GRB is Proud to Celebrate 30 Years of Trusted Banking in Western and Central NY
As Genesee Regional Bank marks its 30th anniversary in 2026, we’re celebrating more than a milestone. We’re celebrating the strength of a community that has grown with us and inspired us since 1996.
Three decades ago, GRB was founded with a simple but powerful vision: restore a true community banking presence in the Rochester region. At a time when mergers and consolidations were reshaping the financial landscape, GRB set out to prove that a locally owned, locally focused bank could not only survive — it could thrive.
Community Banking is More Important Than Ever
Today, as the number of community banks nationwide continues to shrink, GRB stands as a reminder of why they matter more than ever. Community banks are powerful allies for individuals, families, and businesses. They understand local needs, make local decisions, and reinvest local dollars back into the neighborhoods they serve. That commitment has guided GRB for 30 years, and it continues to shape our future.
Even as the number of community banks has declined nationwide, their role has never been more essential. Community banks:
- Provide personalized service that larger institutions can’t match.
- Make local decisions that move quickly and reflect real community needs.
- Support small businesses, which remain the backbone of local economies.
- Offer competitive residential mortgage services with the added benefit of local expertise.
- Reinvest deposits back into the community, strengthening neighborhoods and fueling growth.
GRB has embraced this mission from day one. Our commercial banking team champions local entrepreneurs. Our personal banking services are built around relationships, not transactions. And our residential mortgage team, now one of the region’s largest, helps families put down roots right here in Western and Central New York.
“Community banking isn’t just our business model, it’s our promise,” said Phil Pecora, GRB’s president and CEO for more than 20 years. “We exist to strengthen this region, one customer, one business, and one home at a time.”
A Legacy of Growth Rooted in Community
From the beginning, GRB’s story has been one of steady, intentional growth. When the bank was renamed Genesee Regional Bank in 1996, it held just $33 million in assets. Today, GRB has surpassed $1 billion in total assets and continues to expand its reach and impact across Western and Central New York.
Along the way, several key milestones helped shape who we are:
- 1996: A new beginning – GRB is established by local business leaders Dan Gullace and E. Philip Saunders with a mission to restore community banking in the region.
- 2003: Leadership that lasts – Phil Pecora joins as Senior Vice President, manager of commercial banking and is promoted to President and CEO in 2005, a position he still holds today.
- 2005: Top 100 – GRB lands on the Greater Rochester Chamber Top 100 list for the first of many times. GRB is often the only financial institution on the list.
- 2009: Growing into new space – GRB moves its headquarters from Monroe Avenue to Linden Oaks.
- 2013: A major step into residential mortgages – GRB adds three residential mortgage companies, becoming one of the region’s leading mortgage lenders.
- 2015: New headquarters – The bank’s continued expansion leads to the purchase of a new headquarters building on Winton Road.
- 2020: Supporting small businesses through crisis – GRB processes 577 Paycheck Protection Program loans, including many for businesses unable to secure support elsewhere.
- 2021: Recognition – GRB is named a Best-Performing Community Bank by S&P Global.
- 2023: Ongoing momentum – GRB crosses the $1 billion asset mark, reinforcing its position as a regional leader.
- 2024: Employer of choice – GRB earns a position on the annual list of the Best Companies to Work for in New York for the tenth consecutive year.
These milestones reflect more than growth. They reflect GRB’s commitment to being Here. For You. through every economic cycle, every challenge, and every opportunity.
Looking Ahead: A Celebration Focused on People
As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, GRB is focusing on what matters most: our employees, our customers, and our community.
Throughout the year, we’ll be supporting initiatives that deepen our community support, recognize and expand opportunities for our team, and enhance the banking experience for everyone who walks through our doors. Please check in with us on our website and follow us on our socials to see all the ways we’ll be celebrating our 30th anniversary throughout 2026.
To everyone who has trusted GRB — whether you opened a checking account in 1996, closed on your first home last year, or launched a business with our support — a sincere thank you. You are the reason we’re here, and the reason we’re still growing.
“The next 30 years will be defined by innovation, service, and an unwavering commitment to this region,” said Pecora “We’re proud of our past, but we’re even more excited about what comes next.”
Here’s to 30 years of community banking. Here’s to the next 30 years of building something even stronger, together.
