Essex, CT (November 2, 2026) – Centreville Bank is expanding its Connecticut presence with plans to open a new full-service branch at 125 Westbrook Road in Essex, marking the Bank’s first location in Middlesex County and introducing Centreville Bank to a new community along the Connecticut shoreline.
While Centreville Bank may be a new name to many people in Essex, it is far from a new bank.
Founded in 1828, Centreville Bank has grown into a more than $3 billion financial institution while remaining focused on personalized, relationship-based community banking.
“We’ve built strong relationships in Connecticut, specifically along the I-395 corridor, by staying true to what community banking should be: personal, accessible and focused on the customer,” said Hal Horvat, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Centreville Bank. “Bringing Centreville Bank to Essex is a natural next step for us, and we’re excited to introduce this community to the experience our customers have come to know and value.”
Centreville Bank’s approach combines the personal relationships of a community bank with continued investment in the products, technology and services customers expect today. That approach is reflected in the Bank’s Best in Class strategy, which is focused on delivering the highest level of service, performance and innovation.
The new Essex branch will include an Interactive Teller Machine (ITM), giving customers another convenient way to bank while still having access to personal assistance. Customers can use the ITM for everyday transactions or connect directly with a Centreville Bank representative for additional support.
In 2026, Centreville Bank was named Rhode Island’s top-rated bank on Forbes’ America’s Best-In-State Banks list. The ranking was based on consumer evaluations that included customer satisfaction, trust, financial advice, digital services and customer service.
“People have choices when it comes to where they bank, so we have to give them a reason to choose Centreville,” Horvat said. “Our goal is to provide the personal service and accessibility people expect from a community bank, while continuing to invest in the technology, expertise and capabilities they need today. We believe you can have both.”
Centreville Bank’s commitment to its communities also extends well beyond banking. In 2025 alone, the Bank surpassed $2 million in charitable giving, while employees contributed more than 5,000 hours of volunteer service.
Over the past decade, the Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation has contributed more than $10 million to communities, and employees receive 16 hours of paid volunteer time off every year to support community service.
“Community banking should mean something,” Horvat said. “It means knowing the communities where you do business, supporting the organizations doing important work there, showing up when people need you and giving your employees opportunities to do the same. That’s the kind of partner we want to be in Essex.”
The Essex location represents the next step in Centreville Bank’s continued growth and an opportunity to introduce a new market to a bank with nearly 200 years of history, the strength of more than $3 billion in assets, modern banking capabilities and a demonstrated commitment to the communities it serves.
“We’re excited to meet Essex,” Horvat said. “We want people to come in, get to know our team and experience Centreville for themselves. We know relationships aren’t built overnight, but we’re here to become part of this community for the long term.”
The new branch is slated to open early 2027.
About Centreville Bank
Founded in 1828 and headquartered in West Warwick, Rhode Island, Centreville Bank is a full-service mutual bank with over $3.0 billion in assets and 26 locations throughout Rhode Island and eastern Connecticut. Centreville understands the unique financial needs of individuals, families and businesses and offers a wide range of personal banking and commercial banking products and services including checking accounts, savings accounts, CDs, money market accounts, mortgages, business loans and more. Centreville is committed to its employees and the communities it serves, always striving to help people make progress and achieve their financial goals. That is progress on purpose. Visit centrevillebank.com, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, or come into a branch or office to learn more.