PORT BYRON - The Port Byron library was seeking to consolidate its bank accounts when it recently opened an account with HSBC, which has a branch nearby on 158 Main St.

However, the library as well as the other branch customers received the news this week that the village's only bank will be closing. HSBC will be merging its Port Byron-based accounts into its Auburn Genesee Street branch. Its last day of business will be Friday, Dec. 16.

"It's just steps away from our facility," said Lee Brew, the vice president of the library's board. "It's just sad that people don't have a hometown bank anymore."

"It's going to be a pain," said Earl Axton on his way into the branch Friday afternoon to deposit his paycheck. Axton banks with the HSBC branch on his way home in Port Byron from his job in Skaneateles as a heavy equipment operator for Hanson Aggregates. "It's going to be an awful inconvenience."

HSBC now requires all branches have a consistent look, and the company felt the major investment needed to update the Port Byron branch to match the corporation's standardized appearance was not justified considering the bank's flat growth, said spokesperson Kathleen Rizzo Young. The number of accounts at the bank has not grown, and HSBC officials were not expecting that to change.

The four employees at the Port Byron will be offered employment at nearby branches and already work Saturdays at the Auburn branch, Rizzo Young said. The branch manager, Nino Pellegrino, also is the branch manager for Auburn. The Port Byron branch is currently open Monday through Friday.

Barry Rubenau, of Conquest, wondered if an international bank like HSBC lacks the sense of community that smaller, more local institutions have.

"I really don't like that HSBC is pulling out of a small town," said Rubenau, who is thinking about opening an account with Key Bank in Weedsport.

Barbara Rooker said she will keep her HSBC account because she traveled to Auburn anyway for shopping and other purposes.

"They've been good to me," Rooker said.

HSBC officials said the consolidation will benefit the Auburn branch by attracting more customers.

John Pokrzywn, one of the owners of the Port Byron True Value, is hoping another bank will take over the location, but otherwise his business will start banking in Weedsport. Pokryzwn's brother, Jim, said he was surprised at the closing because many other small towns in the area - like Cato, Fair Haven and Savannah - have their own banks. Weedsport has two banks.

HSBC said it's undetermined who might buy its branch building once consolidation is complete. The branch became an HSBC bank when the company bought out Marine Midland in 1999.

Port Byron has had one bank within village limits since Nov. 22, 1924, when the first professional bank opened on Utica Street in the village, said Penny Helzer, the Port Byron historian. Two other banks preceded the Port Byron National Bank, but those financial institutions didn't last.

Helzer is worried about Port Byron senior citizens' access to banking.

"It's going to be hard for these senior citizens. A lot of them don't drive or are handicapped. Now they're either going to have to drive to Auburn or change their banks," Helzer said.

Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net