Norway Savings Bank has opened a new branch at 88 Ossipee Trail East on Route 25 in Standish. The public is invited to meet the staff and enter drawings for prizes at an open house and barbecue from 10:30 a.m. until noon on Saturday, June 23.

Founded 140 years ago, Norway Savings has 20 other branches in western and southern Maine with total assets of $826 million.

With the advent of ATMs and other electronic banking options, banking services became very impersonal. Community banks like Norway Savings have been opening branches and working to offer more personalized service. By creating more retail-like establishments, banks are offering an assortment of products and services to provide a customer experience more like shopping. Norway’s new Standish branch lets customers use a kiosk for checking account information, and rocking chairs near a fireplace create a comfortable place for informal meetings or chatting with a neighbor.

“We understand that becoming part of the Standish community is about more than constructing a new building and telling everyone we’re open for business; it’s about being involved and active in the town,” said Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager Shannon Walker.

In the past five years, Norway employees have volunteered more than 20,000 hours of service to Maine nonprofit and service organizations. The bank plans to expand that support of community organizations by offering their More for Maine program. Each time a new customer opens up any Reality checking account, the bank will make a $50 donation in the person’s name to a Maine-based nonprofit of their choice.

For more information, contact Shannon Walker at 642-1290 or (888) 725-2207.