First County Bank
| Industry | Banking |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 20, 1851 in Stamford, Connecticut, United States |
| Headquarters | Stamford , United States |
Area served | Fairfield County, Connecticut |
Key people | Robert J. Granata (Chairman and CEO), Willard M. Milley (President and COO) |
| Products | Full-service banking, wealth management (through subsidiary First County Advisors) |
Number of employees | 220+ |
First County Bank is a bank headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, primarily serving clients throughout Fairfield County, Connecticut. With a workforce exceeding 220 employees and assets surpassing $1.9 billion, the bank has earned recognition such as the Women's Choice Award (2016-2018) and the Top Workplaces Award (2020-2022). Its comprehensive offerings include full-service banking and wealth management services provided through its subsidiary, First County Advisors.
Branches
The bank maintains 14 full-service locations within Fairfield County: seven branches are situated in Stamford; two operate in Norwalk; and there is one branch each in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Westport, and Fairfield.
In 2016, First County Bank launched a specialized branch with limited access at Stamford’s Academy of Information Technology and Engineering high school. This unique branch was staffed by students participating in financial literacy programs, offering hands-on banking experience during school hours.
History
Established on September 20, 1851, as Stamford Savings Bank with Theodore Davenport serving as its inaugural president, the institution initially concentrated on providing home mortgages and securing deposits from the local community.
Judge John Clason became a director in 1875 and was notable for his generous philanthropic contributions to area organizations. In 1883, the bank erected its first purpose-built facility known as "The Old Red Bank," designed by architect Warren R. Briggs.
Schuyler Merritt, an influential corporator who joined in 1909 and for whom the Merritt Parkway is named, marked a significant figure in the bank’s history. The institution expanded by opening its first branch in Darien in 1961, with further branch growth continuing into the early 1980s.
In 1989, the bank adopted the name First County Bank to better represent its expanded service area across Fairfield County. The trust and investment services division was initiated in 1995 and later merged into the First County Advisors subsidiary in 2012.
The First County Bank Foundation was created in 2001 to promote community support efforts. Leadership transitions include Richard E. Taber’s retirement as CEO in 2011, succeeded by Reyno A. Giallongo Jr., who grew the branch network from six to fifteen. Katherine A. Harris became the bank’s first female President and COO before retiring in 2014; Robert J. Granata then took over that position.
In 2016, Giallongo was appointed to serve on the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. That same year, First County was distinguished as the first independent community bank to receive the Women's Choice Award for Financial Advisors and Firms.
Following Giallongo’s retirement in 2019, Robert J. Granata assumed the roles of Chairman and CEO, while Willard M. Milley was named President and COO.