PNC Bank opening at Artery Plaza in Bethesda

The banks just keep on opening in downtown Bethesda. PNC Bank is opening a new branch at Artery Plaza, located at 7200 Wisconsin Avenue.

PNC Bank to close after 7235 Wisconsin Ave. building is sold

Guardian Realty has purchased 7235 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda, via a shell LLC entity. It acquired the vintage 1950 office building for $8,100,000 in late May, according to Maryland real estate records. The property is across from the future Purple Line station at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue.

Now that the building has changed hands, PNC Bank's lease is not being renewed at this location. The longtime branch, which dates back to the Riggs Bank era, will close on August 16, 2019 at 3:00 PM.

Macedonia Baptist Church plans month of action on cemetery issue during Black History Month

Macedonia Baptist Church is planning a full month of events to pressure Montgomery County, developer Regency Centers, and their business partners to address the desecration of the Moses African Cemetery at Westwood Tower in Bethesda, and institutional racism in County government. Church representatives and community supporters will first attend the public meeting being held by Regency Centers Wednesday night, January 31.

The church is demanding reparations from Regency Centers, which sold the cemetery site to the Housing Opportunities Commission last month for $20 million, despite knowing there are bodies of the first generation of freed slaves buried there. PNC Bank provided the HOC with the financing for the cemetery site, and now finds itself embroiled in the controversy, which has become the biggest civil rights issue in Montgomery County. The County government has engaged in a campaign of racism and disrespect toward church officials, and the descendant community, throughout the scandal.

Cemetery advocates will press County Executive Ike Leggett at his Bethesda budget forum on February 6 at 7:00 PM at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, the HOC the next day on February 7 at 4:00 PM, the County Council on February 13, the Planning Board on February 22, and at a candidates forum on racial equity at Northwood High School on February 25 at 1:00 PM.

PNC ATM TO BE REMOVED AT BETHESDA ROW IN JULY (PHOTOS)

I feel like I should receive a free lollipop for all the bank news I'm reporting today. Users of the PNC Bank ATM near the Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema may be disappointed to hear this machine is being yanked from the site next month.

This happened last year at Bethesda Row, when the M&T Bank ATM was suddenly boarded up over by Bethesda Lane. Don't count on withdrawing cash for steak frites at Mon Ami Gabi here after July 21, or you might find yourself washing dishes.

PNC is directing customers to its other ATMs at 7235 Wisconsin Avenue, and 4424 Montgomery Avenue, both in downtown Bethesda. But quite a jog from Bethesda Row.