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V O L . X X X I I N O. V I I I A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 2 6 20 B A N K I N G / F I N A N C E / I N S U R A N C E F O C U S Another nearby bank-owned property is at 15 Western Ave., which is tucked into a corner of the 150 State St. campus. e bank's original intent was to tear down the commercial building there, in order to create adequate space for the construction of the new building. Instead, local developer Richard Parkhurst stepped in with a proposal to move the 15 Western Ave. building, which is another John Calvin Stevens design, although not designated a his- toric structure. e bank owns a vacant lot on Chandler Street, across from the 150 State St. campus, and sold a portion of the lot to Parkhurst to be the new site for the 15 Western Ave. building. "If he can move it and give it a sec- ond phase of life, we're happy to lean in and help," says Silsby. First retail branch Earlier this year, NBT Bank completed the fit-up of a 1,700-square-foot space at 191 Marginal Way in Portland, its first retail branch in Maine. e subsidiary of Norwich, N.Y.- based NBT Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: NBTB) has had a commercial lending presence in Portland, at 5 Widgery Wharf, since 2014. But this is the first branch for retail depositors. In addition to teller ser- vices, the branch includes a walk-up ATM and night-drop services. e retail branch addresses the growth of NBT's depositor base and employees in Maine. NBT is constantly reviewing potential office locations, Michael O'Reilly, NBT's Maine regional president, has said. "In addition to community needs, we analyze several additional factors to assess and prioritize opportunities, including available talent, potential locations and market disruptions." Fit-out of the NBT branch was done by Southern Maine Remodeling, of Scarborough, and Port City Architecture, of Portland. Downeast expansion Last summer, Franklin Savings Bank cut the ribbon on a full- service branch at 181 State St. in Ellsworth. e bank has served the Ellsworth community since 2016, operating as a business lend- ing office at 130 Oak St., Suite 9, next door to the new branch. Looking to enhance its foot- print in the Downeast region, the bank expanded services to include consumer and business deposit accounts, mortgage lending and full-service banking. e branch, a multimillion-dol- lar investment in property acquisi- tion and build-out, is approximately 3,000 square feet and includes 13 parking spaces, lobby and drive-up access, an ATM and a night-drop. e location was considered a good spot for the branch for several reasons, including ease of access that avoids high-density traffic. It's also a well-known location due to its proximity to the previous loan production office next door. e project team included contractor E.L. Shea Inc. and Sealander Architects, both of which are based in Ellsworth. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E Responsive Counsel for Financial Institutions 207.774.2635 | PERKINSTHOMPSON.COM | 200 MIDDLE STREET, SUITE 901, PORTLAND, ME 04101 Your Success is Our Legacy. Perkins Thompson works with banks, lenders and financial services companies on the regulatory, transactional and operational matters that shape their business. Our attorneys advise on commercial lending, loan documentation and structuring, regulatory compliance, secured transactions, workouts and foreclosures. Whether your institution is locally chartered or operating across state lines, we provide the responsive counsel and practical judgment your team can rely on. Last summer, Franklin Savings Bank opened a full-service branch at 181 State St. in Ellsworth to enhance its footprint in the Downeast region. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y F R A N K L I N S AV I N G S B A N K

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