Business & Tech

Wells Fargo Opens Branch in Pearl River ShopRite Today

One of Wells Fargo's six-horse stagecoaches, a reproduction of the ones used when the company was founded in 1852, rolled through Pearl River as part of the New York and New Jersey Firemen's Association 100th Anniversary Parade June 8. 

The stagecoach gave Rockland County Sheriff Lou Falco a ride that day, but it also served to promote the company's ongoing expansion in Rockland County with the impending arrival of a branch in ShopRite of Pearl River.

Wells Fargo opened its Pearl River location Monday morning. Along with a location in Georgia, it is one of the first two in-store locations on the East Coast for Wells Fargo.

"We have an opportunity to be a trend-setter," said Wells Fargo District Manager Bill Tullio. "We're proud to do that. Pearl River is the right community to do that with."

There will also be a grand opening ceremony with Wells Fargo representatives joining local officials for a ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. Saturday. Wells Fargo will present the Rockland Center for the Arts with a $10,000 grant for its Art World school program during Saturday's event. 

Tullio said the location fills a gap for Wells Fargo. The nearest branches had been in Nyack, Spring Valley or New Jersey.

"We're so excited about this Pearl River location," Tullio said. "Pearl River is a family-oriented town with a lot of small businesses. ShopRite is owned by Glass Gardens, Inc. They have embraced the opportunity. It was a strong match from the beginning."

They have moved into the space previously occupied by a Provident Bank, which made the transition easier. The location at the corner of Middletown Road and Central Ave. was also a big draw for Wells Fargo. 

"It made it easier to meet our needs, but changed to our design standards," Tullio said. "It looks incredible. The location is critical. It is the only major supermarket in town. We're at two main cross streets."

Though the bank is in a store, Tullio said it is a full-service institution.

"We offer a unique opportunity, with the convenience of banking where you are food shopping or going to the pharmacy," Tullio said. "We're a full-service bank location, not a satellite or hybrid. Take the traditional bank that might be on the corner of two main streets, but the only difference is it is in ShopRite."


Tullio said he expects this to be the beginning of a trend, with banks getting away from huge stores and opening more in-store locations. Wells Fargo already has a large number of similar locations on the West Coast. 

"We're able to get into more areas," Tullio said. "We can do all the things we do in a big location in a smaller environment and be more convenient."

Tullio said they will be looking to get more involved in the community through programs such as Wells at Work, which provides services to local businesses. He said they will also be reaching out to Pearl River Schools to offer a program that offers guest speakers that talk to children from Kindergarten on up about financial literacy. 


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