The former Waterford Village Bank re-opened Monday morning as a branch of Evans Bank, with those customers who ventured in expressing no worry and employees continuing to work on the transition.

State regulators on Friday closed Clarence-based Waterford because of inadequate capital, turning the bank over to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which sold it immediately to Angola-based Evans.

FDIC and staff from both banks worked nonstop since then to close the books on Waterford and facilitate the changeover.

“We worked all weekend so it would be a smooth opening,” said Evans CEO David Nasca. “I’ve talked to the customers. They appear to be very comfortable because there’s a bank with capital here.”

On Monday, Nasca and other top Evans executives and a handful of other employees remained on hand to assist former Waterford employees in serving customers and handling concerns. “The branch staff is comfortable with what we’re doing. Our team is working alongside them,” he said. “I’m really gratified by how much work both banks made.”

Customers reflected that attitude, too, even saying they weren’t surprised by the regulators’ seizure of the bank.

“They handled it very nicely. There wasn’t anything to get excited about,” said Jackie Nemmer, 75, of Clarence, one of Waterford’s first customers. “They treated us very nice and we’re still with the bank, even though it’s been taken over by Evans.”

“I wasn’t in shock. I sort of had a feeling something was going to happen, but not so soon,” said Elaine Lankes, 81, of Getzville, who banked with Waterford since it operated from a trailer before the branch opened. “It broke my heart.”

Like Nemmer, Lankes also said she welcomed Evans. “I was happy to hear it was a bank I’ve done business with and was happy with,” she said.

The stability on Monday was a far cry from how some customers and employees apparently felt before, Nasca said. Waterford wasn’t even allowed to add new loans in its last days because of regulators’ concerns.

“Some customers were unhappy and worried in the last few weeks because they couldn’t get answers. It was surprising how loyal the customers stayed,” he said. “I think their [employees] are excited for the same reason as the customers: The uncertainty is gone.”

No deposits were lost as part of the failure, as Evans assumed everything. That’s unusual, as only one-fourth of failures in the past 15 years have resulted in transferring all funds, instead of just insured deposits, according to a question-and-answer brochure from the FDIC.

The former Waterford accounts will be separately insured for at least six months, giving depositors a chance to restructure their accounts if total funds exceed the $250,000 insurance limit.

Meanwhile, regulators and the bank are directing that any claims against the bank, such as by employees or contractors, be sent to the FDIC. Shareholders have a claim against the bank, but it’s the lowest priority.

Nasca said no decisions have been made about most employees, whom he expects to stay at least through the transition. Two already left, however, and former Waterford CEO Orrin D. Tobbe will not stay.