First Commonwealth Bank in Leechburg to shut its doors Dec. 11, the victim of increased online traffic

The First Commonwealth Bank and its detached drive-thru on Market Street in Leechburg are scheduled to close by the end of business Friday.

Other Western Pennsylvania branches scheduled to close in December include locations in Tarentum, Buffalo Township, Pine, McKeesport, Lawrenceville and Squirrel Hill.

The closures are the result of an increase in online banking and continuing challenges from the coronavirus pandemic, said Jonathan Longwill, vice president of media relations.

“We’re seeing consumer adaption to our digital banking technology,” Longwill said.

According to bank officials, in-person teller transactions have decreased by about 20%, while digital banking, call center and online chat banking use has tripled with almost three-fourths of the customer base.

The closest First Commonwealth branches for affected customers in Leechburg are about a mile away in Allegheny Township and five miles away in Vandergrift.

The borough has one remaining bank, Nextier Bank, at 160 Market St.

Leechburg Mayor Wayne Dobos said he met with bank executives several times to try to prevent a bank closure.

“They said no. They had made up their mind, and the bank was closing,” Dobos said.

Dobos said the bank building dates to 1900 and has been a “cornerstone” of banking in the borough.

“I’m very sad and disappointed to see it close,” Dobos said.

First Commonwealth Financial Corp., headquartered in Indiana, Indiana County, has 147 banking offices in 28 counties throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Zelle, a new digital banking platform, was launched in late October.

“Digital banking adoption has increased significantly over the past five years,” said Norman Montgomery, First Commonwealth Bank business integration group manager. “During covid-19, that behavior was amplified. We saw adoption that we expected over the next couple of years happen in a matter of months. We are confident that these new platforms will be a great enhancement for our customers’ changing behaviors.”

The building in Leechburg is owned by First Commonwealth. Longwill said bank officials continue to work with the borough to find a best use for the building.