Due to an upcoming retirement, Smith & Wilkinson has been retained by Merrimack Valley Credit Union (MVCU) to manage the search for the credit union’s next SVP, Commercial Lending Manager. Founded in 1955, MVCU has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the five largest credit unions in Massachusetts. With the recent merger between MVCU and RTN FCU, they now manage over $2.4B in assets, with over 116,000 members spread across nearly two dozen locations.

Reporting to the EVP, CLO, & Corporate Strategy, the SVP, Commercial Lending Manager is responsible for overseeing the administration and growth of the credit union's commercial loan portfolio, ensuring compliance with policies and regulations while maintaining asset quality and profitability. This role involves directing commercial loan activities, overseeing underwriting, credit reviews, and portfolio management, as well as ensuring risk management and business development initiatives align with the credit union’s strategic goals. Additionally, the SVP collaborates with various departments on product development and service outreach, leads regulatory compliance efforts, and participates in senior leadership meetings to support overall organizational objectives. Maintaining strong external relationships and fostering a culture of continuous improvement are also key aspects of this role.

For a confidential conversation and additional information, please reach out to Nathan Townsend (ntownsend@smithandwilkinson.com).

Due to continued growth and investment in the communities they serve, Smith & Wilkinson has been retained by American Eagle Financial Credit Union to manage the search for the newly created position of Chief Community Officer. Originally founded in 1935 to serve the employees of defense contractor Pratt & Whitney, over the past 85 years American Eagle FCU has grown into one of the largest credit unions in New England, serving anyone who lives, works, or worships in select counties in CT and MA. As of 6/30/24, the organization has approximately $2.7B in assets and $2.4B in deposits, with 360 employees and 180,000 members.

Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Chief Community Officer will lead critical functions that support the Credit Union’s community outreach and strategic plans resulting in a positive impact in the marketplace. Responsibilities include relationship building, partnership development, needs identification, solutions generation, giving and enrichment for others, as well as delivery of tangible ways to advance financial freedom across their five-county footprint. Specific success criteria include proficiently illustrating our leadership practices, optimizing team member engagement, delivering a positive experience for members, increasing Financial Freedom for the community, driving advocacy and generating profitability to advance the sustainability and relevance of the Credit Union. This person will collaborate with functional areas across the enterprise to create an environment of continuous improvement evidenced by learning, innovation and success for all stakeholders—members, team members and Credit Union as a whole.

For a confidential conversation and additional information, please reach out to Carll Wilkinson (cwilkinson@smithandwilkinson.com) or Nathan Townsend (ntownsend@smithandwilkinson.com).

Smith and Wilkinson is currently retained by Florence Bank on a search for a Controller. Under the direction of the Treasurer, The Controller is responsible for the management of all accounting and financial reporting functions of the bank and related subsidiaries. Manages, coaches, and evaluates job performance of department staff to ensure effective performance, excellent service, and strong employee engagement. This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned accounting leader looking for a highly visible role with a growing and well capitalized mutual bank serving the Pioneer Valley marketplace. Please contact Stephen Peary or Darcy Flaherty to learn more about this opportunity.

VEDA is Vermont’s statewide economic development finance lender. VEDA’s mission is “to contribute to Vermont’s economic vitality by providing a broad array of financing programs to eligible businesses that create jobs and help advance Vermont’s public policy goals.”

The CEO will provide leadership for all aspects of VEDA’s operations with an emphasis on strategic planning, financial sustainability, and workplace culture. The selected individual will represent VEDA in the public, press, and legislature. The CEO will cultivate and foster strong working relationships with VEDA’s many partners and stakeholders, while building and overseeing an executive leadership team. In addition, the CEO will oversee organizational operations to ensure production efficiency, quality, service, and cost­ effective management of resources.

Today, Passumpsic Bank is indeed a modern, diversified community bank, with total assets approaching $843MM, and eleven branch offices on either side of the Connecticut River throughout northeastern Vermont and northern New Hampshire. In 1989, the Bank created an important division, Passumpsic Financial Advisors. Today, this division has over $377MM in AUM and delivers significant fee income to the Bank. The bank boasts a Tier 1 Risk-based Capital Ratio of 18.56% (ending 6/30/24). Passumpsic Bank has been named a Top 200 Community Bank in the U.S. by American Banker and a Forbes Best-in-State Bank three years running, currently #1 in Vermont.

