News

ST. ANNE’S CELEBRATES 84TH ANNUAL MEETING

10/1/2020

St. Anne’s held its rescheduled 84th Annual Meeting outdoors at the Credit Union’s Corporate Office in Fall River due to social distancing guidelines on August 31. Board Chairman William R. Bouchard and Board Member Jo Ann Bentley were re-elected to their Board positions and among the numerous positive reports given, Chairman Bouchard and President & CEO Eileen M. Danahey spoke about how exceptional 2019 was for the Credit Union. President & CEO Eileen Danahey also reviewed the highlights of the past year as the Credit Union most notably attained a record-high $1 billion in assets, solidifying their spot as the 10th largest credit union in the State of Massachusetts where there are 150 credit unions.

Chairman Bouchard also reported favorable numbers in deposits – growing over $43 million to $831.1 million in 2019 and enabling the Credit Union to further reinvest and grant their members and their businesses over $147.8 million in loans – a 41% increase over the previous year that includes residential lending’s banner year of over $89 million in mortgage originations. Additionally in 2019, St. Anne’s gave back $281,000 to their members through their CashBack Checking rewards program and is proud to offer free checking with free ATMs within the SUM® network and monthly surcharge refunds for out-of-network ATMs on certain checking accounts. St. Anne’s continues to offer lower interest rates on loans, higher dividend rates on accounts and new technology and services – ranging from convenient enhancements like online account opening to new digital services such as Zelle person-to-person payments and Mobile Wallet.

Enjoying a reputation as one of the best financial institutions in the SouthCoast, St. Anne’s is grateful for the following awards bestowed upon them in 2019: #1 Financial Institution – 3rd year in a row from SouthCoast Media Group’s Best of the Best 2019; Top-Rated for Credit Unions and Equity, Commercial and Residential Lending from Banker and Tradesman’s Best of 2019 and Top 10 in Customer Service from The Warren Group’s MA Banking Benchmarks. In addition to these accomplishments, they’d also like to commend their residential lending team whose efforts throughout the year resulted in St. Anne’s being recognized by Banker and Tradesman as the Top 2019 Mortgage Loan Refinancer in Bristol County.

Ms. Danahey thanked staff as they continue to work with individuals and businesses to assist them with any financial struggles they are experiencing due to COVID-19. The Credit Union also remains committed to community reinvestment through donations to local organizations such as The United Ways of Fall River and New Bedford and financial literacy by hosting numerous free financial education seminars throughout the year, details can be found here or on the St. Anne’s Facebook page.

In addition to community support, since 1993, the St. Anne’s Scholarship Program has awarded nearly $350,000 to local students, including graduating high school seniors and grade school students at Fall River’s St. Stanislaus and Holy Name schools. In 2019, St. Anne’s expanded their program by offering $24,000 to their recipients to demonstrate their commitment. St. Anne’s offers many scholarships and essay contests annually here.

St. Anne’s looks forward to their future growth, which includes the grand opening of their ninth and newest location at 910 Pleasant St. in Fall River towards the end of 2020.

ST. ANNE’S HIRES Jeffrey MILLER AS VICE PRESIDENT, CONSUMER LOAN MANAGER

7/7/2020

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce that Jeffrey Miller has been hired as Vice President, Consumer Loan Manager. Jeffrey will be responsible for the overall direction, administration and performance of the Credit Union’s consumer lending activities, ensuring a positive outcome for both St. Anne’s and its members as the Credit Union continues to assist borrowers in realizing their financial goals and dreams.

Jeffrey earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University and brings with him over 35 years of lending and credit experience. Prior to joining St. Anne’s, Jeffrey was the co-owner and Manager of Credit and Operations for CUB Lending Partners, LLC. Beginning his career as a Credit Manager at Citibank, he also held leadership roles at Santander Bank where he managed the underwriting teams and Spillane Consulting Associates, utilizing his loan operations knowledge as a consultant.

“We are pleased to hire Jeffrey with his proven track record of delivering results through his broad range of credit and lending experience. Having the right people in place to keep up with our increasing growth and further enable us to offer quick turnaround times combined with competitive rates and flexible terms based on our local lending advantage is of utmost importance. Jeffrey possesses exceptional expertise in his field and will work tirelessly to provide solutions for every individual’s financing need,” said Carlos DaCunha, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “He is committed to providing valuable support and service to our members while contributing to the Credit Union’s reputation as an upstanding financial partner and we look forward to his contributions in our next phase of growth.”

St. Anne's Lends $2.75 Million to Local Entrepreneur through the FHLBank Boston’s Jobs for New England Program

7/3/2020

St. Anne’s Credit Union, a single source for financial services, financing options and resources for individuals and businesses, announced that they have assisted Stephen Silverstein, owner of The Black Whale, co-owner of Cisco New Bedford, founder of Not Your Average Joe’s and owner of Joe’s Original in Dartmouth, in obtaining $2.75 million in below market-rate financing through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s (FHLBank Boston) Jobs for New England program. The loan will  assist Silverstein in improving, diversifying and stabilizing the economy of New Bedford while creating and preserving jobs through his business efforts.

