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GLENS FALLS NATIONAL BANK NEWS

• November 16, 2009-Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company Presents Original Loren Blackburn Painting to the Wood Theater

Recently, at a presentation ceremony attended by Charles R. Wood Theater officials, Loren Blackburn and Bank officials, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company donated an original Loren Blackburn painting to the Wood Theater. The painting features “Centennial Circle” in downtown Glens Falls during the summer months and will be displayed in the Theater’s Main Lobby.

William Woodward, Executive Director of the Wood Theater indicated, “We are excited to have such a beautiful painting featuring our wonderful downtown. This is a terrific addition to our lobby.”

Thomas L. Hoy, Chairman, President and C.E.O. stated, “We are very pleased to present Loren’s original painting “Centennial Circle,” as we felt it very fitting that the Wood Theater have this piece of Glens Falls history. The Wood Theater was one of the key catalysts in the revitalization of our Downtown.”

Mr. Blackburn and his art have been featured in several newspapers and art magazines over the past twenty years. He was selected by “American Artist” magazine as watercolor artist of the month and has been permanently inducted into “Who’s Who in American Art.” In August 1997, he was one of 29 artists nationally profiled by US ART Magazine as “Artist Worthy of Collectors Attention.” His work is also in the permanent collection of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas.

• October 8, 2009- 2009 Holiday Parade Grand Marshall and Beneficiaries Announced

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company, the sponsor of the 30th Annual Holiday Parade to be held in South Glens Falls, has announced that Nicole Palmer, the reigning Mrs. New York and 2009 representative in the Mrs. America Pageant, will be the Grand Marshall for the Holiday Parade. A native of Gansevoort, Mrs. Palmer is a 3rd grade teacher at Queensbury Elementary School. She indicated, "I am proud to be Grand Marshall of this year's parade and to show the community that all things are possible if you follow your dreams. I am proof that with a strong family behind you, the love and support they provide, and determination one can achieve whatever they set their mind to. In our family we believe that, Palmer's Never Quit. I am proud to be an example of this for our daughters." Rick Leonelli, a Glens Falls National Bank Vice President and Parade Committee Chairperson stated, “We are excited to have such a wonderful community representative with Mrs. New York America as the Grand Marshall.”

This year’s Parade Theme is “Family Holiday Traditions”. Maintaining the tradition of the Sunday before Thanksgiving, the parade will begin at 1 p.m. on November 22, 2009 and follow the same route as it has in years past along Route 9 through the village of South Glens Falls. The parade will showcase community groups, bands, floats, costumed characters and conclude with a special guest, Santa Claus.

Beneficiaries for this year’s parade are Memorial Detachment No. 2 of the Marine Corps League Toys for Tots and the Tri-County United Way “Live United” Program. These two beneficiary groups will provide donations of new toys and non-perishable food items for local families in the Warren, Washington and northern Saratoga Counties.

Parade participants and spectators are being asked to bring a new unwrapped toy to donate for Toys for Tots and a non-perishable food item for the Tri-County United Way Live United Program. The toys and non-perishable food will be collected in the days prior to the parade at any Glens Falls National Bank Office and Capital Financial Group, Inc. Office, located at 89 Saratoga Avenue and on the day of the parade at the South Glens Falls Office of Glens Falls National Bank and along the parade route.

Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company, along with the Village of South Glens Falls is accepting applications for floats, marchers, and entertainment for this important community event. Through the years, the parade has attracted over 20,000 spectators annually and has been enjoyed by all ages.

Gail Hamel, of Hamel Resources LLC, is working with Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company as the parade coordinator. For information about the parade or entry, log on to www.hamelresources.com or contact Gail Hamel at 518-824-8383.

• October 8, 2009- Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company Is Bauer 5-Star Superior Rated for 10th Consecutive Quarter

Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company has received a 5-Star Superior rating for financial strength and stability from, BAUERFINANCIAL INC., CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA. The 5-Star Superior rating is the highest rating attainable from BAUERFINANCIAL (the Nation’s Bank Rating Firm for over a quarter of a century) and is based on the overall financial picture of the institution.

Earning a 5-Star Superior rating indicates that Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company is one of the strongest banks in the U.S. This is the tenth consecutive quarter that Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company has earned this highest honor.

Karen L. Dorway, President of BAUERFINANCIAL, praised the Bank, “Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company is a great example of a community bank that continues to serve its customers, community and shareholders using sound banking principles and standards.”

• October 7, 2009- Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company Announces Appointment of Shawn Foley

Thomas L. Hoy, Chairman, President and C.E.O. of Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company has announced the appointment of Shawn T. Foley as Investment Officer in the Bank’s Trust and Investment Group. Mr. Foley joins Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company with over eighteen years of experience in the financial services industry, twelve of which were as a portfolio manager.

Mr. Foley is a graduate of Hofstra University and received his MBA from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) granted by the CFA Institute.

• August 31, 2009- Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company Announces 2009 Holiday Parade Theme

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company, the sponsor of the 30th Annual Holiday Parade held in South Glens Falls, NY, has announced that “Family Holiday Traditions” will be the theme for this year’s Holiday Parade. Maintaining the tradition of the Sunday before Thanksgiving, the parade will begin at 1 p.m. on November 22, 2009. It will showcase community groups, bands, floats, costume characters and conclude with a special guest, Santa Claus.

Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company, along with the Village of South Glens Falls will be accepting applications for bands, floats, marchers, entertainment and sponsorship of participating groups for this important community event. Through the years, the parade has attracted over 20,000 spectators annually and has been enjoyed by all ages.

Gail Hamel, of Hamel Resources LLC, is working with Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company as the parade coordinator. For information about the parade or entry, contact Gail Hamel at 518-824-8383 or visit www.hamelresources.com.

