VIST Financial
Encyclopedia
VIST Financial Corp., a publicly traded company (Nasdaq
:VIST) is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, providing banking, insurance, investment, and mortgage services throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.
1933 - During national bank moratorium, Leesport Bank is among the few authorized by regulations to do business as usual under its original name and character.
1985 - Holding company First Leesport Bank Bancorp Inc. goes public and is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
1998 - Purchases Essick & Bar Insurance firm
1999 - Purchases two investment firms
2001 - Moves corporate headquarters from Leesport PA to Spring Township PA.
2007 - Reaches $1 billion in assets
2008 - Unifies company under new brand, VIST Financial Corp.
2009 - VIST Financial Celebrate its 100 year anniversary!
2010 – VIST Bank acquires Allegiance Bank of North America in Bala Cynwyd, PA, and its
offices in Old City, Berwyn, and Worcester
2011 – VIST Virtual Bank launches www.VISTEverywhere.com for all online banking needs
was imminent, allowing banks, insurance companies, and brokerages to expand into one another’s services. Leesport Financial was one of the first banks in the nation to enter the insurance market through its acquisition of one of the oldest insurance agencies in Berks County, Essick & Barr Insurance (formed in Reading in 1891).
The company acquired the Montgomery County based Boothby Group (an agency founded in 1987 to provide insurance to high-end personal and commercial clients across the country), CrosStates Insurance Consultants (an agency focused on personal property & casualty insurance, later renamed Madison Insurance Consultants), and Fisher Benefits Consulting (located in Pottstown) between 2002 and 2008.
In 1999, the company acquired an investment brokerage and advisory firm, Johnson Financial Group. In 2002, it acquired another such firm, First Affiliated Investment Group (both firms were later combined under the name Madison Financial Advisors).
With all the pieces assembled for a full-service financial services company, Leesport Financial and its seven subsidiaries undertook a total rebranding and unification. On March 3, 2008, the company publicly unveiled its new name and brand: VIST Financial. VIST FINANCIAL built their core values—VISION, INTEGRITY, SOLUTIONS AND TRUST—right into the name of the company to emphasize the pillars the company was founded on.VIST Financial is dedicated to providing both knowledge and solutions, and helping customers, shareholders, and vendors meet all of their financial needs by offering banking, insurance, investment, and mortgage services.
VIST Bank is chartered in the state of Pennsylvania, and currently operates in the Southeastern part of the state with offices in Bern Township, Birdsboro, Blandon, Blue Bell, Breezy Corner, Centre Square, Conshohocken, Exeter, Fox Chase, Hamburg, Leesport, Northeast Reading, Oaks, Schuylkill Haven, Sinking Spring, Strafford, and Wyomissing.
Every month, VIST Financial collects money from each employee, which allows them to wear jeans on paydays, and then the money is donated to local charities.
The company also donated one of the largest contributions to the American Cancer Society of Southeastern PA and sold Cooking for a Cure cookbooks, which included recipes from VIST Financial customers and employees, to raise awareness for breast cancer research.
VIST Financial Plaza
In February 2011, VIST Financial partnered with the Reading Phillies to construct the VIST Financial Plaza at the south end of the FirstEnergy Stadium, which was part of a $10 million renovation project. The Plaza serves as a new entrance that features concession stands, a team store, and a stage for performances and autographs. VIST Financial Plaza will offer an enhanced game experience by providing additional food choices and live music before and after the game, but will also be available during year-round for other performances. Game attendees were also given the opportunity to enter to win VIST’s Disney Family Vacation Package, which was offered to kickoff the new season and stadium.
Best in Berks
VIST Financial was voted the Best Banking Institution in the 2010 edition of Best of Berks, an annual award given to companies with notable customer service from the local magazine Berks County Living.
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
:VIST) is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, providing banking, insurance, investment, and mortgage services throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.
History of VIST Financial
1909 - First National Bank of Leesport opens at 119 N. Centre Ave. in Leesport.1933 - During national bank moratorium, Leesport Bank is among the few authorized by regulations to do business as usual under its original name and character.
