Barnegat Light Bank of America Branch to Close

The Bank of America location in Barnegat Light will close in October, according to a letter read at the Borough Council meeting yesterday.

Mayor Kirk Larson noted that he and many other residents in town recieved a letter from the Bank of America Corporate offices that at 2 p.m. on Oct. 12, 2012, the Barnegat Light Banking Center, located at 1508 Central Avenue, will close.

According to the letter, penned by Bassam M. Awadalla, an area executive representing Bank of America, "banking services will continue to be available at our Ship Bottom Banking Center, located at 1501 Long Beach Boulevard, Ship Bottom, New Jersey."

However, Larson and many residents at the meeting noted that the Ship Bottom location is about "12 traffic lights" from the current location, which can be a long drive in the summer months, when island traffic is high.

Larson said he hoped Bank of America would at least consider leaving the location open in the summer. Larson also expressed concerns about customer service, noting, "how is the Ship Bottom location going to handle the overflow?" In the letter, Awadalla noted that "there will be no interruption in service and you'll have access to your accounts at all times." The letter noted that safe deposit customers would be receiving a separate letter detailing further box information.

Council member Dorothy Reynolds urged the Council to draft a letter expressing their concerns about the bank closure, and possible future uses of the building. Bank of America currently owns the location.

Another council member noted that the Beach Haven Bank of America location is also expected to close this fall. A call for comment to Bank of America corporate offices was not immediately returned.