mass Mutual Life Insurance, the bank offers an array of insurance and security products, including annuities and mutual funds.

Community State Bank can be contacted by phone at (201) 836-8300 or through its informational web site, www.csbnj.com. CSB, an independent state-chartered commercial bank headquartered at 417 Cedar Lane, Teaneck, also has full-service offices in Teaneck, Hackensack, Park Ridge, and Englewood. The bank is a member of the FDIC and is an Equal Opportunity Lender.

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