BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eastern Bank opened its first six branches in New Hampshire today after it successfully converted 10,000 former Centrix Bank & Trust customer accounts to Eastern and changed signs, fixtures and computer systems over the weekend, Eastern announced today.
Eastern Bank, a $9.5 billion institution serving more than 460,000 consumers and businesses, boosted its geographic reach to 102 retail banking offices and 149 ATMs across Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome our new customers to Eastern Bank,” said Richard E. Holbrook, Chairman and CEO of Eastern Bank. “They have immediately gained access to an expanded network of branches, ATMs, and new products and services."
“Most importantly, they have gained a permanent financial and philanthropic partner in the community,” Holbrook added. “As the largest and oldest mutual bank in the country, we have no stockholders to satisfy and no quarterly demands from Wall Street. All of our attention and energy is focused on serving our customers and communities.”
Joseph B. Reilly, who co-founded Centrix and served as its President and CEO, remains with Eastern, serving as Regional President for New Hampshire.
Founded in 1818, Eastern has evolved into one of the most successful and highly regarded commercial banks in New England, offering a range of lending, cash management, international banking, wealth management and, through its subsidiary Eastern Insurance, business insurance and employee benefits services.
In 2014, Eastern continued its tradition of excellence in customer service, small business lending, philanthropic activities, and meeting its vision to become: “The best bank for our clients, the best organization for our colleagues, and, the best citizen for our communities.”
In October, for the fifth consecutive year, Eastern Bank outpaced its much larger competitors to rank as the No. 1 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in New England. It also ranked No. 1 in Massachusetts for the sixth straight year, making more small business loans than the four largest banks in Massachusetts – combined.
In May, Eastern Bank ranked “Highest Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in the New England Region,” according to the J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction StudySM.
In April, Eastern launched an innovation center, Eastern Labs, to enhance its capabilities in digital technologies and data science. The investment in research and development was made to provide a superior service experience and to deliver increased value to all customers.
Annually, Eastern Bank Corporation has donated an average in excess of 10 percent of its net income to charity, totaling more than $60 million in the past decade. In 2014, Eastern will donate nearly $6 million to 1,800 not-for-profits across its footprint. Eastern ranked No. 8 among Massachusetts’ top corporate charitable contributors, according to the Boston Business Journal in September.
Eastern Bank Corporation, which includes Eastern Bank, Eastern Insurance, and Eastern Bank Wealth Management, employs 1,750 people and operates more than 120 offices. Eastern has also been one of the “Top Places to Work” in Massachusetts for six years in the annual employee-based survey from The Boston Globe.
About Eastern Bank
Founded in 1818 and based in Boston, Eastern Bank is the largest and oldest mutual bank in the country, with $9.5 billion in assets and more than 100 branches serving communities in eastern Massachusetts and southern and coastal New Hampshire. Eastern Bank offers banking, investments and insurance all under one roof, and prides itself on working harder to understand its customers’ needs so it can deliver these services in a committed and personal way. Eastern Bank, which includes Eastern Bank Wealth Management and Eastern Insurance, is a recognized leader in corporate social responsibility and for its advocacy on behalf of a number of social justice causes. For more information, visit: www.easternbank.com, www.facebook.com/easternbank or www.twitter.com/easternbank.
