CVAL Chester Valley Bancorp (MM)

First Financial Bank Opens Avondale Office, 13th in Chester County DOWNINGTOWN, Pa., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- When customers walk through the doors of the bank branch at 119 Pennsylvania Avenue in Avondale on December 13th there will be quite a few differences. The first thing they may notice is a different bank name. First Financial Bank completed its acquisition of the branch from PNC Bank effective at the close of business on December 10, 2004. "People will notice some important differences immediately," noted First Financial Bank Senior Vice President Chris Breslin. "We have extended the branch hours to 8:00 to 4:00 Monday through Thursday, until 6:00 on Friday and also from 9:00 to 1:00 on Saturday. The branch now has a FREE coin counting machine: that is one of the most often requested services for a bank branch. Because this branch has a high percentage of Spanish speaking residents, we have made Spanish versions of our brochures available. Over the next several months, we will be adding staff to improve the speed and service quality in the branch. Together with our twelve existing branches, 24 hour online and telephone banking systems, and access to nationwide ATM networks, customers will clearly see and feel our commitment to providing extraordinary service on every level." The existing branch staff is excited by the changes and has remained with First Financial Bank. "It's clear that First Financial has made a commitment to residents of the area, first by purchasing the branch and again with the improvements it is making," noted Susan Riberio, Branch Manager and one of the former PNC branch staff members who have remained with First Financial. "That's important to us, both as staff and as residents. We are very happy to stay with the branch and continue to serve our customers under the First Financial Bank name." "The story of a smaller bank taking over the branch of a larger bank isn't one that is told often, and it is remarkable," noted Donna Coughey, First Financial Bank President and CEO. "As a community bank, we are uniquely suited to deliver high quality financial services to a wide range of customers. We see the potential growth in the area as exciting and want to play a leadership role in Avondale and Southern Chester County." In fact, First Financial Bank donates to over 100 community organizations annually and its staff donates thousands of volunteer hours both as leaders for and participants in a variety of community organizations and projects throughout the areas it serves. First Financial Bank, headquartered in Downingtown, PA, has thirteen branch offices throughout Chester County and serves the retail and business community with full-service banking solutions. First Financial Bank can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.ffbonline.com/. Chester Valley Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:CVAL) is the parent company of First Financial Bank and is traded on the NASDAQ market under the symbol CVAL. DATASOURCE: First Financial Bank CONTACT: Beth W. Reburn of First Financial Bank, +1-610-269-9700 Ext. 3084 Web site: http://www.ffbonline.com/

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