Bangor Saving Bank surprises diner customers

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Bangor Savings Bank is community minded and they demonstrated that recently at the Elm Tree Diner.
    Renee McGillicuddy, manager of Elm Tree, explained that Chris Nickerson, vice president and northern regional market manager for Bangor Savings, approached herself and owner Gary Dwyer to see if they would be interested in honoring their patrons.
    “We thought it would be great so we agreed on the day and time,” said McGillicuddy.
    Keeping the secret were bank officials, along with McGillicuddy and Dwyer. They were the only ones who knew when Bangor Savings Bank would spring into action.
    “I didn’t tell anyone,” said McGillicuddy. “No one knew here. I didn’t even tell my assistant manager.”
    For an hour, people eating dinner at Elm Tree Diner were given a free meal by Bangor Savings Bank. When people would come to pay their bill, McGillicuddy would hand them a card stating “Lunch is on us today. Hope you enjoy your lunch. We’ll cover the tab. No worries. Chris. Bangor Savings Bank.”
    People were shocked.
    “We wanted it to be a surprise,” said Nickerson. “It was to be a thank you to the people in the community.”
    McGillicuddy agreed that there were some “very surprised” individuals.
    “They would say, ‘Really.’ ‘That is nice.’ or ‘Seriously, we don’t have to pay for this?’ People were not only surprised but pleased.”
    Bangor Savings Bank even had a few phone calls thanking them for their kindness.
    “Bangor Savings Bank has done this same gesture throughout the state,” said Nickerson. “The local branch officers pick the restaurant and then coordinate the details. It was fun for the community.”
    McGillicuddy said the Elm Tree Diner would definitely participate in another gesture of this form again.
    “It is good customer relations for the bank and us,” she said. “I thought it would be fun and it was. It was a ball.”