Press Release

SOLVAY BANK PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Syracuse, N.Y. December 21, 2009 - Paul P. Mello, President and Chief Executive Officer of Solvay Bank, is traveling to Washington, D.C. to attend a meeting scheduled for tomorrow at the White House regarding community bank’s role in the efforts to gain ground on the U. S. economic recovery. Mr. Mello was selected to be one of the twelve community bankers in attendance from among the leadership of over 7,000 community banks in the United States. “It is an honor to be chosen to represent the Main Street financial institutions as well as the Central New York Region. Community Bankers have a keen understanding of the local business landscape that they serve. This perspective is needed in the government's efforts to getting our economy back on track’, said Mello.

The meeting is scheduled to take place Tuesday morning, December 22nd in the Roosevelt Room in the White House. Mello will be meeting with President Obama, Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, White House Economic Advisor Larry Summers and the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors Christina Rome along with eleven other community bank presidents from across the nation. Key topics for the meeting include the community banker’s positions on the regulatory reforms, the issues facing community banks and the governmental support is needed to stir economic recovery.

Founded in 1917, Solvay Bank is the oldest independent commercial bank headquartered and operating in Onondaga County and is committed to providing its customers with the very best in financial products and customer service. Solvay Bank has a Main Office located at 1537 Milton Avenue in Solvay and six branches conveniently located in Fairmount, Camillus, Liverpool, North Syracuse, downtown Syracuse and Westvale. Solvay Bank also owns a full service general insurance agency, Solvay Bank Insurance Agency, Inc. The Solvay Bank Web site can be found at www.solvaybank.com.

For more information on Mr. Mello's meeting with President Obama please contact Karen Zarach, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing Strategies at (315) 484-2213.