The $2.75 million secured by St. Anne’s on behalf of Silverstein comes as interest rate reducing financing and will lock in an unprecedented rate of 2.42% for several years. Stephen Silverstein stated, “St. Anne’s is the best banking advocate of my businesses, truly an incomparable financial partner. I was not aware of this program when the commercial lending team at St. Anne’s contacted me in regards to this incredible opportunity and took care of everything for me. As a 5th generation entrepreneur, I’ve been around the business industry since I was born -- and this is by far the best interest rate I’ve ever had in my life. I always trust that St. Anne’s has my best interest in mind and this latest effort solidified this notion even further as these incremental savings are crucial to launching and sustaining my projects.”

In addition to the $5 million that St. Anne’s has committed to lend Silverstein to assist him in funding his three restaurants in the New Bedford area, this financing obtained by the Credit Union will allow Silverstein to see a savings of over $75,000 over the life of the loan as well as create 25 new jobs for the New Bedford community.

“Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Jobs for New England program was created to provide members like St. Anne’s Credit Union with the low-cost financing they need to offer below market-rate small business loans to their members. Since the program was launched in 2016, participating members have provided attractively-priced business loans to a wide variety of small businesses, which in turn have helped to preserve or create thousands of jobs. We are pleased to support St. Anne’s as they’ve funded this important economic development initiative,” said Ken Willis, senior vice president, director of housing and community investment at FHLBank Boston.

“To ease uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic, we are proud to work with our members and businesses through initiatives like deferring loan payments, our COVID-19 Assistance Loan, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the FHLBank Boston Jobs for New England program to offer below market-rate financing. With all of our assistance efforts, we have been able to grant our members and their businesses over $21 million in loans, which for many, has been a saving grace,” said Peter Panaggio, St. Anne’s Credit Union’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “St. Anne’s is proud to support our members by providing funding that will truly make a difference in the communities we serve in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic – and this latest loan is an example of our deep commitment to the SouthCoast, as it will assist Stephen Silverstein in stimulating the local economy.”

To learn more about how St. Anne’s can help your business thrive, visit the Credit Union’s dedicated lending office at 585 State Road in Dartmouth or call 508.730.LOAN.

ST. ANNE’S Promotes DEBORAH DION TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

6/11/2020

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, officially announced the promotion of Deborah Dion to Senior Vice President/Chief Information Officer. Ms. Dion has been employed by St. Anne’s since 2016, most recently serving as Vice President of Information Services, leading and executing on the vision, strategy and operations of St. Anne’s Information Technology (IT) team to better allow the Credit Union to serve more than 55,000 members. In this role, Dion will be responsible for all enterprise-wide IT initiatives with a focus on driving innovation to accelerate growth and achieve efficiencies that will put St. Anne’s in the best position to continue enhancing the financial lives of the members they serve. Dion will build upon the solid foundation of operational excellence within the IT function and across the organization, as well as collaborate with the leadership teams to ensure that St. Anne’s consistently incorporates the most advanced technology solutions to achieve the Credit Union’s business goals.

"Deborah is a highly-experienced executive and a tremendous leader with a longstanding history of putting the member at the forefront of today's digital transformation," said Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union. "She will continue to play an instrumental role in driving our growth strategy, aligning technology initiatives with strategic goals, further enhancing our cybersecurity posture and leading planning efforts on how to best leverage digital solutions to help support our members and employees. Possessing a unique combination of experience, knowledge, technology and operations prowess, her expertise will allow St. Anne’s to harness the technologies available today and plan for the cutting-edge technologies of the future.”

With more than 25 years of experience in IT and strategic leadership roles for prominent financial institutions, Deborah has a strong record of accomplishment in leveraging technology-based solutions to drive value. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Roger Williams University, is a Graduate of the Bank Administration Institute’s School of Operations and Technology – Owen School of Management and a Graduate of the Mass Bankers’ School for Financial Studies at Babson College. Actively involved in the community, she serves as a volunteer at Our Lady’s Haven in Fairhaven as well as a volunteer for the Freetown Historical Society.

ST. ANNE’S Lends nearly $500,000 to steppingstone, incorporated

6/2/2020

St. Anne’s Credit Union, a single source for financial services, financing options and resources for individuals and businesses, announced today that they are financing nearly $500,000 to support the expansion of Steppingstone, Inc.’s operational and development efforts by providing customized financing options for the nonprofit organization to secure the purchase and renovation of their new office building at 111 Durfee St. in Fall River, MA. This effort will assist them in increasing their support of the clients in need of their services as they work to provide an array of treatment services to combat mental health disorders and homelessness.

