NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — M&T Bank is teaming up with the City of Niagara Falls to help reduce the number of “zombie properties” in the city.

The Niagara Falls Zombie Fight Project Team announced Wednesday M&T will participate in the city's Home Ownership Auction next month.

The auction is part of the city's effort to enforce the State Zombie Property and Foreclosure Prevention Law.

M&T will include one of its vacant properties in the auction. City officials say M&T is the first bank to agree to do that.

"This is the first time this type of auction has been agreed to by a bank in New York State. We're happy to be first on things and we're hoping that other banks take notice and will partner with us. It's of no cost to the bank, we organize the auctioneer and we would be happy to so this throughout the year," said Seth Piccirillo, director of community development/code enforcement, City of Niagara Falls.

The Home Ownership Auction takes place on June 19 at Niagara Falls City Hall.