In 2026, Community Bank Delaware marks its 20th year in Sussex County. From its original branch in Lewes, the bank has expanded with branches in Rehoboth, Seaford and Long Neck.
The bank began with an idea from Alexander J. Pires Jr., Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Nearly three decades ago, while working as a lawyer in Washington, D.C., with the Department of Justice, Pires was president of the Department of Justice Credit Union. When he relocated to Delaware, he brought with him a vision for a locally owned focused community bank.
“I thought of starting a bank here, and twelve locals helped me put the money together. At that time, the government was very interested in expanding the bank community. It was easier to get a bank license,” he said. “That is no longer true.”
Approved in 2006, Community Bank Delaware opened its first branch in the old gas station in Lewes. Expansion in Rehoboth followed with a small branch in 2007, then a much larger branch opened in 2021. In 2025, the bank celebrated the opening of its third branch in Seaford in April, followed by the opening of its fourth branch in Long Neck in July. These expansions strengthened the bank’s presence across Sussex County and underscored its long-term commitment to the communities it serves. Today, the bank manages approximately $430 million in assets.
Throughout the expansion, Chief Operating Officer Staci Niblett ensured that Community Bank Delaware’s core values never wavered. By overseeing the opening of the Seaford and Long Neck branches, she successfully balanced operational growth with the personalized service their clients expect.
“We’re a friendly, local, community bank,” Pires said. “There used to be 35,000 banks in the United States. Now it’s down to only 4,500. But we have no intention of selling out to one of the big banks.”
Community Bank Delaware started with about 70 shareholders, and ownership remains much the same today. “They are from all walks of life—people in your community,” Pires said. “We’re an old-fashioned, old-school neighborhood bank, and that’s what it’s going to be.”
That philosophy does not mean the bank is behind the times. Community Bank Delaware has invested heavily and continues to invest in leading-edge technology to meet the evolving needs of its customers.
Wm. Jack Riddle, president and Chief Lending Officer, has been with the bank since its inception. “We spend a lot of time on the road with clients at their place of business. However, they rarely need to come into a branch unless they want to,” he said. “Most transactions can be done electronically. We invested in these systems early on, and they’ve served us well.”
“We offer the products and services that almost every bank offers—nothing fancy, just solid, dependable products that customers want and need. From the beginning, we made the decision that we wanted to be both a strong small business lender and a personal consumer lender.”
The bank’s lending efforts are led by Chris Benjamin, Senior Vice President, whose expertise in lending defines the bank’s relationship-based approach. Under his guidance, Community Bank Delaware provides customized financial solutions for businesses and individuals, ranging from small business loans to residential mortgages and construction loans to lot financing.
“These are just little things we do—things we believe customers value,” Riddle said. “Some companies try to figure out how to make money on everything. We focus on creating real value for our community.”
Riddle, who previously worked for a larger bank, noted the difference. “I found that decision-makers moved farther and farther away from customers. At Community Bank Delaware, you can meet directly with them—with me, with our senior leadership team—and we make all loan decisions locally.”
Today, Community Bank Delaware employs 46 people, a significant increase from the original four employees, reflecting steady growth over the first 20 years. Two of those original employees—Riddle and Senior Vice President and HR Director Shannon McGinn—remain with the bank.
“We pay well and offer strong benefits (including 100 percent family healthcare coverage), so there’s very little turnover,” Riddle said. “That’s a testament to our board’s support and to Alex Pires’ belief that we should take care of our people so they can afford to live and thrive in the communities we serve.”
The bank’s financial leadership is guided by Chief Financial Officer Angie Warrell, who oversees fiscal strategy, long-term planning, and sustainable growth. Her leadership helps ensure the bank remains financially strong while continuing to invest in employees, technology, and community initiatives.
“We need to be profitable to stay in business,” Riddle added, “but we’re not trying to be the biggest. We aim for slow, steady growth and to create meaningful career paths for individuals who want to grow with the bank.”
Community involvement remains central to the bank’s mission. “We like to do something in response to our good fortune,” Pires said. Each year, Community Bank Delaware donates four percent of its profits to charitable organizations in Sussex County.
Riddle is chair of the finance committee at Crossroad Community Church in Georgetown, served as treasurer of Nanticoke Health Services for 15 years, and is active in Rotary, the Rehoboth Chamber of Commerce, and the Delaware Solid Waste Authority and the Council for Development Finance. “We actively encourage our employees to be involved,” he said. To support that commitment, each employee receives paid volunteer time annually. The bank also coordinates team-based volunteer days in partnership with local organizations, creating opportunities that strengthen teamwork while giving back. If an employee is passionate about a particular cause, the bank will often provide financial support as well.
Community Bank Delaware where community matters. Stop in and see us at our branch locations or check us out at communitybankdelaware.com or call 302-226-3333. We are a member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.