Carlos DaCunha, St. Anne’s Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, said “St. Anne’s is committed to investing in the communities that surround us and our team is proud to provide financing to a local nonprofit that is working to enhance quality living experiences for community members. This transaction is another example of our ability to secure extremely favorable financing – because of the power of our local lending team and commitment to quality - on behalf of clients that are looking to add value to their organizations. As a top leading financial institution, we are proud of the long-term relationship we have with Steppingstone and look forward to supporting its continued growth and positive impact as this relationship exemplifies our continued commitment to community development.”

“Steppingstone does a commendable job in Fall River and New Bedford to offer a variety of services and programs that help individuals and families build a strong foundation for recovery. They have been serving the community since 1972 and this expansion will contribute to their growth for years to come. As Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Steppingstone for 10 years and employed by St. Anne’s for over 25 years, I am proud to be associated with both organizations as they seek to strengthen the areas that we all live and work in”, said Michelle Marcos, St. Anne’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources.

Kathleen Schedler-Clark, Steppingstone’s Executive Director stated, “St. Anne’s has been a wonderful community partner of ours for many years. In 2014, when we moved the First Step Inn to a larger building, St. Anne’s stepped up to the plate with a $30,000 grant to allow us to accommodate additional beds and serve more of the homeless population. With this financing, the St. Anne’s team made the transaction seamless, quick – and offered an unbeatable rate. This space is the pivotal piece to allow us to build an accessible, safe, and welcoming office building to serve even more people in need. The lending from St. Anne’s allows us to focus on what matters: offering our clients only the best. Like St. Anne’s, we are committed to community, that’s why we choose to bank with them. They make us feel comfortable and their friendly demeanor is always consistent. We are forever grateful to them for their ongoing pledge to support our nonprofit and clients in our times of need."

To learn more about how St. Anne’s can help your business thrive, call 508.730.LOAN.

ST. ANNE’S Promotes Nancy Wordell to Residential Mortgage Manager

6/2/2020

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the promotion of Nancy Wordell to Residential Mortgage Manager.

In her new position, Nancy will oversee the day-to-day operations for the Credit Union’s residential department including responsibility for the origination, underwriting, and servicing of loans.

“Nancy has 32 years of vast lending experience and a comprehensive background in customer service,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, Carlos DaCunha. “She will strengthen our mortgage lending processing team, ensuring we provide our members and prospects looking to finance a home with the best lending experience from start to finish, as we continue to expand our reach throughout the communities we service.”

Nancy began her career with St. Anne’s in 1988 where she has served as Branch Manager for several of the Credit Union’s offices, most recently working as Branch Manager at the Credit Union’s Main Office in Fall River.

ST. ANNE’S partners with other financial institutions to donate thousands of medical masks to local hopspitals

4/14/2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Anne’s continues to demonstrate their commitment to the community by offering assistance – and thanks – to those that need it the most: the first responders. St. Anne’s, in partnership with Taunton Federal Credit Union, BankFive, New Bedford Credit Union and other local financial institutions are supporting local hospitals – including Saint Anne’s Hospital and Charlton Memorial Hospital - by donating thousands of much-needed masks in order to provide safety and support to physicians and nurses on the front lines of care.

“Giving back to the communities that we are a part of is at the core of our business. Our Credit Union is not a building or a business, it’s people unified for a common goal,” said Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “Our organization has a deep bond with the communities we serve and we feel a profound sense of gratitude for the healthcare workers. Over the past few months we have seen countless acts of bravery and sacrifice from these essential workers and feel it is our duty as good corporate citizens to give them our full support. Through our cooperative donation, it is our hope that we can help limit the spread of this virus and ease the burden on local medical personnel."

For more information about how St. Anne’s is supporting their members, employees and the local community – and their remote banking service offerings to bank from home – visit our online services page. 

ST. ANNE’S launches fast and convenient online account opening

4/14/2020

St. Anne’s Credit Union recently introduced a new digital platform for opening deposit accounts online designed to enable members to complete an application in five minutes or less. The new platform was designed to optimize the Credit Union’s online experience while growing its digital offerings.

The platform streamlines the account opening process by enabling images needed for identification verification to be uploaded - providing for online signature submission and facilitating electronic document delivery. St. Anne’s fully supports the new online account opening process with member service assistance and a save-and-resume function that follows consumers across devices. For more information on the new service, please visit our online services page. 

“At St. Anne’s, we focus on building strong relationships by actively listening to our members’ wants, needs, and desires,” said Lee Zupkofska, Vice President of Marketing at St. Anne’s. “Our new online account opening capabilities are a direct response to what we heard from our focus groups and feedback on how we can make banking easier – especially relevant today where remote banking is crucial.”

Robin Levesque, St. Anne’s Vice President of Branch Administration noted, “Today’s consumers have come to expect a better remote banking experience and we’re excited to deliver an account opening process that is simple and convenient.”

