Citibank has officially joined the assortment of financial institutions dotting the Town of Vienna.
After starting operations on Jan. 27, the New York-based bank celebrated the grand opening of its newest D.C.-area branch at 201 Maple Avenue East yesterday (Tuesday) morning. The event included a ribbon-cutting, remarks from local elected officials and snacks courtesy of neighbors Call Your Mother and Lily’s Chocolate and Coffee.
Filling a 2,304-square-foot corner suite that was occupied for years by Noodles & Company, Citibank’s first Vienna branch is its fourth location in Fairfax County, but only the second new one to open in the D.C. region in more than a decade. It comes on the heels of the Feb. 11 grand opening for a branch in Clarendon.
For residents who have wondered about the abundance of banks in Vienna, its central location within Northern Virginia, proximity to D.C. and the presence of both residents and a “vibrant commercial market” all factor into its appeal, according to Mindy Mercaldo, head of Citibank’s U.S. branch network.
“We want to come to where customers are,” Mercaldo told FFXnow, noting that the Vienna branch is in a “perfect” spot on a corner with plenty of retail activity.
While Citigroup has been cutting jobs as part of a restructuring plan, the company is ramping up its footprint in the D.C. area, where it currently has 32 branches. In addition to the recent openings in Clarendon and Vienna, an Anacostia branch is in the works, and the Georgetown branch will relocate.
Citi’s Vienna bank is one of the first to use a new design prototype that was developed with “client input in mind,” Mercaldo says. Though it’s smaller in size than previous full-service branches, an open-floor layout and movable furniture create a more spacious feeling and provide flexibility for events.
Other features include a partially enclosed seating area where customers can have more private consultations, a main customer service desk instead of a traditional teller line, and a large, interactive digital screen mounted on one wall.
According to Mercaldo, the new design reflects an evolution of brick-and-mortar banks into places where people go for financial advice, not just to withdraw or deposit money — functions that can now be done online.
“It’s meant to connect with the community here,” she said, pointing out a wood etching of Vienna’s streets on the wall behind the service desk. “[We want to] marry personal touch with digital experience.”
Praising the bank as an “inviting space,” Del. Holly Seibold (D-12) highlighted the role that banks play in providing “expanded access to financial security” for local residents and promoting Vienna’s economic growth.
“It’s great to have a bank so accessible,” Seibold told FFXnow after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “It’s right here in the heart of our community for families who really need access to financial support. So, I was excited to come here and support Citibank today, knowing that that’s another option for people in our community.”
Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert said she’s looking forward to the educational seminars that Citibank plans to host at its new branch, stressing the town’s desire to “be very business-friendly.”
She also hinted at “rumors” that the bank is planning to paint a mural on its currently bare brick facade facing Park Street.
“That means you want to be part of the community,” the mayor said.
Correction: This story initially stated that Citibank’s Vienna branch was the first with the new design. A spokesperson says it’s one of the first, but the prototype has been rolled out to other locations in the D.C. area and around the country.
