SunTrust to reduce service on Snell Isle

Customers still will be able to make transactions at the drive-through windows, but safe deposit boxes will be moved.

By SHARON BOND

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 21, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- SunTrust Bank's branch office on Snell Isle will offer drive-through service only as of Aug. 4.

That actually is positive news for the branch's 3,000 customers, said Jim Roberts, senior vice president and director of marketing in the bank's Tampa Bay regional office in Tampa.

"Our original intent was to close Snell Isle when we bought Barnett's office" at 301 39th Ave. N in 1999, Roberts said. "When we realized it was the only (bank) facility out there, we made the decision to go ahead and keep it drive-through."

Barnett Bank sold some of its sites when it was acquired by NationsBank. Both now are part of Bank of America.

SunTrust customers still will be able to cash checks, make deposits and use the automatic teller machine at the drive-through windows. Safe deposit boxes will be moved to the Northeast office. SunTrust also has a branch in downtown St. Petersburg.

Three employees at the Snell Isle branch will move to the Northeast office. Two will remain to run the drive-through windows.

Roberts said branch sites are reviewed periodically to see if they are, in effect, earning their keep in the SunTrust system. He said the Snell Isle branch had been a part of SunTrust since 1978.

SunTrust, the No. 3 bank in Florida, is headquartered in Atlanta.

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