1985 - Holding company First Leesport Bank Bancorp Inc. goes public and is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
1998 - Purchases Essick & Bar Insurance firm
1999 - Purchases two investment firms
2001 - Moves corporate headquarters from Leesport PA to Spring Township PA.
2007 - Reaches $1 billion in assets
2008 - Unifies company under new brand, VIST Financial Corp.
2009 - VIST Financial Celebrate its 100 year anniversary!
2010 – VIST Bank acquires Allegiance Bank of North America in Bala Cynwyd, PA, and its
offices in Old City, Berwyn, and Worcester
2011 – VIST Virtual Bank launches www.VISTEverywhere.com for all online banking needs
Beyond Banking
In 1998, the passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley ActGramm-Leach-Bliley Act
The Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act , also known as the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999, is an act of the 106th United States Congress...
was imminent, allowing banks, insurance companies, and brokerages to expand into one another’s services. Leesport Financial was one of the first banks in the nation to enter the insurance market through its acquisition of one of the oldest insurance agencies in Berks County, Essick & Barr Insurance (formed in Reading in 1891).
The company acquired the Montgomery County based Boothby Group (an agency founded in 1987 to provide insurance to high-end personal and commercial clients across the country), CrosStates Insurance Consultants (an agency focused on personal property & casualty insurance, later renamed Madison Insurance Consultants), and Fisher Benefits Consulting (located in Pottstown) between 2002 and 2008.
In 1999, the company acquired an investment brokerage and advisory firm, Johnson Financial Group. In 2002, it acquired another such firm, First Affiliated Investment Group (both firms were later combined under the name Madison Financial Advisors).
Rebranding As VIST Financial
Prior to its rebranding in March 2008, VIST Financial was known as Leesport Financial Corp., with seven subsidiaries: Leesport Bank, Madison Bank, Essick & Barr Insurance, The Boothby Group, Madison Insurance Consultants, Madison Financial Advisors, and Philadelphia Financial Mortgage.With all the pieces assembled for a full-service financial services company, Leesport Financial and its seven subsidiaries undertook a total rebranding and unification. On March 3, 2008, the company publicly unveiled its new name and brand: VIST Financial. VIST FINANCIAL built their core values—VISION, INTEGRITY, SOLUTIONS AND TRUST—right into the name of the company to emphasize the pillars the company was founded on.VIST Financial is dedicated to providing both knowledge and solutions, and helping customers, shareholders, and vendors meet all of their financial needs by offering banking, insurance, investment, and mortgage services.
Locations
VIST Financial has its corporate headquarters in Wyomissing, PA, as well as its regional headquarters in Blue Bell, PA.VIST Bank is chartered in the state of Pennsylvania, and currently operates in the Southeastern part of the state with offices in Bern Township, Birdsboro, Blandon, Blue Bell, Breezy Corner, Centre Square, Conshohocken, Exeter, Fox Chase, Hamburg, Leesport, Northeast Reading, Oaks, Schuylkill Haven, Sinking Spring, Strafford, and Wyomissing.
Community Involvement
VIST Cares InitiativesEvery month, VIST Financial collects money from each employee, which allows them to wear jeans on paydays, and then the money is donated to local charities.
The company also donated one of the largest contributions to the American Cancer Society of Southeastern PA and sold Cooking for a Cure cookbooks, which included recipes from VIST Financial customers and employees, to raise awareness for breast cancer research.
VIST Financial Plaza
In February 2011, VIST Financial partnered with the Reading Phillies to construct the VIST Financial Plaza at the south end of the FirstEnergy Stadium, which was part of a $10 million renovation project. The Plaza serves as a new entrance that features concession stands, a team store, and a stage for performances and autographs. VIST Financial Plaza will offer an enhanced game experience by providing additional food choices and live music before and after the game, but will also be available during year-round for other performances. Game attendees were also given the opportunity to enter to win VIST’s Disney Family Vacation Package, which was offered to kickoff the new season and stadium.
Best in Berks
VIST Financial was voted the Best Banking Institution in the 2010 edition of Best of Berks, an annual award given to companies with notable customer service from the local magazine Berks County Living.