Community Bank expands in Monroe County with new branches and regional HQ

Community Bank has begun its expansion into Monroe County, opening a new office in Webster, as part of a plan to increase its visibility throughout the area.  

Another branch, which will also serve as its Western New York headquarters, is expected to open in Pittsford this fall, followed by a Rochester branch in 2026.  

“We are growing, and Rochester is a huge focal point,” said Christopher Humphrey, regional president of Community Bank’s Western New York market, who was named to the newly created position last August.  

The Western New York region includes the Finger Lakes, Rochester and Buffalo areas. 

Humphrey noted that Community Bank has made a significant investment in the Rochester region, renovating vacant buildings for its new local branches.  

The Webster location, at 1900 Empire Blvd., opened July 14, and a grand opening celebration will be held on August 5. 

Ryan Johnson is the branch and community development manager of the Webster office. He specializes in commercial lending, financial wellness, fraud review and action planning. 

A branch at 3330 Monroe Ave. in Pittsford will open in late September.  

The bank has named Ethan Rice as branch and community development manager of its new Pittsford location. He specializes in business banking and small business development. 

The Pittsford location, in the 12,000-square-foot building that used to house the former Xceed Financial Credit Union, will include additional services through the bank’s subsidiaries, such as insurance, wealth management and employee benefits administration. 

A third Community Bank branch at 804 N. Goodman St. in Rochester is expected to open in early 2026.  

Humphrey said the bank is well positioned for growth, noting it is sized in-between larger financial institutions and smaller community banks, allowing it to offer a range of products and services along with personalized service.  

He expects growth across all segments, noting that 40 percent of the bank’s revenue comes from the ancillary financial services it provides.  

Commercial banking is also poised for growth, Humphrey said, noting that local investments are being made to increase commercial efforts locally, from additional staff to technology enhancements.  

Community Bank has already been serving the Rochester market through various lines of business, largely through its commercial banking division, for roughly eight years.  

The bank gained a Henrietta location in 2021, with its merger with Steuben Trust Corp. and its banking subsidiary, Steuben Trust Company. The bank recently named Ryan Wirth branch and community development manager of that branch, relocating to 300 Hylan Dr. this summer.  

Based in DeWitt, Onondaga County, Community Financial System Inc. operates more than 200 customer facilities across upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts through its banking subsidiary, Community Bank N.A. The financial services company has over $16 billion in assets. 

Humphrey said one of the bank’s goals is to increase its presence in the community, which it will do through its new branches and community outreach by its local workforce. 

The local branch and community development managers, for example, will spend a significant amount of time working outside of the branch and interacting with the community at large, including nonprofits, municipalities and local businesses.  

Humphrey highlighted housing as a key focus area, aiming to support homeownership and financial education in the community. 

“Housing is the bedrock of society and banks play a critical role,” he said.  

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