SBA awards Five State Bank

WARSAW — For the second consecutive year, Five Star Bank was recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration for approving more than $1 million in loans to area small business owners during the agency’s fiscal year 2006

SBA Buffalo District Director, Franklin J. Sciortino presented Five Star Bank officials with the SBA Bronze Award during a ceremony at the bank’s headquarters in Warsaw.

Five Star Bank approved more than $3.5 million in SBA loans for area businesses. The bank also received the SBA Two Star Award for approving more than 25 loans, with a total of 46 loans.

“We are proud of the accomplishments of the small business lending team at Five Star Bank and our continued success with the SBA,” said Peter Humphrey, president and CEO of Five Star Bank. “These awards are testimony to our commitment to small business owners in the communities we serve.”

Sciortino was joined at the awards ceremony by Paul Hoffman from Buffalo SBA,Lender Relations Specialist, Victoria Reynolds from Rochester SBA, Loan Specialist, Brian Qualey from Elmira/Syracuse SBA, Commercial Loan Officer, Martin Birmingham, Five Star Bank regional president, Barb Henderson, Five Star Bank SBA administrator, and John Witkowski, Five Star Bank regional president. As a preferred SBA lender, Five Star Bank is among the leading small banks in approving SBA 7 (a) loans in the Western and Central New York region.

With $1.9 billion in assets, Five Star Bank provides a wide range of consumer and commercial banking services to individuals, municipalities and businesses through a network of 50 offices and over 70 ATM’s in Western and Central New York State.

The bank and affiliates of its parent company, Financial Institutions, Inc (FII), also provide diversified financial services to its customers and clients, including brokerage, trust, and insurance. More information on Five Star Bank is available through the Company web site at www.five-starbank.com More information on FII and its subsidiaries is available through the Company web site at www.fiiwarsaw.com .