MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Parris Island Armed Services Bank employees celebrated the grand opening of their brand-new bank location in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 19.
The new 3,300 square-foot facility, located adjacent to the Depot Post Office, features greater space and several amenities for the employees, luxuries that they previously had to do without.
"The biggest inconvenience was the confined space - it was very, very limited," said James Moore, manager for FSNB, explaining the problem with the previous location. "Banking for recruits, civilians and active duty ... it was a challenge to say the least, but we definitely learned to adjust and be flexible."
Ask any of the employees working in the new bank and they would say that moving out of the "shoe box," where they previously worked, had been long overdue.
"We were crammed into 700 square feet, if that," explained Sandy Borrero, a bank teller for FSNB. "Now we have almost four times that. There's more room for the customers, and it looks really nice."
Other than the fact that it's bigger, it's also cleaner, we have separate office spaces and the teller line is more spread out," added Tamy Kardos, a fellow bank teller.
Along with the improved layout will come improved quality of service and a more professional appearance, according to Moore.
"The biggest advantage is that it's three-and-a-half times bigger than the previous building, which means we can provide better service to people and it's more professional," he said. "I think professionalism is not only courtesy and concern, it is also the environment in which you do business."
According to Moore, the process of planning and constructing the building took approximately four years.
"Working with the Marine Corps, they acknowledged the need for having a larger facility, so we can do better what we think we do best," he said, adding that FSNB has won the award for the Best Bank in the Navy and Marine Corps for six consecutive years. "We coordinated with the Depot as well as Facilities Maintenance and the Navy. It was a concerted effort for everyone to come together."
The $400,000 it cost to construct the new facility, all of which was paid for by FSNB, was well worth every penny, he added.
"We incurred all the financial responsibility, but it's worth it over all; it's definitely worth it," he said.
Moore also said the process of constructing the new building was "reflective of what can be done for the good of the Marine Corps to assist the military in serving people better."