As the Growth and Customer Experience Officer, you will play a pivotal role in driving the bank's retail sales initiatives, enhancing employee morale, and improving customer experience across all branches. Reporting to the Head of Retail and Customer Support, you will lead the branch managers and retail staff, focusing on strategies that increase deposit and consumer loan growth. This role requires a strong leader with a deep understanding of the retail banking environment, customer needs, and the ability to motivate teams to achieve outstanding results

Established in 1866, Norway Savings Bank ("NSB,") is a 158-year-old, $1.7B state chartered mutual bank. The bank has 300 full-time employees and at its asset size is the 7th largest bank headquartered in the state of Maine. NSB offers a breadth of both loan and deposit solutions for consumer and business banking customers as well as investment and trust services through its Asset Management Group and operates 24 branch locations in western and southern Maine. NSB is in strong financial condition, notably with over 13% Tier 1 capital, and has an approximately $1.1B loan portfolio, with over $1B secured by real estate. As a mutual bank, the bank is governed by its depositors (there are no shareholders), allowing the bank to take a long-term view of success based on customers, community, employees, and strength of balance sheet. With a full suite of mobile and online banking solutions, the bank is the epitome of a modern community bank, balancing local interests and decision making while allowing customers to bank where they want, and when they want. A fantastic corporate citizen, NSB awarded over $1.05MM to 355 Maine nonprofits in 2023 and its employees volunteered over 4,000 hours.

The Commercial Credit Manager, reporting to the VP, Special Assets, leads the daily operations of the Commercial Credit Team, supervising analysts and loan assistants. This role is responsible for evaluating financial and risk factors to support credit decisions and loan structuring, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and bank policies. Key duties include managing credit workflows, underwriting complex loan requests, overseeing annual reviews and covenant testing, and advising lending officers. The Manager drives policy improvements, supports regulatory compliance, and fosters team development through training and performance reviews. Additionally, the role involves collaborating with auditors, maintaining portfolio quality, and contributing to loan committee meetings while promoting innovation and operational efficiency.

For additional information, please contact a member of the S&W search team: Nathan Townsend, Partner (ntownsend@smithandwilkinson.com) or Cameron Boyd, Managing Partner (cboyd@smithandwilkinson.com).

Under the direction of the Chief Lending Officer, the VP, Senior Commercial Lender is responsible for prospecting and servicing a variety of commercial loans. The selected individual will interview applicants, obtain and review required financial information, build a highly visible reputation as a commercial loan expert, that will result in the generation of quality commercial loans that meet the criteria of Pathfinder Bank’s loan policies. Our client is seeking a seasoned Commercial Lender with a focus on Commercial and Industrial (C&I) lending to join a dynamic founding team. As a key player in the mission of Pathfinder Bank, this individual will contribute to building strong relationships, supporting small and medium sized businesses, and driving the success of entrepreneurs in the communities they serve. The position of VP, Senior Commercial Lender will also assist in attaining established Bank, region, and branch goals, and is expected to provide leadership, training and support to less experienced loan officers and other staff members.

S&W has been retained by Citadel Federal Credit Union (“Citadel”) to manage the search and selection process for the Credit Union’s newly created Director of Fraud position. Founded over 85 years ago, Citadel is a growing $6B not-for-profit, community-chartered credit union serving the Greater Philadelphia area. Citadel is one of the largest locally owned financial institutions in the area, with 24 branches (and growing,) as well as a full suite of digital products to serve consumer and business customers. Citadel aims “to be accessible, affordable, and convenient for the people of Southeast Pennsylvania and to ultimately empower those who live and work here, so they can prosper.” Citadel has undergone significant change over the past 15 months beginning with the appointment of Bill Brown as President and CEO, succeeding the organization’s longtime leader. Citadel has gone on to appoint several other key appointments to the senior leadership team to better align the organization’s mission and goals. Led by this new senior leadership team, the Credit Union is focused on building “a future filled with strategic growth, community engagement and operational excellence.”

The Director of Fraud will report to and work closely with Citadel’s Chief Risk Officer to develop the fraud team and infrastructure to address the near-term and long-term needs as the credit union grows in asset size and sophistication. The successful candidate will have financial services expertise across all products, channels and communication mechanisms, a belief that data driven models are essential to create preventative and detective fraudulent transactions, and strong leadership competencies. 

For additional information, or to arrange a confidential conversation, please contact a member of the S&W search team: Moriah Maron, Director of Recruiting (mmaron@smithandwilkinson.com) or Steve Peary, Partner (speary@smithandwilkinson.com).

Smith and Wilkinson is currently retained by OceanFirst Bank on a search for the newly created role of Director of Business Banking. This role will oversee an existing sales team as well as take ownership of the credit, recruiting, product and strategy function for the function. This highly visible role will find ways to leverage technology and people to better serve the small business community within OceanFirst’s footprint. Please contact Stephen Peary for a confidential discussion around the role.

