The CEO of the fourth largest state-chartered bank in Connecticut will retire at the end of the year.

Middletown-based Liberty Bank announced in May that Chandler J. Howard, president and CEO of the bank, will leave his post after more than three decades in banking. Howard has held this position since joining Liberty in 2007 and first began as a teller 35 years ago at People’s United Bank.

“My decision to retire was not an easy one. It has been both my great privilege and honor to work side-by-side with so many dedicated and talented people – the absolute best in the business,” Howard said in a statement. “I am extremely proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together for both our customers and the communities in which we serve. With the team’s continued hard work, I am confident that Liberty Bank will remain the strong company it is today.”

Howard, a class A director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, has been recognized by numerous organizations for his dedication to community service and volunteerism. He is a recipient of the Hartford Business Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award and most recently received Middlesex United Way’s Leadership Award.

During his tenure, Liberty Bank grew its assets from $2.7 billion to $4.8 billion, expanded its physical footprint from 34 to 55 full services branches, completed three bank acquisitions and rolled out new technology and capabilities.

The company has been named a Hartford Courant Top Workplace six years in a row and the number one large employer in 2017, as voted by employees and selected by an independent committee.

“On behalf of the entire board of directors, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Chandler for all he has done to advance the bank over the past decade,” Mark Gingras, chairman of the the bank’s board of directors, said in a statement. “His steadfast leadership has resulted in tremendous growth while also nurturing an environment of teamwork and volunteerism that is unmatched in the industry.”