PeoplesBank Responds to Rising Need by Increasing Donations to $1.8 million in 2025

Bank raises contributions by 12.5% and associates donate close to 10,000 volunteer hours to area charities in 2025

PeoplesBank, a mutually chartered bank serving Western Massachusetts and Connecticut, increased its charitable contributions to more than $1.8 million over the past year, and its associates also increased volunteer hours serving area nonprofits by 15%.

“We felt it was important to act to address a significant need in our communities,” suggested Amy Roberts, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, at PeoplesBank, when the bank’s Executive Leadership Team announced an additional $100,000 in donations late last year. “As a mutual bank, corporate responsibility and volunteering are part of our culture, so we do all we can to support nonprofits that are best positioned to deliver immediate, measurable impact to help people.”

Amy Roberts
 

“As a mutual bank, corporate responsibility and volunteering are part of our culture, so we do all we can to support nonprofits that are best positioned to deliver immediate, measurable impact to help people."

Amy Roberts
Executive Vice President,
Chief Administrative Officer

PeoplesBank also reported that it’s associates pledged an additional $40,000 of their own salaries as part of its Workplace Giving program and that it sponsored 300 community events in its market.

“What makes PeoplesBank different, I think, is our commitment to the community,” explained Matthew Bannister, Senior Vice President-Corporate Responsibility and Sponsorships. “A mutual bank is really just an ownership structure, and for most consumers, it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is what happens as a result of being a mutual bank, and that is that we have more funds and more resources to invest in the community.”

In 2025, PeoplesBank supported nearly 500 charitable organizations, including The Care Center, The Center for Human Development, the Hampshire Regional YMCA, Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services, Celebrate! WeHa, CT Foodshare, The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, and Hands on Hartford.

“When community leaders like PeoplesBank step forward in partnership, it’s more than a donation—it’s a powerful act of solidarity,” noted Shannon Rudder, CEO of Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services. “This support helps us respond to the overwhelming need, and when we come together like this, we remind our neighbors that they’re not alone.”

 

 

The bank’s website provides more information on PeoplesBank corporate responsibility and how to apply for a donation, including a link to the 2026 grant application.

 

About PeoplesBank:

PeoplesBank is a leader in innovation, corporate responsibility, environmental sustainability, and employee engagement. Our three LEED-certified offices are environmentally friendly, and we have financed over $350 million in wind, hydroelectric, and solar energy projects.
 
As a community bank, we have a unique ability to help the communities we serve through volunteer efforts and millions of dollars in donations to charitable and civic causes.
 
PeoplesBank is a mutual bank and therefore is responsible to our depositors, our employees, and the community. This organizational structure allows us to focus on the long-term viability of the bank and the best interests of our customers. We currently have 20 banking centers located in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Media Contact
Matthew Bannister, Senior Vice President-Corporate Responsibility and Sponsorships
413.493.8704
[email protected]