Smith & Wilkinson is honored to be partnering with Liberty Bay Credit Union to identify the organization's next President & CEO.

Liberty Bay Credit Union, headquartered in Braintree, MA, was originally founded in 1917 to serve telephone workers and their families and, today, serves a geography-based field of membership across eastern Massachusetts of 24,000 members and a field of membership encompassing nearly three million people. With $800MM in total assets and 14% capital, Liberty Bay aspires to continually improve their member experience, add new members to the organization, and return profits to members in the form of higher rates on deposits and lower rates on loans. The Credit Union believes this can be accomplished through a combination of progressive operational efficiencies, continuous improvement methodology, and a corporate culture focused on doing what is right for their members, community, and employees.

Successful candidates will have a well-rounded operational and financial expertise, experience streamlining operations and identifying efficiencies, mature leadership abilities, and, ideally, experience within the credit union industry. 

For more information and a confidential conversation, please contact Carll Wilkinson (cwilkinson@smithandwilkinson.com) or Moriah Maron, Director of Recruiting (mmaron@smithandwilkinson.com). 

S&W has been retained by Northern Bank to manage the search and selection process for the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) position. Founded in 1960, Northern Bank is an approximately $3.1B, privately held and family-run bank. From its roots in Woburn, Massachusetts, the bank has grown to serve a national customer base and into one of the best run banks in the country, serving over 32,000 clients nationally, operating 12 retail locations, and employing approximately 300 dedicated professionals. During the 10-year period of 2013-2023 the bank achieved a 3X increase in assets, a 4X+ increase in capital, and grew its employee headcount by 83%. The bank is primarily a commercial lender, with approximately $1.2B of its $2.7B loan portfolio in C&I. The bank has a large specialty lending expertise, focused largely on QSR's nationally, distinguishing itself through its expertise, creative dealmaking, cutting edge analytics, and white glove service. Northern's outstanding financial performance speaks to the success of its model; for the period ending 3/31/24 Northern Bank had a NIM of 4.41, ROA of 1.64, ROE of 11.84, Efficiency Ratio of 43.75, and Core Capital of 14.40. In 2023, the bank launched Northern Digital Solutions (NDS), with the aim of developing proprietary digital products and solutions both for the benefit of existing Northern Bank customers as well as to be sold to other financial institutions. A generous corporate citizen, the bank donates to a wide array of area nonprofits through both grants from the Northern Bank Charitable Foundation and through donations.

Reporting to the bank's President & CEO, James Mawn, the Chief Financial Officer will lead all aspects the bank's finance and accounting functions and be a collaborative member of executive leadership. We are seeking exceptional bank finance executives for this unique, growth-oriented leadership role. Successful candidates will have demonstrated expertise across a wide spectrum of finance, accounting, reporting, and analytics functions, strong leadership skills directing an exceptional team of professionals, and will have thrived within entrepreneurial work environments.

For additional information, or to arrange a confidential conversation, please contact a member of the S&W search team: Cameron Boyd, Managing Partner (cboyd@smithandwilkinson.com) or Darcy Flaherty, Senior Associate (dflaherty@smithandwilkinson.com).

Smith and Wilkinson is currently retained by Connected Credit Union (https://www.connectedcreditunion.org/) to manage the search for their next CEO due to an upcoming retirement. This well run, community-chartered, credit union is looking for their next leader to continue serving their growing member base through a combination of superior member service and new solutions. At $120MM, Connected Credit Union has over 8,000 members within the Central Maine market and has a long tradition of benefiting the local community. We are seeking a well-rounded, member focused, financial services executive who understands the rewards and challenges of leading a smaller community focused institution. Please contact Stephen Peary or Julia Crouter for more information on the role.

S&W has been retained by Arrow Financial Corporation (“Arrow”) to manage the search and selection process for the bank’s next Director of Wealth Management.

Headquartered in Glens Falls, NY, Arrow is an approximately $4B, publicly traded (Nasdaq: AROW), diversified community bank. Arrow is the parent company of two, long-standing community banks, Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company and Saratoga National Bank & Trust Company, as well as for North Country Investment Advisors, Inc. and Upstate Agency, LLC. The bank serves commercial, consumer, and nonprofit customers across northeastern New York and the Capital District through both its retail branch network and a modern suite of online and mobile banking solutions, allowing its customers the flexibility to bank where they want, and when they want. The bank is aggressively growing their business in the Capital Region. Arrow is in strong financial condition, and at the end of 2023 reported strong net income ($30MM), total loans ($3.18B), retail deposits ($3.51B), and return on average equity (8.29%). As stated by the company’s President & CEO, David DeMarco, in the 2023 Annual Report, “At the heart of everything we do is our mission to strengthen financial lives and make a positive impact on the communities we serve.” The bank is a fantastic corporate citizen, having donated almost $800,000 to area nonprofits in 2023 and volunteered more than 11,000 staff hours.

