ALBANY, N.Y.—M&T Bank will construct a new, energy-efficient, 2,600-square-foot retail branch in the Hamilton Square shopping center on Western Avenue in Guilderland, giving the community one of the most contemporary branches within M&T’s multi-state network.

Construction of the branch began this month, with the project being built by Latham-based Bette & Cring, LLC. The branch will have a modern look, while combining traditional bank design with energy-reducing elements, including:

• Natural light is used extensively, including maximizing perimeter windows with exterior screening. All glazing will contain Low-E (Low Emissivity) coatings reducing solar heat gain
• Interior lighting utilizes a combination of energy efficient fluorescent lamps, ceramic metal halide lamps, and light emitting diode (LED's) fixtures
• Heating is provided by an energy-efficient gas unit and electric heat pump for cooling
• The exterior building skin will be clad with a composite insulated panel system that contains up to 70 percent recycled content with insulated back up walls.

“Branches continue to play a critical role in serving our communities and it’s important for us to provide great facilities for our customers to bank. M&T has been a dedicated financial partner to consumers and businesses in Guilderland for years and investing in this branch with an energy-efficient design in Hamilton Square positions us to serve the community for years to come,” said M&T Bank Albany Regional President Mike Keegan.

The perimeter of the new branch will include large expanses of glass, providing a comfortable open feeling within the bank, and exterior screening to reduce direct sunlight and glare.

M&T is replacing a decades-old building at 2080 Western Avenue. The old branch will stay open until the new branch opens this fall. Senior Branch Manager Keith Atlas and the staff of four employees will relocate to the new branch.

The contemporary prototype design was developed by Lorenzo Apicella of the international design firm Pentagram.

About M&T Bank
M&T Bank, established in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1856, is one of the top 20 independent commercial bank holding companies in the nation, with $83 billion in assets and more than 725 branch offices in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. M&T Bank operates a regional headquarters on Great Oaks Boulevard in Albany, which provides management and administrative support for all bank business lines in the Capital District and Hudson Valley.

©2013 M&T Bank, Member FDIC.

For further information:

Julia Shanahan

(716) 842-5385