The face of banking in the north country is changing.

By this fall, all 9 HSBC branches in the north country will be under new ownership.

"They're friendly, they're nice, they'll be missed," said Dominick Russell, a customer at the HSBC branch in Lowville.

It's a change that has been a long time coming.

Last summer, Buffalo-based First Niagara bank bought all 195 HSBC branches in upstate New York.

Friday morning, the bank announced that it had found buyers for all of the branches it intends to sell off.

In the north country, Dewitt-based Community Bank is getting 5 of those branches: in Lowville; Adams; Alexandria Bay, and both Watertown locations.

The rest of the north country HSBC branches will become First Niagara banks.

"We're very thrilled with our New York state network and this is about getting back to business and converting those, assisting with the banks that are involved in these divests with their conversions," said Scott Fisher, senior vice president for Retail Channels at First Niagara Bank.

Community Bank President Mark Tryniski says nothing will change at the HSBC branches until the actual conversion date.

After that, he says the only differences customers will see should be for the better.

"I would hope they see the potential for improvement in service and responsiveness," Tryniski.

First Niagara bank officials say tey're going to keep the current staff at their new branches.

But what about Community Bank.

In Watertown, it's buying an HSBC branch that's only two doors down from its current location.

Officials say the bank has no plans at this point to lay off workers or close branches, but it's still to early in the process to say for sure. 

See Community Bank's press release.

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