Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh celebrates 150 years
For 23 years, Carmen Calderon walked 60 blocks to and from work every day, passing the Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh each way. One day in 1971, she stopped in to open a Christmas Club account. She’s been going back ever since.
“At first it was convenient for me, but then it quickly started to feel like home,” Calderon said. “Everyone was so nice to me and even though I only spoke a little bit of English, they were so patient and took the time to explain things to me.”
Calderon said she used to put $1 or $2 into her Christmas Club account each week when she worked in a factory for just $4.75 a day. Next she opened a savings account, then some certificates of deposit (CD) and eventually an IRA. She has since moved out of Williamsburg to the Bronx, but still drives at least an hour to do her banking at the Dime’s Havemeyer Street branch.