GRBblog

Welcome to the GRBblog! Get to know GRB, Rochester's only locally owned and managed commercial bank. A commercial bank, but also a community bank, with an entrepreneurial spirit about everything we do. We're committed to Growing Rochester Business and making our community a better place to live and work.

The GRBblog is where we post bank news and information, stories about the great organizations we support, and share relevant local and national business news.


January Fundraising for Veterans

Veterans Outreach Center logo

GRB Mortgage is pleased to announce it is sponsoring a fundraiser to benefit our local service men and women. GRB’s Mortgage Team is offering free appraisals on VA loans and will donate $25 for every residential mortgage application taken throughout the month of January 2019 to the Veterans Outreach Center (VOC).

For those of you who may not be familiar with VOC, the organization was established in 1973 and provides comprehensive resources to current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families through direct service, community collaboration and advocacy. This includes providing a wide range of services such as benefits counseling, job training and placement, mentoring, legal resources, therapy services, housing assistance and much more.

You can learn more about VOC and follow their efforts at www.vocroc.org.

If you are interested in a VA loan or any other residential mortgage option, talk to our mortgage team.

Spread the word and we thank you in advance for your support of our local service men and women.


Greece Branch Moving to Serve You Better

Photo of new Greece location

GRB is excited to share the news that it will be relocating its Greece branch, currently located at 2300 West Ridge Road, just a little further west to a larger location at:

4180 West Ridge Road

Just west of Kohl’s in The Shops at Hampton Ridge Plaza

The new branch will officially open for business on Monday, January 28 at 8:55 a.m.  We are pleased the new location will offer a number of significant benefits for our customers, including:

  • Two Drive-up Teller Lanes
  • 24/7 Drive-up Night Depository
  • 24/7 ATM in Vestibule
  • Offices for Added Privacy
  • Easier In and Out, Ample Parking

“GRB has experienced substantial growth in its retail, mortgage and commercial lines of business,” said Paul Keenan, Senior Vice President and Retail Banking Manager.  “Our new location provides added convenience for our current customers and offers additional space so we can continue to grow all three lines of business.”

PLEASE NOTE:  In preparation for the move, the current Greece Branch will close at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25.


Your GRB Mastercard Could Take You to Hawaii

MasterCard Surprises promotional graphic

GRB is pleased to announce that it is participating in the Priceless Surprises® campaign with Mastercard®, allowing eligible cardholders to be entered for prizes just for using their GRB debit card.  Surprises range from $500 statement credits to once-in-a-lifetime trips – and a GRB customer is guaranteed to win one of the $500 prizes!

The grand prize winner can select one of the following amazing destinations:

  • New York City
  • Los Angeles
  • Hawaii
  • Miami
  • Chicago

Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, cardholders will automatically receive one (1) entry into the promotion each time they use their Mastercard to make a purchase during the promotion period through March 31, 2019. PIN-based purchases made with a Debit card, international transactions and transactions with an HSA Mastercard or small business Mastercard are not eligible for an entry. The promotion is open to our Mastercard debit cardholders age 18+ who are U.S. residents, and cardholders in good standing.


E. Philip Saunders Selected as ICON Honors Recipient

E. Philip Saunders Receives ICON Honor

Celebrating the selection of GRB’s Co-founder and Chairman of the Board E. Philip Saunders to the ICON Honors class of 2018! The ICON Honors awards recognize Greater Rochester Area business leaders over the age of 60 for their notable success and demonstration of strong leadership both within and outside of their chosen field.

Mr. Saunders is the founder of a number of notable companies including Truck Stops of America, Griffith Energy, Travel Centers of America and Sugar Creek Corporation.  In addition, Mr. Saunders is an owner of Essex Property Management, a company responsible for commercial properties. Other significant ownership interests include Valley Fuels, Bristol Harbour Resort, Sugar Creek Farms, Western New York Energy and American Rock Salt.


GRB Welcomes Tim Jones to Executive Team as Chief Lending Officer

Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Tim Jones

GRB Executive Vice President Dave Halladay to Take on New Position as Chief Credit Officer

Genesee Regional Bank (GRB) is pleased to announce that Tim Jones has joined the bank’s leadership team as Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer.  Executive Vice President Dave Halladay will take over the newly created role of Chief Credit Officer.

Jones, who has more than 25 years of commercial banking experience in the local Rochester market, will oversee the commercial relationship management team and lead GRB’s business development efforts.  Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in economics/finance from Ithaca College and completed his Master of Business Administration at Rochester Institute of Technology’s Saunders College of Business.  He also completed the Senior Leadership Development Program at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.  Active in the community, Jones is a member of the Board of Directors and serves on the Audit and Finance Committees for Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women and is a member of the Board of Directors of Friends of Constellation Brands Performing Arts Center (CMAC).  He is also a former chairman of the Board of Directors of Bivona Child Advocacy Center, and continues to serve the organization as a member of its Stewardship Committee.

