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V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 A P R I L 3 , 2 0 2 3 From the Editor O ur cover offers shades of Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life," in an updated version. Like Stewart's character, George Bailey, Maine bankers have had to reassure customers lately. anks to the fallout from the Silicon Valley Bank failure, Maine bankers are having to answer to financial problems that stemmed out of the tech industry. In a recent op-ed in the Mainebiz Daily Report, Blaine Boudreau, president and CEO of Partners Bank, and Maine Bankers Association President Jim Roche sought to reassure customers and the public that Maine banks are safe. "We can say with some authority that banks in Maine are different in fundamental ways from those two banks. What happened in California and New York is highly unlikely to ever happen here in Maine," they wrote. "To begin with, Maine banks do not have the same tech and startup focus that SVB had, nor do we have the crypto/digital asset-focused-lending profile of Signature Bank. Banks in Maine are primarily community banks focused on our towns, our neighbors, and our small businesses with a diverse customer base." In our cover story, Senior Writer Renee Cordes tackles the vexing challenge facing Maine banks: ey are safe, yet they're having to address problems in the wider banking industry. See "Checks and bal- ances," which starts on Page 12. Maine's insurance industry has seen substantial growth in recent years. As Senior Writer Laurie Schreiber reports, the growth has been character- ized by acquisitions, changes in the C-suite, new hires and expansion into new markets. Her story starts on Page 18. is issue also includes a wealth of banking- related lists, on Page 11, 23 and 30. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get Maine's top business news daily at mainebiz. biz or by signing up for our Daily Report and Real Estate Insider newsletters. Here is our top content from March 13–27. 1. Largest military shipbuilder in U.S. leases space in Portland 2. Historic riverside Hallowell building sells for $2.4M 3. Loyal Biscuit, with six Maine stores, has been acquired by national pet supply chain 4. Real Estate Insider notebook: Planned Skowhegan investments will top $650 million 5. Introducing the 2023 Mainebiz Business Leaders of the Year 6. Business Leaders: Tim Harrington plans next chapter with a new residential park in Biddeford 7. Kennebunk bakery and chocolatier adds Portland store 8. Portland non-alcoholic brewery looks to expand, seeks investors 9. Downtown Waterville businesses receive $150K to update facades 10. Ashland log-maker plans $7M expansion to produce heating pellets P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F C O L L I E R S 1 Thanks to the fallout from the Silicon Valley Bank failure, Maine bankers are having to answer to financial problems created elsewhere. When you need a lawyer who thinks like an executive. And speaks like a human. bernsteinshur.com Be smart. BE SHUR. Maine's financial services industry remains strong

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