America’s Community Bankers named Putnam Savings Bank as a Community Bank of the Year at ACB’s recent conference. The bank was honored for its work with Habitat for Humanity.
A bank chairman and chief executive officer who, along with his wife, has spent time building homes through Habitat for Humanity recently brought that mission to his business. And the bank’s resulting charity has earned it a national award.
America’s Community Bankers named Putnam Savings Bank as a Community Bank of the Year at ACB’s recent conference. The bank won the award in the category of helping to achieve homeownership, for its $25,000 contribution to Habitat for Humanity. That donation, along with land donated from a local resident and the labor of more than 20 of the bank’s employees, have resulted in a home in Danielson, which is slated for completion early next year. Volunteers are nearly finished with the one-family home on Commerce Avenue.
Thomas Borner, the bank’s chairman and CEO, travels around the country with his wife, Kathy, working on Habitat for Humanity projects.
“This is just such a wonderful tribute,” he said in a prepared statement. “Working with Habitat throughout the country has been such a labor of love for Kathy and me. We have seen firsthand the impact Habitat has had for many deserving families. Now with the bank’s involvement, we are extremely gratified to know that we are helping to create the American dream of homeownership locally as well.”
Other bank employees also are involved in Habitat for Humanity. Senior Vice President Lynn Brodeur serves as the group’s president and board member Dick Loomis serves on the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Connecticut.
“It is truly an honor to receive this award,” said Kim Michael, spokeswoman for America’s Community Bankers, in a prepared statement. “The competition was fierce.”
The Borners have worked on a number of America’s Community Bankers’ Habitat developments throughout the country, most recently on a project in San Diego.
“The partnership between Putnam Savings Bank and Habitat for Humanity is a natural,” Borner said. “One of the primary functions of community banking is housing, and I can’t think of a better way to demonstrate our commitment to building stronger communities.”
Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Connecticut has been an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International since 1995. Their mission is to draw families in need and communities together to build decent, affordable housing. In Habitat’s nondiscriminatory selection process, all homeowners contribute “sweat equity” and work as partners with the affiliate and other volunteers to accomplish Habitat’s mission, both locally and worldwide.
There are about 1,400 Habitat for Humanity International affiliates in the United States and in 50 other countries. The organizations work in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses are then sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged. Volunteers – often including the future homeowners – work to build the homes. The affiliates select homeowner families according to criteria that do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, ethnicity or religious preference.
ACB is a national trade organization with more than 1,000 bank members, whose mission is to “shape the future of banking by being the innovative industry leader strengthening the competitive position of community banks” across the country. It actively supports Habitat for Humanity nationally and internationally.
Putnam Savings Bank, originally chartered in 1862, is a $474 million federally chartered and insured stock savings bank. Putnam Savings Bank has branch offices in Putnam, Pomfret Center, Danielson, Plainfield, Griswold and Gales Ferry. It also operates a full-service loan center in Putnam.
