MASPETH FEDERAL SAVINGS - Your Neighborhood Bank for 70 Years
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A founder's vision lives on...
Maspeth Federal Savings has been
a mainstay in the Maspeth community
for 70 years, and prides
itself on the neighborhood ties it has
formed over seven decades through
unrivaled community involvement and
fun events, ensuring that the slogan,
“We Treat You Like Family,” rings true to
this day.
The history of Maspeth Federal Savings
starts with Alexander E. Frontera, a man
who truly cared about his community
and set forth the community-centric
standard by which the bank operates to
this day.
Alex Frontera was involved in creating
a number of businesses in Maspeth,
including the Maspeth Coal Company,
the first supermarket in Maspeth, and he
was president of the Maspeth Civic Association.
He also founded the Maspeth
Kiwanis Club, out of which grew the Maspeth
Chamber of Commerce. As someone
who loved his community, Alex Frontera
always had a vision of opening a bank in
Maspeth, and on December 23, 1946, he
obtained a charter for the first Maspeth
Federal Savings and Loan Association
and officially opened for business on
January 2, 1947.
Franklin J. Frontera, followed closely
in his father’s footsteps. He started his
career in the newspaper business by
selling ads for the Queens Ledger and
eventually purchased the Ledger with
Henry Hardenfeller—the former editor of
the Long Island Daily Advocate. After he
was honorably discharged in 1946 from
the 10th Mountain Division, Franklin returned
home and teamed with Henry and
begin publishing the Glendale Register.
Franklin was the paper’s sports writer
and columnist. His column was known as
“Shots in the Dark,” by Half Shot. In 1947,
he began working for the Bank and in
1976 was elected Chariman of the Board.
He was a man of the community and
was considered “Mr. Maspeth Federal,”
by many in the neighborhood. Franklin
also owned the Frontera liquor store on
the corner of 69th Street and Grand Avenue,
where the Maspeth Federal flagship
location now stands.
Maspeth Federal Savings celebrates its 20th
Anniversary with a custom float on Grand Avenue.
The summer concert series has been a long standing
tradition that has gone on for over 50 years.
Children were always encouraged to
come into the bank. They even had a
train on the banking floor for kids to play
on while their parents did their banking.
Hundreds have flocked to the Maspeth Federal Savings summer
concerts over the years.
Employees dressed in colonial attire as they marched down Grand
Avenue during the Maspeth Memorial Parade in 1975 - a tradition
that our Board of Directors still keep alive today!
Alex Frontera recruited a group of talented, civic & business-minded individuals to
the original Board of Directors in 1947. They instilled their values since the inception
and their ideals have been passed down through generations.
The Main Office during its first year of business in 1947.