Bank makes $100K gift to Middletown Community Foundation

Fred DeBiasi, former president and CEO of American Savings Bank and president and COO of Valley Central Bank, presents a $100,000 check to Traci Barnett, executive director the Middletown Community Foundation. Bank executives, from left, Ben Kessling, chairman of board, Joanna Gaynor, CEO, Barnett, DeBiasi and Ed Pokora, former chairman of American Savings. RICK McCRABB/STAFF

Fred DeBiasi, former president and CEO of American Savings Bank and president and COO of Valley Central Bank, presents a $100,000 check to Traci Barnett, executive director the Middletown Community Foundation. Bank executives, from left, Ben Kessling, chairman of board, Joanna Gaynor, CEO, Barnett, DeBiasi and Ed Pokora, former chairman of American Savings. RICK McCRABB/STAFF

Valley Central Bank, which merged with American Savings Bank, wanted to make “a lasting gift to the community,” said Fred DeBiasi, former president and CEO of American Savings Bank and president and COO of Valley Central Bank.

So on Wednesday, before Middletown Community Foundation distribution committee met to award grants to area nonprofits, DeBiasi presented a $100,000 check to Traci Barnett, executive director the MCF. Proceeds from the American Savings Bank Legacy Fund will support grants to local organizations, Barnett said.

“This fund will help us to have even more impact in the communities we serve through our competitive grant process,” she said.

Barnett estimated proceeds from the endowment will provide enough revenue for two more grants.

DeBiasi, who joined American Savings Bank in 2007 and served on the MCF board, called the organization “good stewards of the funds” and said he expects the grants to help with a variety of needs in the city.

American Savings Bank was founded about 130 years ago. DeBiasi said those at American “couldn’t think of a better way to keep our name alive” than to provide an endowment.

“We wanted to do something extra to show a commitment to the community,” he said.

Valley Central Bank operates out of the two former American Savings Bank locations in Middletown and has three additional locations, branches in Liberty Twp. and Reading and a loan production office in Montgomery.

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