The new online account opening platform augments St. Anne’s existing suite of digital banking services that include online and mobile banking with fingerprint and face ID login, easy alert notification capability, text message banking, electronic bill payment services, as well as mobile deposit capabilities. St. Anne’s also offers mobile wallet access with Apple Pay®, Google Pay®, and Samsung Pay®; and Zelle®, a fast, easy and secure way for members to send or request money. Additionally, St. Anne’s provides members with added protection for their debit cards through the CardValet® app, which includes features such as the ability to lock or unlock their debit card for purchases, select geographic locations where their card can be used, and set transaction spending limits.

"The benefits of our local community banking model, coupled with the technology of online account opening gives us a unique competitive advantage and fulfills our commitment to provide big bank capabilities with a local credit union touch. As an organization, we are committed to making our services available to our members when and where they want them. Convenience is becoming a service standard, and our new platform speeds up and streamlines account opening, further improving the member experience and enhancing our ability to serve our members,” said Eileen Danahey, St. Anne’s President & CEO. “We’re proud to be able to provide a better banking experience that makes the account opening process better and puts our members first.”

To learn more about St. Anne’s convenience services and products, visit our online-services page or call 1.877.STANNES.

ST. ANNE’S OFFERS HOMEOWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE

3/26/2020

St. Anne’s Credit Union recognizes the various challenges associated with purchasing a home and can provide assistance as an approved member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s (FHLB) Equity Builder Program – a program assisting local income-eligible homebuyers in purchasing homes they intend to occupy as their primary residence.

The program offers grants for down payment and closing costs, rehabilitation costs associated with acquisition, and reimbursement of homebuyer counseling programs. Borrowers are eligible to receive up to $15,000 on a first-come, first-served basis, and must complete a homebuyer counseling program and have individual or household income equal to or below 80 percent of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) median income based on their future address to qualify for assistance.

Since 2003, the Equity Builder Program (EBP) has awarded more than $38.5 million in EBP funds assisting 3,479 income-eligible households in purchasing a home. Eligible to receive up to $150,000 for 2019 depending on the availability of funds, St. Anne’s Credit Union can offer members the assistance they need to make homeownership a reality.

Restrictions apply. Please contact an originator or stop by one of our branches to learn more.

St. Anne’s LENDS OVER $3M TO CISCO NEW BEDFORD

1/24/2020

St. Anne’s Credit Union, a single source for financial services, financing options and resources for individuals and businesses, announced that they are financing over $3M to make Cisco New Bedford a reality. St. Anne’s will be providing customized financing options in their partnership with Stephen Silverstein, owner of The Black Whale, founder of Not Your Average Joe’s and owner of Not Your Average Joe’s Dartmouth. New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell states that Cisco New Bedford will be the largest investment in a restaurant project in the city's history.“Cisco New Bedford is a fantastic project in a prime location on the waterfront in New Bedford’s South End. Residents of Greater New Bedford are eagerly awaiting the completion of the restaurant, which will be a destination in its own right. Stephen Silverstein is an accomplished restaurateur and businessman with an exceptional track record of growth in the industry; he is committed to Greater New Bedford with his most recent investments, and we are looking forward to his latest endeavor,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. St. Anne’s will lend nearly $5 million to assist Silverstein fund his three restaurants in the New Bedford area.

Carlos DaCunha, St. Anne’s Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, says “we are committed to providing our clients with flexible financing offers, leading technology and innovative products to help run their businesses more efficiently and to grow. Stephen Silverstein is a long-standing partner with a reputation of innovation and ambition. He set out to succeed in the restaurant business at a young age and grew Not Your Average Joe’s to a 6-state restaurant company serving nearly 5 million guests a year. From impeccable attention to detail to relentless dedication to quality, Silverstein and the Credit Union are a great fit.St. Anne’s is proud to offer quick turnaround times because of our streamlined process of working with one experienced lender and decision-maker from start to finish. Our processes and approvals are all performed in-house, which results in expedient and straightforward approvals. As a dedicated financial partner, St. Anne’s clients can count on our experience and knowledge to help keep their businesses on the path to success. From timely, customized service to our hands-on approach, our commercial lenders work hard to understand each clients’ industry, needs and opportunities. As we are aware from our financing of the Dartmouth Not Your Average Joe’s restaurant and The Black Whale, the Silverstein name is associated with top-notch quality, service and a long history of success. We are proud of our partnership with Steve as he moves forward to revitalize a historic part of New Bedford, bringing a very exciting restaurant and outdoor entertainment venue to one of the communities we serve this year.”

Stephen Silverstein stated, “The Commercial Lender I am working with, Linda Morad, is knowledgeable and resourceful and clearly has my best interest in mind. The entire commercial team has been incredibly invested in my success from the moment I started this journey. Not only do you receive prompt attention, you’re offered competitive pricing by an experienced lending team that provides quick turnaround times. I’ve banked with the big banks and find St. Anne’s refreshing. St. Anne’s offers a friendly, hometown feel with big bank capabilities. Similar to the way I’m proud to craft a unique dining experience in my restaurants by honing each element, St. Anne’s expertly formulated a solution to help meet the needs of my diversified business portfolio.”

