Jarrettsville Federal Savings & Loan Association is getting ready to expand beyond its longtime single office, with plans to open a new branch in Hickory, north of Bel Air, at the beginning of 2027. The community bank, headquartered on Norrisville Road in Jarrettsville, said the move brings it closer to customers it already serves across Harford County.
According to a release from Jarrettsville Federal, the bank will open what it calls the second branch in its nearly 160-year history in January 2027. That framing conflicts with a report from WBAL News Radio, which described the Hickory location as the bank's first branch and put the institution's history at 157 years. The dossier does not resolve which characterization is accurate, so both accounts are presented here.
The new location is planned for 1510 Conowingo Road in Hickory, inside the space formerly occupied by Harford Pharmacy. Jarrettsville Federal's own release puts the branch at 1,603 square feet, while WBAL's report cites a slightly different figure of 1,600 square feet — another point where the two accounts don't quite match up.
Full-Service Banking With Extended Hours
Per the bank's release, the Hickory branch will offer full-service consumer and commercial banking, including checking and savings accounts, with universal bankers on staff and what the release calls state-of-the-art banking technology. Planned hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, with a 24/7 ATM available on-site.
The bank also recently rolled out a new look, unveiling a new logo to its customers on October 13. That rebrand arrives just as the institution prepares for its most visible physical change in years.
Why Hickory, and Why Now
Jarrettsville Federal said the Hickory location was chosen because it puts the bank closer to its commercial and consumer relationships in Bel Air, Fallston, Forest Hill and the surrounding area, a strategic rationale laid out in the bank's own announcement. Scott Sturgill is the bank's president and CEO.
The growth picture includes some striking numbers. Per WBAL's figures, the bank added $4 million in assets between 2014 and 2020, then grew its assets 37% over the following five years, climbing from $122 million to $167 million. Separate call-report data compiled by visbanking.com shows the bank held $167.09 million in total assets and $147.13 million in total deposits, along with $116.65 million in total loans and leases and a 0.36% return on assets.
Jarrettsville Federal describes itself as a community institution serving Harford County, and WBAL's reporting places its workforce at 15 employees.
Part of a Broader Harford County Banking Push
Harford Bank announced plans last year for a loan office in Hunt Valley and was eyeing expansion into Baltimore County, a move the Baltimore Business Journal attributed to the bank's growing business team and broader momentum. While a separate institution, the expansion underscores a pattern of smaller local banks pushing beyond their original footprints as the region's population and commercial activity grow.
For Jarrettsville Federal, the Hickory branch would mark the most significant change to its operations in years, giving the nearly 160-year-old institution an additional physical foothold.
