(Bangor, PA) Merchants Bank recently contributed $4,000 to the Family YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg & Vicinity, which represented their fifth and final installment of a $20,000 pledge made in 2004 to the YMCA's capital campaign to expand their Easton facility. In an effort to better serve the community, the YMCA completed an expansion project of nearly $3 Million, which included the Warren Hospital Wellness Center and the Fowler Family & Children's Wing.

"I am pleased to accept this last payment of $4,000.00 towards the $20,000.00 commitment to the Next Generation Growing Strong Capital Campaign from Anthony Biondi and Diane Murphy of Merchants Bank. We appreciate their support towards our goal to meet our community's greater need for a safe and nurturing place for children and families to grow and prosper," said Nicholas A. Ciambrone, CEO, Family YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg & Vicinity.

"Through the expansion of the YMCA, the Y can now offer Easton and Phillipsburg communities accessibility to a state of the art wellness center, a brand new program studio for aerobics and other classes, an expanded child watch area, a family/special needs locker room, community rooms, and art gallery," noted Anthony Biondi, Chief Executive office at Merchants Bank, adding, "Merchants is very proud to be a contributor to the YMCA's expansion, which has meant so much to the Easton/Phillipsburg surrounding community.

Established in 1890, Merchants Bank is a locally owned and operated community bank. Headquartered in Bangor, PA, MNB has two branch offices in Bangor and additional offices throughout the Lehigh Valley, including Mount Bethel, Wind Gap, Bushkill Township, Nazareth, Forks Township, Martins Creek, Redner's Warehouse Markets in Northampton and a Business Center in Easton, PA. MNB Investment Services is a division of the Bank and offers investment and wealth management financial services. In June 2005, Merchants Bank received the Bernard J. Metz Entrepreneurial Spirit Award by the Two Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce in recognition for the Bank's entrepreneurial accomplishment and community service in the Two Rivers area. The Bank's website can be accessed at www.merchantsbangor.com.