FLORENCE—Florence Bank announced it recently presented its 2025 Community Support Award to Alissa Fuller of Ware, a compliance and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) officer since 2022.

The Community Support Award was established by the bank in 1997 as a means of formally recognizing team members who are active in the community and give their personal and professional time to local nonprofit organizations.

Each year, the award recipient selects an organization of his/her choice, and the bank donates $500 to that organization on the recipient’s behalf. Fuller chose to support The Care Center in Holyoke because she applauds its mission.

She supports many other nonprofits in the region with her time, serving on the advisory council for the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield; as a volunteer for the Amherst Survival Center, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and Community Action Pioneer Valley, where she assists with tax preparation. 

Fuller has 25 years of banking experience and has served in other roles, including loan operations manager. She oversees Florence Bank’s overall compliance program and ensures adherence to federal and state regulations as well as the CRA regulation, which requires the bank to meet the credit needs within the communities it serves, particularly in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.

She has an associate degree in business administration from New England College of Business and Finance. In 2022, she obtained fair lending expert certification from Tuscan Club University.

“Alissa is a team member we are proud of as she has proven herself to be an active volunteer who supports area nonprofits and those they serve,” said Matt Garrity, president and CEO of Florence Bank. “She is well-deserving of the Community Support Award.”

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutual savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 12 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield, and Springfield. Additionally, it offers 25 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through Florence Financial Group to consumers and businesses.

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FLORENCE—Florence Bank announced it recently presented its 2024 Community Support Award to longtime employee Kim Baker of Hatfield.

The Community Support Award was established by the bank in 1997 as a means of formally recognizing team members who are active in the community and give their personal and professional time to local nonprofit organizations.

Each year, the award recipient selects an organization of his/her choice, and the bank donates $500 to that organization on the recipient’s behalf. Baker chose to support United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region.

She joined Florence Bank in 1995 and currently serves as vice president / commercial loan operations and compliance officer at the bank’s main office in Florence. She is responsible for commercial loan compliance, including regulatory and management reporting.

Baker holds an associate degree from Holyoke Community College, a bachelor’s in business management with a concentration in finance from Westfield State College and a master’s in business administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

In the community, she is a member of Hatfield’s Finance Committee and the Hatfield Saint Kaz Polish Club. She volunteers for Jessie’s House, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, the Cancer Connection, the Three County Fair and the Northampton Saint Patrick’s Association. Baker is also chair and co-chair for United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region’s Annual Ski United fundraising event.

“Kim has proven to be a true community volunteer and supporter of many local organizations,” said Matt Garrity, president and CEO of Florence Bank. “She is well-deserving of the Community Support Award.”

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutual savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 12 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield, and Springfield. Additionally, it offers 25 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses. Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate.

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FLORENCE—Florence Bank recently announced it has presented its 2023 Community Support Award to Tim Deshaies of Holyoke, director of Retail Operations at the bank.

The Community Support Award was established by the bank in 1997 as a means of formally recognizing employees who are active in the community and give their personal and professional time to local nonprofit organizations.

Each year, the award recipient can select an organization of his/her choice, and the bank will donate $500 to that organization. Deshaies has chosen The Therapeutic Equestrian Center, citing the incredible work the organization does with horse-assisted therapy for people in the community.

Deshaies came to Florence Bank in 2007. He holds a master’s in business administration from Western New England University.

He is very active in the community and currently holds these positions: treasurer of The Therapeutic Equestrian Center and The Wistariahurst Foundation; vice president of Black Horse Trust; and director of Mansir Trust.

“We are pleased to shine a spotlight on Tim because we are proud of all the important work he does in the community,” said Matt Garrity, president and CEO of Florence Bank. “Tim well deserves the Community Support Award.”

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutual savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 12 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield, and Springfield. Additionally, it offers 25 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses. Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate.

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FLORENCE—Florence Bank recently announced it has presented its 2022 Community Support Award to Linda Bushey of Northampton, a mortgage specialist in the main office in Florence.

The Community Support Award was established by the bank in 1997 as a means of formally recognizing employees who are active in the community and give their personal and professional time to local nonprofit organizations.

