Michael Alberts

Former Connecticut state legislator Michael L. Alberts will become the next president and CEO of Jewett City Savings Bank when long-time leader Kevin Merchant retires in September.

JCSB’s board of directors named Alberts to take over as president and CEO effective Sept. 8, the bank said in a statement. Merchant has led JCSB since 2007.

Alberts has been JCSB’s senior commercial loan officer and a member of the bank’s senior management team since 2015. The bank said Alberts has guided its commercial loan growth “with excellent relationship development and portfolio management.”

“He has helped develop a strong commercial lending/credit team with collaboration and forward-thinking strategies; this team has been a critical factor in the bank’s financial success,” the bank said in the statement.

Alberts has nearly 35 years of banking experience, and the bank said he has been a strong industry advocate and supporter of the Connecticut Bankers Association’s mission.

Formerly a member of the board of selectman in Woodstock, Alberts spent 12 years as a state legislator in Connecticut’s General Assembly, including time as a leader on the Banking Committee. He was also a captain in the U.S. Air Force and a major in the Connecticut Air National Guard.

“Mike is results-driven with excellent leadership qualities to execute on the vision and mission of JCSB – to maintain its mutual charter and lead the bank with continued growth and solid bank performance,” the bank said. “He is committed to upholding JCSB’s core values of strengthening relationships both inside and outside the bank.”

JCSB is a mutual savings bank with about $370 million in assets and seven full-service offices in Putnam, Dayville, Brooklyn, Plainfield, Jewett City, Preston and Pawcatuck.