• July 3, 2009- Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company Receives Superior Rating

Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company has received a 5-Star Superior rating for financial strength and stability from, BAUERFINANCIAL INC., CORAL CABLES, FLORIDA. The 5-Star Superior rating is the highest rating attainable from BAUERFINANCIAL (the Nation’s Bank Rating Firm for over a quarter of a century) and is based on the overall financial picture of the institution.

Earning a 5-Star Superior rating indicates that Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company is one of the strongest banks in the U.S. In fact, this is the ninth consecutive quarter that Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company has earned this highest honor.

Karen L. Dorway, President of BAUERFINANCIAL, praised the Bank, “Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company is an excellent example of how a community bank serves both its customers and shareholders. The board of directors, management and staff has been steadfast in adhering to sound banking principles and standards.”

• April 27, 2009- South Glens Falls Mayor Donohue Announces Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company To Sponsor 2009 Holiday Parade

South Glens Falls Mayor Keith Donohue, along with Chairman, President and C.E.O., Tom Hoy of Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company announced today at a press conference held in the South Glens Falls Village Office, that Glens Falls National Bank will sponsor the 2009 Holiday Parade to be held in November in South Glens Falls.

There is strong support from Glens Falls National Bank’s senior management, employees, Keith Donohue, Mayor of South Glens Falls and South Glens Falls Village employees. Hoy, stated, “We know how important this event is to South Glens Falls and the entire area. We’re very pleased to sponsor the 2009 Holiday Parade and we want to take the steps to ensure its continued success and build on the future of the event.

“Rick Leonelli, Vice President at our Bank will spearhead the Bank’s sponsorship. Rick is a native of South Glens Falls, and has a long-time commitment to the community as a volunteer.”

Donohue commented, “We’re excited about Glens Falls National stepping up to make sure that the Holiday Parade continues in 2009, it is a marquee event that takes place in our Village. It really is an area wide parade that attracts performers and thousands of spectators from all parts of our region.”

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company which has been locally headquartered since 1851, has had a banking office in the Village for 43 years. The Bank opened its South Glens Falls Office in 1966 on Route 9.

• April 3, 2009- Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company in Top Rating

BauerFinancial, Inc., Coral Gables, Florida has announced that Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company, Glens Falls, New York has earned its highest 5-Star Superior rating for financial strength and stability. BauerFinancial, the Nation’s Bank Rating Firm, has been analyzing and reporting on the nation’s banks for over 25 years. The rating is based on the overall financial picture of the bank, and a 5-Star rating indicates that Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company is one of the strongest banks in the nation. This is the eighth consecutive quarter that Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company has earned this highest honor. 

“The number of 5-Star rated banks has declined”, comments Karen L. Dorway, president of BauerFinancial, “however, Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company is an excellent example of traditional, conservative banking. In this new era of ‘back to basics’ thinking, this is exactly what consumers and businesses should be looking for in a bank.”

• February 5, 2009- Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company has announced the promotion of Melissa S. LaFiura to Vice President and Trianing Manager.

Mrs. LaFiura joined the Bank in 1999 as a Training Coordinator. She was promoted to Training Officer in 2001 and Assistant Vice President and Training Officer in 2004. She graduated from Minerva Central School in Olmstedville, New York and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Communications from Bryant College in Rhode Island. She has also completed extensive graduate work in Professional and Technical Writing at Northeastern University.

• January 23, 2009- Glens Falls National Bank Employee Receives Award from Empire State College

An awards reception and dinner were held recently honoring Laura J. Critcher, Marketing Assistant Manager from Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company. Ms. Critcher was among four other nontraditional students from Empire State College at the State University of New York to receive the first annual, Northeast Center Community Service Award in recognition for her outstanding service to the community.

Hosted by Dean Gerald Lorentz and the Northeast Center Alumni Student Association, student mentors, friends, family and representatives from charitable organizations joined to celebrate and recognize the contributions that students make to the communities.

Ms. Critcher currently volunteers her efforts to the Tri-County United Way, the American Cancer Society, South Glens Falls High School Dance Marathon and the Hole In One Mini-Golf Tournament Fundraiser benefiting the Double H Ranch.

• January 22, 2009- Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company Earns 5-Star Superior Rating

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company, Glens Falls, New York proudly announces it has earned BAUERFINANCIAL, Inc.’s highest 5-Star Superior rating for financial strength and stability. BAUERFINANCIAL has been analyzing the nation’s banks for over 25 years and has earned the reputation as “the Nation’s Bank Rating Firm”, so to garner its highest 5-Star rating is a time-honored badge of distinction. Customers of Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company can be proud that their bank still shines, even under the watchful eye of the BAUERFINANCIAL microscope. The rating is based on the overall financial picture of the bank and at 5-Stars indicates that Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company is one of the strongest banks in the nation. This is the seventh consecutive quarter that Glens Falls National Bank has earned this highest honor.

Karen L. Dorway, president of BAUERFINANCIAL, indicated: “Some banks ignored proper loan underwriting standards in recent years and are now paying the price for that decision. But, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company is a prime example of a bank that has stuck to traditional, conservative banking strategies, which, in this climate, is exactly what the ‘other banks’ are returning to. Glens Falls National is a model of banking safety and soundness and its customers can rest assured in that knowledge.”

Established in 1851, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company currently operates through 27 offices in five upstate New York counties: Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Essex and Clinton.

BAUERFINANCIAL, INC., Coral Gables, Florida, the nation’s leading independent bank rating and research firm, has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983. No institution pays for its rating, nor can it be eluded. Consumers may obtain star-ratings by visiting www.bauerfinancial.com.