Atlantic Bank expanding.

If you are not happy with your banking options, a new service provider may soon come on your block. After a series of recent acquisitions, Atlantic Bank is looking to expand in the region, with new branches in Manhattan, the Bronx and Westchester county.

Although Atlantic has been in the business for 75 years, the bank had only two offices in the City. Now with Yonkers Savings & Loan and Allied Irish Bank added to its portfolio, Atlantic's space needs are growing. So far, the bank has completed deals at 400 Madison Ave. and 936 Third Ave., as well as an expansion at its headquarters location at 960 Avenue of the Americas.

According to Anthony J. Morris, a spokesman for the bank, an acquisition at 54th St. and Park Ave. is currently underway and there are plans to lease six more spaces in the coming year.

"We have a significant client base in Manhattan, and after we acquired Yonkers Savings, we brought Westchester into our portfolio," he said. "So we have to have more locations to attract new clients. Typical branch size for us will be somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 square feet, and the expansion will include Westchester and the Bronx area."

Scott Spector, a principal of the Spector Group, who has been custom-building Atlantic's branches at 400 Madison and 936 Third Ave., thinks the bank is trying to get its name out.

"They basically renovated their entire headquarters at 960 Avenue of the Americas and they have been talking about opening up 10 to 12 new branches in the next 12 months," he said. "They want to create a branding image for themselves."

According to Spector, Atlantic is the largest retail tenant in the building at 400 Madison, where it will occupy 2500 SF, and it has gone out of its way to create customer appeal.

"There is lots of indirect lighting, they just did a beautiful job," he said. "And they want the same standard at the other locations."

Though the bank's real estate consultant wouldn't reveal where Atlantic is looking for its other offices, there are apparently certain places where they'll just have to have a presence.

"Obviously they will have to be in Midtown, so they might take something on Fifth Avenue or on Seventh," said Alan Napack, of Cushman & Wakefield's retail services. "And they will probably be taking a look at Heard Square, Union Square and Broadway."

According to Howard Gilbert, of Robert K. Futterman & Associates, the City is full of possible options.

"They could go to Soho, to 23rd Street or the Flatiron district, where there are already several banks. There is a spot on Sixth Avenue, between 17th and" 18th Street, that is open right now, or they could go to the News Building on 42nd Street. That would be a great spot for them, with over 100 feet of glass frontage."