To learn more about how St. Anne’s can help your business thrive, visit the Credit Union’s dedicated lending office at 585 State Road in Dartmouth or call 508.730.LOAN.

Richard kane assumes new leadership role as vice president - commercial lending manager

1/21/2020

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the recent appointment of Richard Kane to Vice President – Commercial Lending Manager. Previously serving as the Credit Union’s Vice President – Commercial Risk Manager since 2018, with this increase in responsibility, he will oversee the functions of both Credit and Commercial Lending.

In his expanded leadership role, Kane will focus extensively on expanding the Credit Union’s commercial client base and offer flexible lending programs to area businesses, tailored to their defined strategic objectives. Also continuing to be responsible for the overall strategic direction and leadership of the Commercial Risk function, he will ensure that the portfolio continues to meet the Credit Union’s high credit standards.

"We are proud to expand Richard’s role as his deep credit experience and knowledge has proved invaluable as St. Anne’s continues to grow our commercial banking efforts," said St. Anne’s President & CEO, Eileen M. Danahey. “Richard is a seasoned, professional leader who has played an instrumental role in building a comprehensive risk management process, positioning St. Anne’s for future growth and his increased role at the Credit Union exemplifies our steadfast commitment to the markets we serve. We’re proud to offer personalized service by experienced team members who are a part of our community and quick turnaround times based on our local decision-making, and Richard’s appointment is another step towards solidifying our reputation as a leading lender in Bristol County.”

“In a short time, Richard has shown the Credit Union and our valued commercial client base that he is committed to St. Anne’s value proposition of delivering an exceptional level of service to each of our commercial clients”, said Carlos DaCunha, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of St. Anne’s. “As we build out our commercial lending portfolio and footprint, expand our offerings and continue to be a resource to businesses as they seek to develop and thrive in our community, Richard’s expertise will enable us to extend our commitment to providing financial solutions that are designed to fit business’ needs. Thanks to his efforts, St. Anne’s is a Mass Save® approved lending institution for commercial property and business projects by providing business owners with loans (up to $500,000) to help qualified businesses and multi-family buildings make energy-efficient improvements to their facilities – and we look forward to his additional contributions in the future.”

Richard is an experienced banking professional with over 20 years of leadership experience in his field. A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Mr. Kane obtained his B.A. in Economics from Ithaca College, is a graduate of the Prochnow Institute Graduate School of Banking at University of Wisconsin and has also obtained RMA’s Credit Risk Certification (CRC).

St. Anne’s hires paul Viveiros as loss mitigation manager

1/21/2020

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce that Paul Viveiros has been hired as Loss Mitigation Manager. In this role, Paul’s responsibilities include loan collections, financial counseling and asset recovery management, adequately responding to the needs of borrowers and their financial conditions.

“Paul has over 20 years of experience in debt recovery management, which will be an asset to St. Anne’s and our members - helping the Credit Union continually improve overall asset quality while being a resource for members to turn to when the unexpected occurs. We are proud of our reputation as an upstanding financial partner and adding Paul to our team is another display of our commitment to this notion,” said Carlos DaCunha, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of St. Anne’s. “As we continue to grow and persevere excellence, we are proud to offer the best practices and guiding principles that lead to a positive outcome for both St. Anne’s and its members. Demonstrating high standards for borrower communication with a focus on understanding, he will be successful in improving member engagement in the loss mitigation process by providing expert counseling and developing an appropriate solution personalized to the borrower’s financial situation.”

“We are extremely proud of our financial literacy efforts in the communities we are a part of, spanning from Junior Achievement volunteerism in elementary schools, to Credit for Life fairs for teenagers, to Improving Credit and First-Time Homebuyer seminars for adults. Enhancing our loss mitigation processes is another pledge to our financial literacy-based mission here at St. Anne’s: to give individuals the tools they need to make sure that their credit score and personal finances are aligned with their financial goals,” said St. Anne’s President & CEO, Eileen M. Danahey. “We believe in educating our members, including financial counseling to help our members achieve financial independence. Credit unions exist to further community development and provide financial social services and in hiring Paul we are ensuring that our loss mitigation program is accessible, sustainable and affordable – to be effective long-term for our borrowers as we utilize a holistic approach to review and address a borrower’s complete financial picture. Just like our products and services, we tailor customized solutions for individuals so they can achieve a stronger financial future and the long-term effects of that reverberate across generations and are a virtue to the entire community.”

Prior to joining St. Anne’s, Paul worked for Neptune-Benson as Credit & Collection Manager where he oversaw the collection accounts including legal/bankruptcy management. Beginning his career as a Litigation Coordinator, Paul worked his way up the ranks – including owning and operating his own firm that offered services including accounts receivable, collection and litigation portfolio management. Mr. Viveiros obtained his B.A. in Legal Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

St. Anne’s offers assistance to businesses through the mass save financing for business Program

1/21/2020

St. Anne’s Credit Union has been selected as a Mass-Save approved lending institution through the Mass Save Sponsors’ Financing for Business Program, enabling them to offer loans from $5,000 to $500,000 to assist with the installation of qualified energy-efficient improvements in business facilities.

