Among those participating in the recent groundbreaking and construction ceremonies for Haverhill Bank’s new West Newbury branch were, from left, Beverly Donovan, Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce; Loren Dubois, Maple Leaf Construction; Selectman Glenn A. Kemper; state Rep Lenny Mirra; Robert Masys, RAM Engineering; Sherry Temple Pruyn, Haverhill bank mortgage originator; Haverhill Bank Chairman of the Board Thomas R. Faulkner; William Francoeur, Maple Leaf Construction; Haverhill bank President and CEO Thomas L. Mortimer; Brian Murphey and Ann Bardeen, West Newbury Planning Board members; Brian Morisseau, MEG Companies; and Stacey L. Bruzzese, Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce.
For the first time in many years, residents of West Newbury will have a local bank serving them from within the town’s own borders.
Haverhill Bank recently broke ground and began construction on a new salt box-style branch in the center of town, at 279 Main St. The traditional design by DRL Associates, Weymouth, is intended to help the new branch best blend in with the rural character of the surrounding area. The branch is expected to open this fall.
“I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to town officials and residents of West Newbury for extending their welcoming hands to Haverhill Bank,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas L. Mortimer. “As a local bank, owned by its depositors, Haverhill Bank is committed to the well-being of West Newbury just as it is to all of the communities it serves.”
Mortimer was joined for the groundbreaking ceremonies by state Rep. Lenny Mirra; Selectman Glenn A. Kemper; West Newbury Planning Board members Ann E. Bardeen and Brian R. Murphey; Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce President Joseph J. Bevilacqua; Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce President Stacey L. Bruzzese; Haverhill bank Chairman of the Board Thomas R. Faulkner; Loren Dubois, president, and William Francoeur, senior project manager, of Maple Leaf Construction, Nashua, N.H.; Robert Masys, RAM Engineering, Haverhill; and Brian Morisseau, principal, MEG Companies, Londonderry, N.H.
Mortimer used the opportunity to introduce Sherry Temple Pruyn, who will serve as the on-site mortgage originator at the branch.
The new branch will employ up to five staff members and features two drive-up lanes—one for a personal teller and another for ATM transactions.
A depositor-owned institution, Haverhill Bank was founded in 1877 and is the oldest cooperative bank in Massachusetts. The bank’s main office is at 180 Merrimack St. in Haverhill. Haverhill Bank also maintains offices at 163 South Main St., 1094 Main St., 100 Lafayette Square, Haverhill High School, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, all in Haverhill; 6 West Main St., Merrimac; and 396 Main St., Salem, N.H.