Brookline Bank opens new branch office at 131 Clarendon Street, Boston

Brookline Bank has completed the restoration of the former Publishers Building at 131 Clarendon St. in the city's Back Bay. The building houses the headquarters of the bank's parent company, Brookline Bancorp, Inc., many of its operational staff, as well as Brookline Bank's retail banking, commercial banking and commercial real estate banking units. Brookline Bank bought the eight-story building, the former location of the Hard Rock Café, in 2011. Since then the bank has gutted and renovated the interior and exterior to bring it up to modern office space and building code standards, while preserving the integrity of the exterior architecture. "We're very pleased to have made the investment in such a classic building and to help revitalize a corner of the neighborhood neglected for so long," said Paul Perrault, chairman and CEO of Brookline Bank. Brookline Bank has opened a new branch office on the ground floor to serve both the personal and business banking needs of the South End, Back Bay and Bay Village neighborhoods it borders. The office is convenient for commuters using the Back Bay/South End Station transportation hub. "An added bonus to having purchased this building is it allowed us to place an office in an area underserved by banks yet convenient to so many residents and businesses," said Jane Wolchonok, senior vice president at Brookline Bank. The 131 Clarendon St. branch is managed by Brian Troy, who recently joined Brookline Bank from CitiBank. Jason Trinque, veteran business banking officer at Brookline Bank, is also located at the branch to serve the needs of area businesses. Other Specialists available at Brookline Bank's new branch include Tom McBreen for mortgages and Jennifer Read for investment services. Additionally, the Bank has brought in a first class retail tenant as its neighbor. Local culinary legend, Flour Bakery + Café will open its fourth location in the building as well. "We are incredibly excited to be opening in the Back Bay and to be part of this neighborhood," said Joanne Chang, owner of Flour. Flour Bakery + Café is open for breakfast, lunch and early dinner, seven days a week. Brookline Bank is a full-service financial institution, and provides individuals and businesses with deposit and lending services, residential mortgages and home equity lending, commercial and CRE lending, cash management, merchant services, and access to investment services. Brookline Bank operates 22 branches in the Greater Boston.