A few benefits of financing an eligible energy efficient project include: saving energy and money on monthly energy bills, lower environmental impacts, enhancing work environments and receiving incentives from the Sponsors of Mass Save for qualified energy efficiency projects. Eligible improvements include, but are not limited to, high efficiency lighting and controls, HVAC equipment, motors and drives, and custom energy efficiency projects.

“Our experienced, local lending team is adept to tailoring flexible, cost effective finance options to complement our commercial clients’ unique situations. We’re proud to offer quick turnaround times based on our local decision-making and becoming an approved Mass-Save lending institution for businesses further enables us to help our clients grow their businesses,” said Carlos DaCunha, Senior Vice President & Chief Lending Officer of St. Anne’s Credit Union.

To learn more about this program, contact Richard Kane, Vice President – Commercial Lending Manager at 508.730.LOAN.

St. Anne’s Promotes patricia borba to assistant vice president of audit

12/2/2019

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the promotion of Patricia Borba to Assistant Vice President of Audit.

Ms. Borba has been with St. Anne’s Credit Union since 2014 and most recently served as Internal Auditor. In her new role, Patricia will continue to provide the credit union with updates on the internal audit environment and manage the credit union’s audit function.

Prior to joining St. Anne’s, Patricia started her financial career at Citizen’s Bank in 2005 working as a Loan Analyst and Staff Accountant before serving as Auditor. She holds both a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth and obtained her Certified Credit Union Internal Auditor certification from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA).

St. Anne’s hires michael fleming as mortgage specialist

12/2/2019

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the addition of Michael Fleming to the St. Anne’s mortgage team. As Mortgage Specialist, Fleming is responsible for aiding in the expansion of the Credit Union’s mortgage products and services in the Plymouth area by generating and maintaining banking relationships with consumers seeking residential mortgages or refinancing opportunities, creating seamless transactions for his clients by walking them through each step of the home loan experience.

“Buying a home is one of the single most important decisions in an individual’s life. That is why we’re proud to add Michael Fleming to our mortgage team as our experienced loan officers are committed to educating their clients about the home buying process – even visiting clients wherever they may be – to make the experience as convenient as they can,” said Carlos DaCunha, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “Michael’s track record of demonstrating proficiency with a wide variety of mortgage loan programs will aid those in realizing their dream of homeownership as he takes the time to listen to their needs and pair them with the best loan program to fit their lifestyle, or even help with the decision to refinance a current home loan,” said Eileen M. Danahey, President and CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “He provides unparalleled customer service and makes it a priority to develop a rapport based on honest and timely communication, developing deep relationships with those looking to purchase or refinance – and helping more people obtain their financial goals, aligning with our status as a leading lender and exceptional banking partner.”

Michael obtained his Associate’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from Mass Bay Community College. Prior to joining St. Anne’s, he most recently worked for Bank of England in Boston as a Mortgage Loan Originator where he was responsible for developing client relationships with those looking to purchase or refinance, and offering free homebuyer seminars in the Plymouth County area.   

St. Anne's Credit Union helps our members through each step of the loan process, from improving credit scores, providing pre-qualification to closing and beyond. We are deeply rooted in the community and understand home buying needs and the entire process. For more information about St. Anne’s Credit Union’s mortgage programs and resources, click here or contact Michael directly at michael.fleming@stannes.com or 617.571.2234.

ThE southcoast's very first bed-building event with local southern mass. credit unions a success

10/31/2019

On October 29 nearly 80 volunteers from 15 local credit unions joined forces and built 40 beds for local children in need. As part of the Cooperative Credit Union Association’s (CCUA) Southern Massachusetts Chapter, St. Anne’s Credit Union was overjoyed to host the SouthCoast’s very first bed-building event to benefit the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless’ (Coalition) A Bed for Every Child initiative. The Coalition specifically works to bridge the gap in children’s lives and collaborates across the state to provide free and newly-crafted beds (and a place to dream) for children with limited access to necessities. Volunteers spent the afternoon assembling, sanding and staining new beds that Catholic Social Services will distribute locally in Fall River.

A special thanks to the all participating credit unions who volunteered to make this event a success:
Goldmark Federal Credit Union, New Bedford Credit Union, PCT Federal Credit Union, Santo Christo Federal Credit Union, Southern Mass Credit Union, St. Anne’s Credit Union, St. Anthony of Padua Federal Credit Union and Taunton Federal Credit Union.

St. Anne’s recognized as best financial institution third year in a row

7/26/2019

St. Anne’s Credit Union is pleased to announce that they have once again been recognized as Best Financial Institution in SouthCoast Media Group’s Best of the Best Awards for the third year in a row.

