Fleetwood Bank, a Berks County-based community bank with assets of more than $230 million, has named a new president. Timothy P. Snyder.
Snyder succeeds Richard L. Meares, who will continue to serve as CEO until he retires in January.
Snyder arrives from National Penn Bank of Allentown, where he most recently was senior vice president-director specialized banking services, working out of the bank’s Spring Ridge office. He led a team that developed cash management, government banking and international and merchant services.
Snyder said it’s an exciting time to be involved in community banking, as so many local banks are being bought up by larger, out-of-the-area banks.
“As you look at the landscape, local banks are changing,” he said. “A lot of the longtime local banks aren’t going to exist anymore.”
He noted that at one time there were 22 banks headquartered in Berks County; now there is only one: Fleetwood Bank.
He said that makes leading such a bank an important job, he said.
“Taking on this job for a bank that has been operating successfully for over 82 years is a great responsibility,” Snyder said. “I look forward to the challenge and to finding new ways to improve service to our customers, employees, shareholders and the community.”
Based in Fleetwood, the bank has five branch locations and two loan centers.
With all of the large-scale mergers, many banking customers may be turning to banks such as Fleetwood for smaller, more localized service, he said.
“Hopefully, that’s something small banks can capitalize on,” he said.
Snyder is no stranger to the community. A graduate of Muhlenberg High School, he said his family ties to Berks County go back several generations.
Snyder lives in Blandon. He is a volunteer and board member for the United Way of Berks County, South Central Transit Authority, Opportunity House and Penn State Berks Campus.
