Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1313608
22 Worcester Business Journal Member FDIC Rev. 10/20 Even you, duct tape. All Wallets Welcome Here berkshirebank.com H ow does Berkshire Bank's Be FIRST culture further its Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) efforts? Our Be FIRST values serve as the foundation of our efforts. We know invaluable opportunities occur when you bring together diverse perspectives and experiences. We have a long-standing commitment and track record working collaboratively with local partners to improve the economic vitality of our communities through the work of our charitable Foundation and XTEAM employee volunteer work. We've seen the great work the Bank does to support the underbanked in diverse communities. What are you doing in Worcester? Our local leaders including Regional President Paul Kelly, SVP of Private Banking Christina Andreoli, FVP, Regional Branch Manager Richard Thall, and Business Banking Team Leaders Christopher Kostiw and Robert Romprey are all active in Worcester and facilitate our suite of socially responsible banking products that help everyone bank with dignity, including: • Friends & Family Checking Account – an alternative to those with bad credit history enabling access to affordable, credit-building checking accounts. • MyCommunity Home Equity – a home equity loan for those who don't need to borrow large sums. • MyBanker Program – a personal banker to assist with a consumer's financial journey regardless of how much money they have. • MyCheck – an alternative to traditional check cashing services. • ReevxLabs.com – with COVID-19, demand increased for resources to help underbanked communities and ways to connect entrepreneurs, small businesses, non-profits and individuals to the ecosystem of tools they needed to thrive, so we accelerated the launch of our Reevx Labs online platform. ReevxLabs.com offers a welcoming, inclusive online space to make connections, explore collaboration opportunities and access resources to help entrepreneurs, artists and small businesses succeed, available to anyone regardless of physical location. We are most proud of our investment in our communities. This year we tapped an additional $1MM increasing our Foundation giving to $4MM as a result of the pandemic. How does the Bank's purpose-driven approach enhance its D&I efforts with customers, communities and employees? Being a purpose-driven brand means we integrate our commitment to social responsibility and D&I into every aspect of our business, from how we approach hiring, to product and service development/delivery, to governance and policy. It goes beyond philanthropy and community involvement to the very heart of our brand, allowing us to work more efficiently, and more importantly, empowering all employees to bring our purpose to life in their own local ways. This commitment to purpose-driven performance is seen throughout every aspect of our Bank including our Board of Directors which has a dedicated committee to guide our social responsibility, diversity and culture work. This ensures accountability and board-level buy-in and support. BERKSHIRE BANK: Q&A with Sean Gray, Acting President & Chief Executive Officer, Berkshire Bank W Sean Gray F O C U S D I V E R S I T Y & I N C L U S I O N Special Sponsored Section