I am excited to share that we have some incredible changes taking place at Country Bank! Today, we proudly launch our new website, a dynamic platform designed with you in mind. Our goal is to enhance your banking experience and provide you with the tools and resources you need to achieve your financial goals.

Our revamped website offers comprehensive financial education resources, interactive calculators, and insightful blogs tailored to your unique financial needs. Whether you’re looking for guidance on budgeting, saving for a big purchase, or a business opportunity, our website is a valuable resource at your fingertips.

Thank you for choosing Country Bank as your trusted financial partner. Your trust and loyalty are the pillars of our success. We are honored to serve you and support you on your financial journey.

Warm regards, 

Mary McGovern

President & CEO, Country Bank

Country Bank’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Edward (Ted) Noonan as Vice-Chair of its Board of Directors. At its June meeting, the Board recognized Noonan’s extensive experience and leadership qualities, which will significantly contribute to the bank’s continued success.

Noonan, elected to the Board in 2018, is the President of Noonan Energy, a 135-year-old prominent energy company based in Springfield. With his proven track record, Noonan has demonstrated his ability to navigate complex challenges and drive growth. His appointment as Vice-Chair reflects the bank’s commitment to fostering strong leadership and strategic decision-making.

In addition to his role as Vice-Chair, Noonan also serves on the Board of Investment, where he brings his expertise in financial management and investment strategies. Furthermore, he holds the Chair of the Board Risk Committee, highlighting his dedication to ensuring the bank’s stability and security. He also serves on the following Boards: YMCA of Greater Springfield, Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association, National Energy and Fuels Institute, and National Oil Heat Research Alliance.

“We are thrilled to have Ted as our new Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors,” said James Phaneuf, Chairman of the Board. His extensive knowledge in serving on the Board and his strong leadership skills will be invaluable as we continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the banking industry.”

Noonan’s appointment further supports Country Bank, which seeks to expand its market area and services throughout the region. With his deep understanding of the local community and his commitment to excellence, Noonan is well-positioned to contribute to the bank’s strategic initiatives.

“I am honored to accept the role of Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at Country Bank,” said Ted Noonan. I look forward to working closely with Jim and the rest of the Board to contribute to the bank’s continued growth and success in all the markets we serve.”

Country Bank is confident that Noonan’s appointment will strengthen its position as a leading financial institution in the region. With his wealth of experience and dedication to the bank’s mission, Noonan is poised to made a difference for the bank, its team members and its customers.

Country Bank’s President and CEO, Mary McGovern, is delighted to announce the promotion of five talented individuals within the organization. Each of these individuals, Dale Mazanec, Jason Mourao, Tori Graffam, Crystal Mansfield, and Ashlynn Fratoni, brings unique skills and experiences to the table, reflecting their dedication and significant contributions to our team. Their journeys are a testament to our organization’s potential for growth and success.

Previously serving as Vice President, Dale Mazanec has been promoted to First Vice President, Asset Mitigation. With a decade of service at Country Bank and 35 in the financial services industry, Dale has established himself as a pillar of commitment and expertise. His thoughtful approach and positive attitude make him a true leader within the Bank, significantly improving our asset mitigation strategies and operations.

Jason Mourao has been appointed Assistant Vice President of Retail Lending Operations. Since joining Country Bank in 2019, Jason has excelled in bringing a fresh perspective to the loan operations team. With ten years of banking experience as an Originator, Jason’s insights have been invaluable in his management role. Jason continues to enhance his skills while pursuing further education at the New England School for Financial Studies through The Massachusetts Bankers Association.

Tori Graffam has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, BSA/Fraud. Joining Country Bank in 2020, Tori has demonstrated exceptional vigilance in safeguarding the Bank and its customers. With over 35 years in banking, Tori is highly respected for her deep knowledge and expertise in BSA/AML/OFAC regulations. She is a liaison, ensuring adherence to evolving regulatory requirements to protect the Bank and its stakeholders.

Crystal Mansfield assumes the role of Customer Experience Officer. With an impressive 23-year career at Country Bank, Crystal has excelled across various roles, including sales, customer service, retail management, marketing, and data analytics. Known for her commitment to excellence and customer-centric approach, Crystal leads by example, ensuring that customer voices are heard and valued throughout the Bank. Her dedication was recognized with the prestigious 2023 Presidents Platinum Award.

Ashlynn Fratoni has been promoted to Lead Audit Officer. In her 3.5 years as Senior Auditor, Ashlynn has consistently leveraged her extensive audit experience to drive process improvements and efficiency gains across the organization, Ashlynn’s leadership in audit operations reinforces Country Bank’s commitment to operational excellence and regulatory compliance.