“We are pleased to welcome Tim Jones to the GRB team.  Tim is an exceptional banker who brings solid credit acumen and extensive sales management experience to GRB,” said Philip L Pecora, GRB’s President and CEO.  “In the last decade, GRB has grown five-fold in total assets, adding hundreds of new commercial client relationships and more than 80 employees.  With a focus on continued growth, we feel it was time to bring additional leadership resources to the bank.”


GRB on Rochester Top 100 List

Rochester Top 100 2018 winner logo

GRB is pleased to announce it has once again placed on the Rochester Chamber and KPMG “Top 100” list.  GRB is the only bank on the Top 100.

To be eligible for the Rochester Chamber Top 100, businesses must be privately held, headquartered in the nine-county Rochester region, and have earned at least $1 million in revenue in each of the three most recent fiscal years. The Rochester Chamber Top 100 is computed based on revenue growth, taking into account both dollar and percentage growth.

We are also proud to note the number of GRB customers and partners on the Top 100.  The diversity of new businesses on the list and the consistent growth of long-standing local companies serves as a testament to the strength and innovative spirit that characterizes our region.  We wish everyone a sincere congratulations!

At GRB, we are fortunate to have a wonderful employee team serving our customers every day.  Thank you for your commitment and dedication.  You made this achievement possible.


You Could Be Surprised with Mastercard Surprises!

Image of woman enjoying visit to NYC

GRB is pleased to announce that it is participating in the Priceless Surprises® campaign with Mastercard®, allowing eligible cardholders to be entered for prizes just for using their GRB debit card.  Surprises range from $500 statement credits to once-in-a-lifetime trips – and one GRB customer is guaranteed to win one of the $500 prizes!

The grand prize winner can select one of the following amazing destinations:

  • New York City
  • Los Angeles
  • Hawaii
  • Miami
  • Chicago

Beginning Oct. 1, 2018, Cardholders will automatically receive one (1) entry into the promotion each time they use their Mastercard to make a purchase during the promotion period through Dec. 30, 2018. PIN-based purchases made with a Debit card, international transactions and transactions with an HSA Mastercard or small business Mastercard are not eligible for an entry. The promotion is open to our Mastercard debit cardholders age 18+ who are U.S. residents, and cardholders in good standing.


GRB’s Brandon Beardsley Recognized in RBJ Forty Under 40 Program

RBJ Brandon Beardsley 40 under 40 Announcement

Congratulations to our VP, Risk Management Officer Brandon Beardsley for being named to the 2018 RBJ Forty Under 40 list! Brandon joined GRB five years ago as an internal auditor. He was promoted to his current role leading the bank’s regulatory and compliance team in 2016. Dedicated to community service, Brandon is on the Camp Good Days and Special Times Inc. board and received the 2017 Teddi Award, awarded by Camp Good Days for voluntary services that go above and beyond. He also participates in a number of industry and local organizations including the Rochester Security Clearinghouse, Institute of Internal Auditors, Rochester Young Professionals, and Information Systems Control & Association (ISACA). Way to go, Brandon!


Is Your HSA Due for a Check Up?

Laura Benotti, HSA Relationship Manager

For those with a High Deductible Health Plan, your Health Savings Account is an important part of your health benefits package.

“To maximize its benefits, make sure and give it a ‘mid-year check up,'” says Genesee Regional Bank’s Health Savings Account Relationship Manager Laura Benotti.

“Your situation may have changed significantly since the beginning of the year,” noted Benotti.  “If you aren’t maxing out your HSA contribution and you end up adding a new medication or treatment, you could fall short in your account and not be able to take advantage of all the pre-tax savings offered by your HSA.  Take this opportunity to figure out whether you need to make some changes while there is still time to spread additional contributions out over the remainder of the year.”

Benotti also points out that the opposite problem can also occur…contributing too much.  Since HSA dollars are saved as pre-tax dollars, if you contribute too much to your HSA account you will need to rectify the situation prior to filing your taxes or face an excise tax.


Facial Recognition Support Available on GRBmobile for iOS Users

Photo illustration representing facial recognition technology

The latest upgrade to GRBmobile brings a number of enhancements to users, including support for iOS facial recognition technology used on the iPhone 10.  Now, GRBmobile users that unlock their mobile device with facial recognition can also bypass the user name and password requirement for GRBmobile using the same process.

If you have automatic updates turned on for GRBmobile, the latest version will be installed when available. If you manually update GRBmobile, go to the App Store or Play Store to install the latest version.