Reporting to the bank’s SEVP, Chief Banking Officer, the Director of Wealth Management will lead the effort to grow a business line that the bank has identified as a key, strategic priority in its future plans. The position will be responsible for the leadership and management of a tenured team of wealth management professionals across Retirement Plan Services, Trust & Wealth Services, Investment Services, and Operations. We are seeking exceptional banking leaders with a demonstrated understanding of the role that a robust wealth management offering can play in enriching the lives of customers as well as how the growth of a wealth division can support a holistic financial relationship across the organization. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the ideal candidate will be a strong leader of people, dedicated to fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and sales growth. This is a primarily in-office role in Glens Falls, NY.  Glens Falls is an amazing place to live, work and play at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains minutes from the Queen of lakes, Lake George, and a quick ride from Saratoga.

For additional information about this unique community bank leadership role, please contact a member of the S&W Search Team: Cameron Boyd, Managing Partner (cboyd@smithandwilkinson.com) or Moriah Maron, Director of Recruiting (mmaron@smithandwilkinson.com).

The family office (PCW) either manages directly or is essential in purpose to the financials, accounting, tax planning, investments, estate planning, insurance, banking, personal projects, property management, philanthropic interests, administrative functions, and the relationships associated with the family that are held in multiple Trusts, LLCs, or owned directly in accounts and as real property. PCW intentionally will outsource functions and tasks to selected ‘expert managers’ in certain areas, knowing full-well that any successful outsourcing is only possible with the historical context and detailed information maintained and managed by PCW staff.

Due to an upcoming retirement, S&W has been retained by Newtown Savings Bank ("NSB," http://www.nsbonline.com/) to manage the search and selection process for the Bank’s next SVP, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”).

Headquartered in Newtown, Connecticut, Newtown Savings Bank is an approximately $1.9B, 169-year-old, mutually chartered community bank. As a mutual bank, the bank is governed by its depositors, allowing it to take a long-term view of success based on a belief in "The Power of Local," which helps families to save, businesses to grow, and the communities it serves to prosper. NSB is a top 10 bank in Connecticut by asset size and was recently named as a Top Regional Bank by Newsweek for 2024. Additionally, NSB was named the top CT-based lender for single-family purchase mortgages in 2023. NSB operates 15 retail locations across Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven County and recently updated their technology to best serve customers and businesses alike. NSB is regulated by the FDIC and the State of Connecticut Department of Banking.

Reporting directly to the Bank’s President and CEO and working closely with a collaborative senior leadership team, the CFO will be responsible for the overall financial oversight of the Bank. Key responsibilities include oversight of finance and accounting functions, balance sheet management, financial reporting, management of the secondary market and investment portfolios, and driving organizational profitability. As an integral member of the Executive Committee, the CFO is an important and highly visible role, as such, this individual is expected to provide strong organizational leadership, management, and strategic vision across the Bank. We are seeking well-rounded finance and accounting executives with a deep commitment to community banking for this leadership role.

For more information, or to arrange a confidential conversation, please contact Moriah Maron, Director of Recruiting (mmaron@smithandwilkinson.com). 

S&W has been retained by $13B OceanFirst Bank, a publicly traded bank with a reach from Boston to Washington, DC and headquartered in Toms River, New Jersey, to manage the search for their next Director of External Reporting and Tax.

OceanFirst Bank, established over 120 years ago, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to excellence, integrity, and innovation in delivering comprehensive banking solutions to individuals and businesses across New Jersey and beyond. With a strong emphasis on community involvement and customer satisfaction, OceanFirst Bank continues to expand its footprint while maintaining a customer-centric approach.

The Director of External Reporting & Tax at OceanFirst Bank plays a pivotal role in ensuring meticulous financial reporting in adherence to GAAP, SEC regulations, and internal policies. This strategic leadership position oversees the accurate and timely preparation of SEC filings, including 10-Q and 10-K reports, as well as regulatory filings such as FFIEC 041 and FR Y-9LP. The role also encompasses managing federal and state tax returns and provisions, contributing significantly to the bank’s fiscal health and regulatory compliance.

To arrange a confidential conversation or to obtain further information, please contact a member of the S&W search team: Darcy Flaherty, Senior Associate (dflaherty@smithandwilkinson.com) or Steve Peary, Partner (speary@smithandwilkinson.com).