“Congratulations to Dale, Jason, Tori, Crystal, and Ashlynn. We are excited to announce their promotions, not just in recognition of their contributions to the Bank’s success but also because each individual’s history with the Bank demonstrates the various career paths available in community banking. We are committed to helping each of them and every team member identify their career goals and work with them to reach those objectives because we know that they make a difference to the Bank’s overall success. We’re pleased to be able to promote Dale, Jason, Tori, Crystal, and Ashlynn for their strong performance, hard work, and dedication to the Bank,” said Miriam Siegel, First Senior Vice President, Chief Culture and Development Officer of Country Bank.

WORCESTER, Mass. — Debby Huegel from Habitat for Humanity in Metro West and Greater Worcester is stunned by the generosity of a local partner Country Bank.

“I was just so blown away with their generosity,” said Debby Huegel who is VP of Philanthropy for Habitat for Humanity Metro West and Greater Worcester.

After thousands of dollars worth of tools to build homes in Worcester were stolen last week.

“This isn’t right, why would you steal tools from Habitat from Humanity while they are building a house?” said Paul Scully, CEO of Country Bank.

Last week, thieves took the very things needed to construct two habitat homes.

The tools were inside a storage container on the site where the two homes are under construction.

Someone cut the two padlocks and made off with several power tools including drills and nail guns — adding up to a nine thousand dollar loss.

Hearing the news bothered Scully, so much that he didn’t think twice and stepped up to replace the entire amount stolen.

“They needed nine thousand dollars worth of tools. We are not good with tools but we are good with money let’s see what we can do to help them out and make a difference,” said Scully.

Their relationship is strong. Country Bank helps Habitat on building sites and with playhouses built for children of vets. For Scully, this was an easy decision.

“It’s all about making a difference and it’s all about giving back and we love doing our small part,” he said.

And that generosity has Habitat and families who will live in the homes, that can now be finished, forever grateful.

“But to have them call out of the blue and offer the entire nine thousand dollars for the stolen tools was just simply amazing,” said Huegel.

Read More on Boston25news.com

In a hypercompetitive world, everybody’s always looking for a way to get ahead. This can often mean starting work earlier, staying in the office later, and focusing on work during your time off. Although working a little harder and putting in extra time towards you career reflects diligence and can benefit your career, you have to find a balance between work and your personal life. The struggle of finding a proper work-life balance is especially relevant in the world of small business. When bringing the vision of your small business to life, you know that it’ll take a lot of overtime to achieve your dream. If you’re running your own small business, you probably dictate the majority of your own schedule, including hours and deadlines. However, it’s important to keep in mind that our health generally suffers when you work too much, and this can be reflected in the quality of your work. There should always be time for your family, friends, and your life outside of the office, no matter your career path. It can be difficult to tell when your health is truly being impacted by overworking and when it’s time to make a change or take a break. Not sure if you’re working too much? There’s a few ways to tell if your work is affecting your physical or mental health:

Signs you’re working too much…

Poor quality of work: The quality of the work you produce is not up to it’s usual standard. If you’re getting less work done and you’re not as proud of it as you usually are, it’s time to adjust your work-life balance.

Decreased energy: When you wake up tired and dread taking on the day, it’s reflected in your work. Taking a break from work to increase energy and drive can help create a better work-life balance.

Difficulty sleeping: In this case, try to make sure you stop working a good few hours before you go to bed. Otherwise, work will be on your mind when you go to bed, resulting in difficulty falling asleep.

Irritability: You’re feeling more irritable than usual. If you feel like lashing out, that means you’re overdue for a break.

Procrastination: You’re feeling apathetic towards your work and putting it off. This can also be reflected in spending too much time on social media or news sites.

A lack of concentration: If your interest levels are low and things feel out of focus, you could use a break from work to concentrate on yourself instead.

And here are a few ideas for ways to attain a better work-life balance…

Unplug: Technology has clearly helped our lives in many ways, especially in the business world. However, cell phones have also created expectations of constant accessibility, and therefore the work day seems to never end. Sometimes, work emails can wait. Shut your phone off, live in the moment, and spend some time enjoying the people and sights around you.

Exercise and meditate: Exercise is a proven stress reducer. It pumps endorphins through your body, helps lift your mood, and can put you in a meditative state. Making some time for exercise in your schedule can help you feel better, both physically and mentally.

Limit time-wasting activities and people: Identify what’s most important in your life and prioritize based on that list. This list should differ person to person, so make sure it truly reflects your own individual needs. From there, draw firm boundaries so you can devote quality time to these high-priority people and activities. When it comes to being a good friend, spouse, parent or worker, the better you are yourself, the better you are going to be in those areas as well.

Change the structure of your life: Sometimes we fall into a rut and assume our habits are set in stone. Take a step back and ask yourself: What changes could make life easier?

