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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 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 22 a very large building and we had the opportunity to sell that to a growing local church. We're thrilled it will be used by the community. And that sale allows us to reinvest back into our network." Reinvestments of the proceeds include new technology and modern designs. at includes a revamp at 89 Elm St. in Camden, leased in 2024, half a mile from the bank's headquar- ters at 2 Elm St. Used as an opera- tions and innovation center where the bank's technology teams work on the digital platforms, investments included refinishing as a modern, open concept. Investments were also made into the headquarters at 2 Elm St. Renovations are complete on the second floor and the basement floor. A refresh of the branch location on the first floor is expected to begin this year. Room for growth In Portland, Camden National was "bursting at the seams" at its 2 Canal Plaza banking center, says Martel. e bank leased a larger, 13,500-square- foot space a few blocks to the east at 1 Market St., performed renovations and recently completed the move. "We loved the location and the visibility," Martel says. "e size was per- fect. ere's room for everything, from operational teams to executive offices to meeting space. e meeting space is very nice for us to be able to bring in clients." Upgrades are an ongoing discus- sion at the bank. "Every year we invest in at least some of those locations," says Martel. "We've refurbished branches in Bath, Brunswick, Brewer, Gardiner, Augusta and Belfast in the past couple of years. We'll continue to do that." L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r , c a n b e r e a c h e d a t l s c h r e i b e r @ m a i n e b i z . b i z » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E Visit Patrons.com to find an independent agent near you. We've been in business nearly 150 years and continue to innovate by providing you a portfolio that offers the kind of protection your business needs — today. FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU VALUE Forward-looking solutions for modern business challenges. INVESTED IN BUILDING A BETTER MAINE SINCE 1952 O U R S E R V I C E S : CM@RISK DESIGN-BID-BUILD VALUE ENGINEERING RENOVATIONS P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y C A M D E N N AT I O N A L B A N K Camden National Bank had an operations center at 245 Commercial St. in Rockport, but the pandemic changed the operating model from on-site to hybrid, so it made sense to sell the building. In addition to community needs, we analyze several additional factors to assess and prioritize opportunities, including available talent, potential locations and market disruptions. — Michael O'Reilly NBT Bank

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