Five Star Bank Announces $1.5 Million in Financing for WNYHeroes’ New Elmwood Village Headquarters and Expansion
Five Star Bank Announces $1.5 Million in Financing for WNYHeroes’ New Elmwood Village Headquarters and Expansion
Buffalo, N.Y. – January 13, 2026
Five Star Bank (“Five Star” or “the Bank”) announced that it provided $1.5 million in financing for WNYHeroes' purchase of its new headquarters to be located at 235 North Street in Buffalo's Elmwood Village. The financing enables the veterans-focused nonprofit to expand operations and better meet growing demand for veteran services across Western New York.
"We are incredibly proud to support the expansion of an organization that's so essential to the Western New York's veteran community and honored that they’ve chosen to work with our team," said Five Star Bank Director of Business Banking Adam Bickel.
The Elmwood Village location is a 19,000 square-foot facility and WNYHeroes plans to use it as offices and training space. The two-story building enables the organization to scale its essential programs serving veterans and military families throughout the region.
“This new headquarters is a major milestone for our organization and for the veterans and families we serve,” said Chris Kreiger, President of WNYHeroes. “As demand for our programs continues to grow, this space gives us the capacity to expand training, strengthen our services, and reach more veterans across the region. With room to scale our operations, we can meet today’s needs, prepare for the future, and build on our mission in a meaningful and sustainable way.”
WNYHeroes delivers critical services to veterans, members of the armed services, and widows and children of deceased veterans through multiple programs, including but not limited to:
- Heroes' Bridge – Financial assistance for rent, mortgage, and utilities.
- Pawsitive for Heroes – Service dog training and support for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), or similar conditions.
- William E. Kramp, Jr. Scholarship – Educational support for veterans or their immediate family members.
Sergeant Hero Giving Campaign Launches in January
Building on its support for WNYHeroes, Five Star welcomed "Sergeant Hero" at its Buffalo regional headquarters, Five Star Bank Centre, on January 13. The supersized bison-shaped piggy bank will collect employee contributions, with 100% of proceeds supporting the vital programs and services WNYHeroes provides.
"Sergeant Hero transforms corporate giving from a one-time donation into a visible and communal process," said Bickel. "Five Star Bank is proud to serve as the first host for Sergeant Hero and look forward to supporting him as he marches to the next corporate partner’s office.”
After its debut at Five Star Bank Centre in January, Sergeant Hero will travel to other Five Star Bank locations in Western New York, creating an ongoing fundraising network while raising awareness about the challenges veterans face.
“Five Star Bank is supporting our organization in two distinct but powerful ways,” said Kreiger. “Their financing is helping us expand our operations, and now the Sergeant Hero campaign will help create sustainable funding while engaging community members who want to support veterans.”
Five Star Bank's commitment to veteran services extends beyond funding. The Company’s Chief Risk Officer, Gary Pacos, and Community Development Director, Karla Gadley, serve on WNYHeroes' Board of Directors.
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