Start small: We’ve all been there… diets that we give up on, New Year’s resolutions we forget by February. It’s the same with work-life balance when we take on too much too soon. Instead, begin with a small change and build up from there.

Let go of perfectionism: The key to avoid burning out is to let go of perfectionism. Life isn’t perfect. Instead of aiming to be the best, strive to do your own personal best.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, more than 70 percent of the nation’s taxpayers received a tax refund averaging nearly $3,000 in 2017 and will get a similar amount this year. As we all receive our refunds along with additional benefits coming from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December, I would like to highlight seven tips to help you use your money wisely.

“Tax season is the perfect time to hit the reset button on your finances. Your refund can help put you on the right path towards reaching your financial goals. Consider using it to pay off debt or creating an emergency fund.”

• Save for emergencies.  More than 60 percent of Americans are not prepared for unexpected expenses. You can prepare by opening or adding to a savings account that serves as an “emergency fund.” Ideally, it should hold about three-to-six months of living expenses in case of sudden financial hardships like losing your job or having to replace your car.
• Pay off debt.  Pay down existing balances either by chipping away at loans with the highest interest rates or eliminating smaller debt first.
• Save for retirement, your child’s education or future health expenses. Open or increase contributions to a tax-deferred savings plan like a 401(k) or an IRA. Your bank can help set up an IRA, while a 401(k) is employer-sponsored. Look into opening a tax-advantaged 529 education savings plan to ensure school expenses will be covered when your child reaches college age. Or save for future health expenses with tax-free dollars by investing in a Health Savings Account.
• Pay down your mortgage or student loans.  Make an extra payment on your mortgage or student loans each year to save money on interest while reducing the term of your loans. Be sure to inform your lender that your extra payments should be applied to principal, not interest.
• Invest safely with U.S. savings bonds or municipal bonds. The U.S. Treasury allows for savings bond to be purchased using your tax refund for as little as $50. Savings bonds earn interest for a maximum of 30 years.
• Invest in your current home.  Use your refund to invest in home improvements that will pay you back in the long run by increasing the value of your home.  This can include small, cost-effective upgrades like energy-efficient appliances that will pay off in both the short and long term – and with tax credits (as long as Congress continues to renew the program).
• Donate to charity.  The benefit is two-fold: Giving to charity will make a difference in your community, and you can also claim the tax deduction, if you itemize.

I would also like to stress the importance of lower-income workers filing a tax return (even if your income is too low to trigger any federal tax liability) in order to potentially claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).  Depending on a recipient’s income, marital status and number of children, the EITC can result in a refund of up to $6,318 to help you achieve financial goals.

“It’s incredibly easy to go overboard buying gifts for loved ones during the holidays, but spending within your means will help keep your holidays merry and your finances bright,” said Corey Carlisle, executive director of the ABA Foundation. “There are simple things you can do to avoid a holiday spending hangover, like setting a budget in advance and avoiding impulse buys.”

Below are seven spending habits Americans should consider to help relieve the financial stress of the holidays:

• Plan ahead. Before you start shopping, develop a realistic budget for holiday expenses. Figure out your bottom-line number and set aside holiday cash in increments throughout the year. If you need to use your credit card, think about what you can afford to pay back in January.
• Keep track of other costs. Don’t forget costs beyond gifts, like postage, gift wrap, decorations, greeting cards, food, travel and charitable contributions. Keep in mind the end of the year is a time when large annual or semi-annual costs like car insurance, life insurance, and property taxes arise.
• Make and list and check it twice. Keep your gift list limited to family and close friends, noting how much you want to spend on each. If you’re donating to charities, factor in the total amount you plan to donate and how much each charity will receive.
• Shop early and space out purchases. Avoid shopping while rushed or under pressure, which can lead to overspending. Make sure to comparison shop online first, or download an app that lets you compare prices before you buy anything in a store. Before you head to the cashier (or online checkout), make sure your purchase is within the budget you set.
• Avoid impulsive spending decisions. Finding a spectacular sale on something you’ve been wanting can easily throw you off course. Stay strong and stick to your budget. Don’t be blinded by limited-time incentives geared toward getting you to spend more.
• Use credit wisely. Limit the use of credit for holiday spending. If you must use credit, use only one card—preferably the one with the lowest interest rate—and leave the rest at home. Pick a date when you can pay off your holiday credit card bills, and commit to paying off the balance by that time. Be sure to check statements for unauthorized charges and report them immediately.
• Save your receipts. Not only will you need them for possible returns, you’ll need them to keep track of what you’ve spent and to compare with your credit card statement. Knowing how much you spent will help you plan for next year, too. Keeping receipts for charitable donations will help you receive tax deductions in the spring.