BB&T Bank is closing its branch office at 330 Delaware Ave., Palmerton.

On July 20, the BB&T Palmerton branch will be consolidated into the B&BT Walnutport branch, according to Amber Odom, Branch and Premier Communications Manager, Corporate Communications at Truist.

“It’s important to note there are no job losses associated with this consolidation; all teammates from the Palmerton branch are being transferred to different locations,” Odom said. “Also, there’s no action required for our clients - their relationships will be automatically transferred to our Walnutport office, where they’ll receive the same attention and client service they’re accustomed to.”

The Walnutport branch is located at 500 Main St.

A branch office is also located at 2503 Chestnut St., off Route 209 in Brodheadsville.

Odom confirmed the Brodheadsville branch will remain open to serve clients and the local community.

“When it comes to consolidating branches, we’re very thoughtful about these decisions and consider a number of factors, primarily our clients’ preferences and patterns,” she said. “Our branches will always be an important bridge for us to build relationships, meet our clients’ needs, and contribute to our communities. Like many industries, we’re seeing our client preferences and behaviors change as more and more clients choose to bank with us digitally.”

This trend has accelerated even more due to COVID-19. Last year, mobile app usage grew 8% and mobile check deposits grew 23% for SunTrust and BB&T. “This has caused a gradual effect on client traffic patterns and branch usage,” Odom said.

“In relation to our merger of equals, Truist also has additional opportunities to reduce our overall number of branches. With so many heritage BB&T and SunTrust branches in close proximity to one another, there are natural opportunities to consolidate two branches into one with very little impact to our clients. In many cases, there’s a branch available for clients just a few minutes away. All teammates from consolidating branches are being transferred to nearby locations, so there are no job losses.

“Over time, we’ve also closely tracked past branch closings to see how this might affect our clients. To date, we’ve seen virtually no client attrition through this process. It’s also important to note that clients have access to their accounts through one of the strongest branch and ATM networks in our markets, telephone banking, and 24-hour delivery channels such as online and mobile banking, which allow them to bank anytime, anywhere.”

In 2019 SunTrust and BB&T merged to become Truist Bank, resulting in about 800 branch closures.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is the sixth-largest commercial bank in the U.S. with total assets of $509 billion as of Dec. 31, 2020.

Customers are asked to call 610-824-7180 with any questions, or to stop by the Palmerton branch.

The Palmerton branch bank building had an electronic sign showing the time and temperature, originally erected by Palmerton Savings and Loan. The sign was updated in the early 1970s when Keystone Savings Association took over.

In 2016, the corporate offices of BB&T made the decision to take down the clock, suggesting that parts and upkeep are the main issue behind the choice to remove old signs.

Palmerton residents started a petition to keep the sign, but the corporation said, “The signs have become increasingly difficult to maintain, and incandescent bulbs for many of the models are no longer manufactured. We did not feel that partially illuminated or frequently inaccurate signs would be the right image to display in our communities.”

This is not the first branch closure since the pandemic began. Last month PNC Bank announced it will be closing its Lehighton branch and directed customers to the Lehigh Valley.