BUFFALO, N.Y. — Often recognized as a community staple, the YMCA is known for promoting overall wellness in the visitors of its centers. The William-Emslie location is taking that mission one step further with the introduction of an M&T Bank branch on October 12 that will be designed to serve the community in innovative ways.
“Financial stability is a social determinant of health, and so financial stability can impact the overall health and wellbeing of an individual," said Danielle Roberts, executive director of the William-Emslie Family YMCA. "It is very important for this community, per say, people of color and the community, to have access. It’s important to the YMCA that we are able to continue to provide access to our members and to this community.”
The new branch will see the YMCA's family lounge transformed into an office for customers to receive financial counseling, and seminars on financial literacy will be held in an adjoining common space. Although there will be an external ATM for transactions, the new M&T will be cashless, as the objective is to bring much-needed educational resources to underserved communities. The location will also provide a more secure and less intimidating environment than a traditional bank.
“The bank, being right here on the Eastside in the YMCA, where it is considered a welcoming, safe place where people feel comfortable coming,” Roberts said. “I think that is huge in allowing the bank to have the ability to build relationships in an underserved population.”
The new YMCA location will replace the current Towne Garden Branch located just a few minutes away. The move is a combination of responding to calls from the community and promoting good practices in the city.
“What that’s going to do is provide a new safer location for our community, as well as being able to collaborate with the YMCA," said Kelly Dockery, branch manager of the Towne Garden M&T Branch. "They’re already working with the community on their wellness, their health, their body, their spirit, and so we’re just adding on and helping with the financial wellness.
Situated in an area that has unfortunately seen the opposite of generational wealth, hopes for the new M&T are to equip residents with the knowledge they need to build better futures.
“What it’s going to do is actually bring financial wealth,” Dockery said. ”Because we’re going to be having classes on, training on, and working with the community on building credit, rebuilding credit, home ownership as well as helping small businesses grow. So this will definitely be able to help our community in growing wealth.”
With a focus on fulfilling needs that have persisted for generations, this new institution will serve residents of today and of the future, building a foundation for financial freedom within the community.
“I always had a passion to be able to educate our community, so this is just a great and wonderful opportunity to be able to do that," Dockery said. "I never had this growing up so this is something that I’ve always dreamed of and my children and children’s children get to be part of this. And it’s just a wonderful experience and opportunity to be a part of.”
“I applaud M&T for taking on this new idea and coming to the YMCA, and opening up this partnership where I see this will be some longtime security and longtime answers and impact that our community really needs,” Roberts said.
The current Towne Garden M&T branch will remain open until October 8.