The Best of the Best Awards are voted annually by community members in the SouthCoast and in 2019, there were nearly 13,400 votes cast in 140 categories. “St. Anne’s is once again honored and humbled to receive this award,” stated Eileen M. Danahey, President and CEO. “It speaks volumes about our dedication to deliver outstanding customer service, offer personalized products and services and to our commitment to the communities within our footprint. We’d like to thank our valued members and dedicated employees for helping us achieve this award.”

Since 1936, St. Anne’s has been committed to make managing your money easy. To learn more about how St. Anne’s can help you achieve your financial goals, visit our homepage or call 1.877.STANNES.

Shown in the picture is St. Anne’s Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, Carlos DaCunha and Marketing Specialist, Kelly Baldwin accepting the Best of the Best award.

St. Anne’s hires rose cortes as mortgage loan officer

7/25/2019 

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the addition of Rose Cortes to the St. Anne’s mortgage team. As Mortgage Loan Officer, Cortes is based out of the Credit Union’s Fairhaven Office and is responsible for maintaining and generating banking relationships with consumers seeking residential mortgages or refinancing opportunities. With 22 years of experience in the financial industry, she is also multilingual - fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and English - and will provide her expertise in every area of mortgage lending, providing personalized solutions to borrower needs, aiding in the expansion of the Credit Union’s mortgage products and services.

"We feel very privileged to have Rose Cortes join us here at St. Anne’s. Not only is she experienced in the field of mortgage lending but she also brings a wealth of invaluable sales and customer service skills to our team,” stated Carlos DaCunha, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “She will be a key contributor as we continue our growth strategies across the SouthCoast. Rose’s more than 20 years of experience in banking and mortgage originations, together with her real estate experience, professionalism and ability to provide her excellent services in three languages made her the perfect fit to join our team. People will benefit not only from her ability to identify and fill their unique mortgage borrowing needs but from her commitment to provide them with a timely and convenient customer service experience as well.”

She obtained her Real Estate License from Bristol Community College and holds Business and Professional Certificates from the Kinyon Campbell Business School. Prior to joining St. Anne’s, she most recently worked for Citizens Bank as a Mortgage Loan Officer and has held a multitude of positions at reputable financial institutions ranging from Branch Manager to Mortgage Servicing and Real Estate Agent. Because of her extensive range of experience, she understands the home buying process from improving credit scores to pre-qualification through to closing which will aid her clients in attaining their financial goals and fulfilling their homeownership dreams.

For more information about St. Anne’s Credit Union’s mortgage programs and resources, visit our mortgage page or contact Rose directly at rose.cortes@stannes.com or 508.742.8115.

St. Anne’s hires charles coelho as mortgage loan officer

7/23/2019

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the addition of Charles Coelho to the St. Anne’s mortgage team. As Mortgage Loan Officer, Coelho is based out of the Credit Union’s Dartmouth Office and is responsible for providing his expertise in every area of mortgage lending from purchase to refinance including construction, rehabilitation and renovation lending – and other lending solutions personalized to borrower needs, aiding in the expansion of the Credit Union’s mortgage products and services.

“Charles possesses a wide range of financial knowledge and experience, making him a great addition to our mortgage team at St. Anne’s,” said Carlos DaCunha, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “He will bring a fresh perspective to our strategies, utilizing his background in property management to bridge the path between renting and buying a home, pairing homebuyers with the right mortgage solution for their life situation. I’m proud to say that St. Anne’s Credit Union’s mortgage bankers are a highly mobile workforce, allowing them the ability to visit with clients wherever they may be, offering convenience and local decision-making on loans resulting in quicker turnaround times and timely loan closings. Charles’ sales and operational expertise coupled with his track record of building and sustaining long-term strategic relationships will assist us in further expansion of the St. Anne’s footprint.”

For 25 years, Coelho owned and operated several Dunkin Donuts locations in Seekonk, MA and East Providence, RI as a Franchisee. He is skilled in property and facilities management, business development, contract and leasehold negotiations that will be an asset to those looking to purchase or refinance a home.

Coelho is a Managing Member of the CMC Family Limited Partnership, a real estate holding entity comprised of residential, commercial and manufacturing properties where he establishes and maintains lease contracts and negotiations, property development and acquisitions while managing other financial relations. He is a founding member, current Board of Director, and serves as Secretary of The Ocean State Central Manufacturing Location in East Providence, RI, is a member of The Mario Gabelli School of Business Advisory Council at Roger Williams University, and has served on many Boards and committees throughout the years in his support of the community. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Science from Roger Williams University.

St. Anne's Credit Union helps our members through each step of the loan process, from improving credit scores, providing pre-qualification to closing and beyond. We are deeply rooted in the community and understand home buying needs and the entire process. For more information about St. Anne’s Credit Union’s mortgage programs and resources, visit our mortgage page or contact Charles directly at charles.coelho@stannes.com or 774.319.4669.

