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Banking on a generation: Chase’s newest Bklyn branch caters to young professionals with laptop stations, free wifi

Banking on a generation: Chase’s newest Bklyn branch caters to young professionals with laptop stations, free wifi
Photo by Caroline Ourso

This bank wants you to stay awhile!

Bigwigs at Chase Bank opened a new Williamsburg outpost on Saturday that offers patrons couches to relax on, a space to charge laptops and phones, and free wifi — the latter amenity previously unavailable to customers in the neighborhood, according to the branch’s manager.

“Free wifi is new for this branch, it’s not at other Williamsburg locations,” said Tamara Bulatovic. “The space is very comfy, it feels like a cozy living room.”

Roughly 100 locals came out to watch Chase leaders snip the ribbon at the opening of the branch at 180 Bedford Ave., which is the bank’s third location in Williamsburg and nearby Greenpoint, and its 78th in Brooklyn, according to Bulatovic.

The storefront between N. Seventh and Eighth streets, steps from the Bedford Avenue subway station, will allow Chase to better serve the thousands of residents and tourists that over the years transformed the formerly industrial neighborhood into one of the city’s busiest commercial centers, the branch manager said.

“Williamsburg is surpassing some areas in Manhattan in terms of a millennial population, and tourist traffic,” she said. “This branch is centrally located to make it more convenient for our customers to achieve their banking needs.”

The opening-day event featured food from such local eateries as Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, fried-chicken spot Sweet Chick, and Martha’s Country Bakery, along with giveaways of swag that included speakers and headphones, making the festivities fun for all, Bulatovic said.

“It was beautiful,” she said.

Visit Williamsburg’s new Chase Bank branch [180 Bedford Ave. between N. Seventh and Eighth streets, (718) 312–6870]. Open Mon–Fri 8:30 am to 6 pm, Sat 9 am to 2 pm.

Proud: Chase Bank’s market director of banking for Brooklyn northwest, William Berdini, spoke during the festivities.
Photo by Caroline Ourso