(609) 642-4423
(609) 643-0473
908-751-0318
908-751-1044
(609) 643-4113
First Bank’s Lawrenceville Branch is located at 590 Lawrence Square Blvd So., situated in a strip mall facing Quakerbridge Road. Opened in 2009, the Lawrenceville branch was First Bank’s initial introduction to Mercer County.
The Township of Lawrence was formed in 1697. It was originally called Maidenhead. The eastern boundary of Maidenhead, the Province Line, was the dividing line between the two original colonies of East and West Jersey. The name was changed to Lawrence on January 24, 1816 in honor of Captain James Lawrence, a naval hero of the War of 1812.
(609) 528-7415Branch Manager Bob Gossenberger oversees the daily operations of First Bank’s Lawrenceville branch, monitors and coaches the branch personnel and assists in the efforts focused on new business development in the market.
Bob joined First Bank in March 2015 as the manager of the Trevose Branch and has more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry working with both consumer and small business clients. Prior to joining First Bank, Bob worked for PNC Bank for over 16 years in various capacities including Business Banking Sales Manager for the bank’s South Jersey and Bucks County, Pa. regions.
Bob is a longtime resident of East Windsor, NJ and has served on his condominium association’s Board of Directors for over 20 years. Bob also currently serves as the Treasurer for the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra’s Board of Directors, which he joined in 2019.
(609) 642-1240
Recorded history of the area dates back to the 1600s, when it was a sojourn between Philadelphia and New York called Queenstown. As lodging could be had in one of the town taverns for pennies, the town name was changed to Penny Town in the early 1700s. Not much of a leap, by the middle of the 18th century, it settled into its current name of Pennington. Together with Hopewell Borough and Hopewell Township, the greater Hopewell Valley is steeped in history and tradition, including covering part of the trail Washington’s troops traveled on their way to the Battle of Trenton.
The Pennington branch is located just off of Route 31, only a couple of miles from the Route 295 interchange.
(609) 281-5809As Branch Manager and Business Development Officer, Ruth Powell is responsible for day-to-day branch operations, branch personnel and development of new business in the Pennington and Hopewell communities.
Mrs. Powell brings over 23 years of experience to the First Bank team. She has been a Branch Manager for Hopewell Valley Community Bank and Northfield Bank in Pennington, New Jersey.
Ruth Powell is a member of the Pennington Business and Professional Association.
DAVID DISTEFANO 
Phone: (973) 895-5827
FSVP/Regional President
David DiStefano is the Regional President and First Senior Vice President for the Northern New Jersey Region of First Bank. He is responsible for overseeing all commercial banking activity in the market. Mr. DiStefano played a key role in the Bank’s first acquisition in 2014 successfully integrating both organizations and expanding the bank’s presence in Northern New Jersey. He has made significant contributions to the growth of First Bank’s business and served as commercial lending Team Leader in Central New Jersey before transitioning north.
Prior to becoming First Bank’s first employee at recapitalization in 2008, David served as Assistant Vice President/Business Advisor for PNC Bank and held various positions in commercial lending and credit administration at Yardville National Bank. He received the New Leaders in Banking Award from the New Jersey Bankers Association in 2012, and most recently was named one of NJBiz's 40 Under 40 in 2021.
Mr. DiStefano earned a Bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College where he majored in Accounting and Finance and minored in Economics. At F&M, he was awarded the William H. Hager Prize for showing the highest attainment in the field of business, marketing, and merchandising. He received his MBA from Rider University and attended the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania. David is a licensed New Jersey Realtor. He and his family reside in Allentown, NJ. Mr. DiStefano is active in many volunteer organizations including his service as Treasurer for The Allentown Village Initiative.