Each year, the award recipient can select an organization of his/her choice, and the bank will donate $500 to that organization. Bushey chose to support two organizations, so $250 will be granted to the Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden Agricultural Society / Three County Fair, which promotes agricultural education and scientific agriculture, and $250 will be granted to the Greater Northampton St. Patrick’s Committee, Inc. 

Bushey was hired at Florence Bank in 1994 as a teller and held a variety of positions before becoming a senior mortgage processor. She is now a mortgage specialist with 32 years of banking experience. She received the Florence Bank President’s Award for outstanding service in 2001 and is a 2017 recipient of the inaugural Leonard Von Flatern Jr. Volunteer Award presented by the Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden Agricultural Society.

Bushey serves on the Three County Fair Board of Directors and is a longtime fair volunteer. She is treasurer of the Greater Northampton St. Patrick’s Committee and also volunteers in many events for the Greater Northampton St. Patrick’s Committee. She also volunteers at the Hampshire County Sherriff’s picnic and has volunteered during the Northampton Family Fourth event at Look Memorial Park.

“We are pleased to make donations to these important community organizations in Linda’s name because we value community service as much as Linda clearly does,” said Kevin R. Day, president and CEO of Florence Bank. “Linda well deserves the Community Support Award.”

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutual savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 12 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield, and Springfield. Additionally, it offers 25 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses. Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate.

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FLORENCE—Florence Bank has named Susan Seaver of Ludlow as the Community Support Award winner for 2019.

Seaver, a mortgage loan originator, joined Florence Bank in May 2014 and has 30 years of banking experience.

The Community Support Award was established by the bank in 1997 as a means of formally recognizing employees who are active participants in community events and donate their personal and professional time to local not-for-profit organizations.

Each year, the award recipient has the opportunity to select a not-for-profit organization of his/her choice, and the bank makes a donation to that organization. At Seaver’s recommendation, Florence Bank will make a donation to the Michael J. Dias Foundation of Ludlow, which has a mission to help those who are battling the disease of addiction.

Seaver serves her community as an active member of the Community Service Committee at the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley. She also serves as a designated financial counselor for the Wayfinders organization, working to confront homelessness in communities throughout Western Massachusetts. Seaver volunteers as a classroom reader in support of the Link to Libraries organization in East Longmeadow and is an avid supporter of the Michael J. Dias Foundation.

John F. Heaps, Jr., president and CEO of Florence Bank said, “Sue is the ideal choice for the Community Support Award.  Her positive energy, commitment to numerous local nonprofit organizations and dedication to helping those in need within our community is exemplary.”

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutually-owned savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 11 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, West Springfield and a new branch located on Allen Street in Springfield. Additionally, the bank offers 28 ATMs and a wide range of financial services including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses.  Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate and the Daily Hampshire Gazette.  

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FLORENCE—Florence Bank has named Erin Couture, of Southampton, as its Community Support Award winner for 2018.

The Community Support Award was established by the bank in 1997 to recognize employees who are active participants in community events and donate their personal and professional time to local not-for-profit organizations.

Each year, the award recipient has the opportunity to select a not-for-profit organization of his/her choice, and the bank makes a donation to that organization. At Couture’s recommendation, Florence Bank will make a donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, for which Couture serves as president on its advisory board.  

Couture, vice president of commercial loans and a commercial lender, joined Florence Bank in November 2011.  

She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a master’s in business administration from Western New England University.

Couture is actively involved with the Northampton Chamber of Commerce as a Finance Committee member and is also the Committee Chair at the W.E. Norris School in Southampton. Couture is an award recipient of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty, in which 40 young business and civic leaders in Western Mass are honored annually.

John F. Heaps, Jr., President and CEO of Florence Bank, said, “Erin is the ideal choice for the Community Support Award.  Her positive energy, commitment to numerous local nonprofit organizations and dedication to helping those in need within our community is exemplary.”

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutually-owned savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the Bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 9 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown and Granby as well as through 27 ATMs and a new full-service Banking Center in West Springfield.  Florence Bank offers a wide range of financial services including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses.  Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate and the Daily Hampshire Gazette.  John F. Heaps Jr. is the Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Main headquarters are at 85 Main Street, Florence, MA 01062. For additional information about the Bank or its services please visit www.florencebank.com or call 413.586.1300.

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