December 7, 2018 marked a very important milestone in the history of Sullivan County community banking – the 25th Anniversary of Catskill Hudson Bank. Originally called Community Bank of Sullivan County, Catskill Hudson Bank was founded by a group of Sullivan County business leaders with its main office in Monticello, on Route 42 North.
Today, the bank has 13 branches – 9 in the Hudson Valley/Catskills and 4 in the Capital District. The bank has branches in five counties: Sullivan, Orange, Ulster, Albany and Saratoga. “We didn’t put lines on the map but moved to where the opportunities were,” Bank CEO and Board Chairman Mario L. Martinez said. “By having a branch in Albany County we are not only in the capital of New York but there is a lot more activity there – government, colleges and many businesses – and the opportunity for loan and deposit growth.”
In October, Catskill Hudson passed two significant milestones.
One was reaching $300,000,000 in its loan portfolio, a new record for the bank.
The other was that October 2018 was the most profitable month in the 25-year history of the bank.
And next year, Catskill Hudson will break ground on a new branch in Monticello, located at the site of the former Blue Horizon Diner, across Route 42 from its current location.
The new 5,000 square foot building will host a loan office, conference room and full-service banking branch. “Today we have roughly 100 employees,” Martinez said. “A lot of our people are very long-term employees.”
Liberty Branch Manager Mary Ellen Early has been with the bank since 1997, and Narrowsburg Branch Manager Debra Reimer and Callicoon Branch Manager Karen Theadore have been with the bank for 11 years.”
“We are focused on the personal side of banking,” Martinez said.
In fact, the bank changed its Annual Report from an accounting journal to a “friendly Annual Report” to introduce its employees to its shareholders and investors.
While the facts and figures on the bank’s performance are still listed, the 2017 Annual Report contains photos and names of employees in the bank.
Bank President Kevin S. McLaren said, “Many customers still like to see branch staff and go into the bank. They still like the personal aspects of branch banking.”
And the bank has also kept up with technology.
“We can compete with the best of them in technology,” Martinez said. “We have one of the most secure networks in the industry.
“Our customers should feel good about the secure network,” he said. “Mobile banking is the future of banking and you have to have both mobile and branch banking to be successful.”
Catskill Hudson Bank Board of Directors
Mario L. Martinez, Chairman and CEO
Kevin S. McLaren, President
Jonathan M. Farrow
Robert S. Green
Dawn M. Martinez
Gary C. Schmidt, Founding Director
Jan S. Van Etten, Founding Director
Corporate Headquarters
95 Schwenk Drive, Kingston
Catskill Hudson Bank Branch Locations
Peck’s Market, Callicoon
103 Canal St., Ellenville
279 Main Street, Grahamsville
148 George Street, Green Island
1685 State Route 9, Halfmoon
101 Kings Mall Court, Kingston
851 New Loudon Rd., Latham
1987 State Route 52 East, Liberty