Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MAY 4, 2026 19 © 2026 M&T Bank. Member FDIC. All rights reserved. is article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the sale of any financial product or service or as a determination that any investment strategy is suitable for a specific investor. Jerome Baier serves as the Business Banking Regional Manager at M&T Bank. He has nearly 20 years' experience in the financial services industry and can be reached at jbaier@mtb.com. S teve was a Newington business owner seeking to buy out his partner. He spoke with many banks who structured the financing in a way that was too restrictive and not conducive to their growth plans. Fortunately, he was introduced to Jerome Baier, the Business Banking Regional Manager at M&T Bank. Jerome didn't just hear Steve; he paid attention. M&T helped Steve structure the financing to complete the buyout and provide capital for continued growth, while also implementing cash flow solutions to improve efficiencies. Steve says he definitely would not have accomplished the acquisition if it weren't for M&T. ere are scores of such trusted connections and M&T Bank success stories in Connecticut, where it is the #1 lender with 240 SBA loans 1 for $24.2 million in the 2025 fiscal year alone. It's no surprise that M&T gets small business. It began as a small business back in 1856, when two Buffalo merchants sought to address manufacturers' needs for banking options. Today, as part of its corporate family, M&T is one of the 15-largest U.S.-owned commercial bank holding companies. 2 An impressive 198 consecutive quarters of profitability 2 and $213.5 billion in assets 3 speak to its being a powerful combination of strength and experience. While there is strength in numbers, there is even greater potency in the close relationships between M&T's Business Banking team and their customers. In fact, the bank's extensive portfolio in Connecticut—where there are more Business Banking customers than anywhere else in its footprint—is due in no small part to the client-focused model that's exemplified by Jerome and his team. As he explains, "Our business-first approach aims for M&T to support the company by understanding their operations over the last 12 months, goals for the next 12 months, and any challenges ahead." Jerome shares a main ingredient of the immersive process's secret sauce that distinguishes him and his team: "We provide knowledge, community connections, and financial solutions to support the businesses in achieving their goals." And those community connections are backed by a deep commitment to giving back. "We are avid supporters of small business and nonprofit initiatives—through sponsorships, volunteerism, and charitable giving," Jerome notes. In 2025 alone, M&T supported nearly 500 local charitable organizations. It gave more than $4 million to nonprofit organizations, donated over $600,000 to community sponsorships, and its Connecticut employees contributed in excess of 17,000 volunteer hours. M&T has built trust by embedding itself in the fabric of the state—not as a national brand passing through, but as a local partner invested for the long term. e passion runs deep when it comes to educational advancements and objectives; in particular, those of UConn, the glue that binds Nutmeggers from all walks of life. "Our partnership with UConn reflects a deep respect for one of the state's most esteemed institutions," says Jerome. "Yes, we cheer 'Go Huskies!' but we're equally supportive of its educational mission and engage broadly with programs and events that benefit academics, students, faculty, staff, and alumni networks." A deep regard for the local community is part of M&T's DNA, and reinforces its belief that thriving small businesses, strong nonprofits, and engaged employees are essential to healthy local economies. "Our success is inseparable from the success of the neighborhoods we care about, which is why we invest not just capital, but time, relationships, and expertise," says Jerome. at level of commitment was what Andy found engaging when he met Jerome at a chamber mixer. Andy was the managing partner of a growing law firm that was spending too much time manually managing multiple client escrow accounts, increasing administrative burden and the risk of commingling funds. "I told him he should consider the value of moving these tasks online to open and manage subaccounts, handle reporting, and gain real-time visibility through our proprietary tool for attorneys," said Jerome. With M&T's escrow solution, Jerome helped Andy and his firm focus more on clients and less on administration. At M&T, you'll receive competitive rates, strategic solutions, and insights based on deep experience, but it will take on special meaning when you're working with a team who cares about the things you care about, people you're likely to see at local events, Little League games, or charity fundraisers. Contact Jerome to learn how he and his team can help you achieve your goals and drive even greater business success in a place that feels like home. The Power of Proximity: Why Local Relationships Still Matter in Business Banking SPONSORED CONTENT 1) The SBA 7(a) loan program is the U.S. Small Business Administration's primary, most versatile lending program, providing government-guaranteed loans up to $5 million for small businesses. 2) S&P Global Market Intelligence as of December 31, 2025. Methodology excludes subsidiaries of foreign bank parents, investment banks, credit card companies, insurance company subsidiaries, brokers, and asset managers. 3) M&T Bank Corporation data, as of December 31, 2025.

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