St. Anne’s President & CEO Eileen Danahey Given Bristol County Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman’s Award

7/17/2019

Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union and First Vice Chair of the Bristol County Chamber's Board of Directors, was recently presented the Chairman’s Award at their Annual Meeting. This award recognized her consistent embodiment of the Chamber’s mission and goals - including her involvement on the Chamber’s CEO Search Committee in selecting their new President & CEO, Michael O’Sullivan.

Pictured left to right: Michael O’Sullivan, Bristol County Chamber‘s President & CEO; Brian LeComte, the Chamber’s Board Chairman; and Eileen Danahey, St. Anne’s President & CEO and First Vice Chair of the Chamber's Board.

St. Anne’s Awards deacon G. bernard theroux scholarship

7/10/2019

St. Anne’s Credit Union remains committed to the future of the youth in the local SouthCoast community and for over 25 years has awarded more than $300,000 to local students through the St. Anne’s scholarship program. Recently, as a demonstration of this commitment, St. Anne’s Credit Union awarded the eighth annual Deacon Bernard G. Theroux Scholarship to a deserving student at St. Stanislaus School in Fall River. The 2019 recipient is seventh-grader, Sophie DeOliveira.

This $500 scholarship is named in honor of Deacon Bernard G. Theroux, a recently departed Honorary Director of the Credit Union’s Board of Directors who devoted over 60 years of service to the Credit Union and its members and whose philanthropic spirit will continue to live on through this honorable scholarship.

Pictured left to right: Sophie’s mother; Simone Garant, St. Anne’s Credit Union Board Member and Treasurer; Sophie DeOliveira (scholarship recipient); and Eileen Danahey, St. Anne’s Credit Union President & CEO.

ST. ANNE’S DONATES $50,000 TO BRISTOL COMMUNITY COLLEGES JOHN J. SBREGA HEALTH AND SCIENCE BUILDING

7/1/2019

St. Anne’s Credit Union continues their Sbrega Donation commitment to the SouthCoast community with a $50,000 total pledge to the College’s John J. Sbrega Health and Science Building, where a clinical conference room is named in honor of the Credit Union’s support.

“St. Anne’s Credit Union is a proud supporter of Bristol Community College, as the college provides students a quality health and life science education with sustainable operations. St. Anne’s is honored to support initiatives that align with our own philanthropic objectives of providing education and financial stability to people in the SouthCoast community and we admire their work and diligent efforts to improve the community around us,” said Michelle Marcos, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at St. Anne’s Credit Union. “We are proud of our partnership with the college, as 10% of our staff are graduates of Bristol. We continue to add more graduates to our team by participating in Bristol’s job fairs and supporting their convenient and flexible fast track degree program.”

St. Anne’s Credit Union is very active in the communities in which it serves and is proud to partner with local organizations to create a positive impact. Founded on the philosophy of “People Helping People”, our institution has maintained its original commitment, keeping the compassion we have for our community at the very heart of St. Anne’s. We’re a local financial institution focused on giving back, reinforcing our motto “We’re Making a Difference” every single day. To learn more about how St. Anne’s gives back to the community, visit our community investment page.

Picture caption: St. Anne’s Credit Union Senior Vice President of Human Resources Michelle Marcos presents Bristol Community College President Laura L. Douglas, Ph.D. with a check for $15,000 as part of St. Anne’s $50,000 pledge in support of the John J. Sbrega Health and Science Building Fund.

ST. ANNE’S AWARDS ALBERT. E MERCIER SCHOLARSHIP

6/12/2019

Holy Name School 7th grade student Collin Sardinha was the 2019 recipient of the $500 Albert E. Mercier Scholarship from St. Anne’s Credit Union. This scholarship, now in its tenth year, is named in honor of Albert E. Mercier, a longtime director and past chairman of the Credit Union’s Board of Directors, who has devoted over 50 years of volunteer service to St. Anne’s Credit Union and its members.

For over 25 years, the St. Anne’s Scholarship Program has awarded more than $300,000 to local students, including local graduating high school seniors and grade school students.
Congratulations, Collin!

Pictured left to right: Bernard J. McDonald III, St. Anne’s Board of Director, Dr. Patricia Wardell, Holy Name School Principal, Simone Garant, St. Anne’s Credit Union Board Member and Treasurer, Collin Sardinha, seventh grade student at Holy Name School (Scholarship Recipient), Rev. Jay T. Maddock, Pastor/Holy Name School Director, Collin’s Mother, Nancy Sardinha, and William R. Bouchard, St. Anne’s Chairman of the Board.

Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Carlos DaCunha Appointed to Baker-Polito Administration’s Economic Development Planning Council

5/30/2019

Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito swore in Carlos DaCunha, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at St. Anne’s Credit Union to the Baker-Polito Administration’s Economic Development Planning Council. This Council will provide input on and oversight of an economic development plan that will be presented to Governor Baker by the end of 2019.

“I am proud to be appointed to this Council as it seeks to strengthen the Commonwealth’s economy by strategically engaging stakeholders throughout the state on ways to enhance partnerships with municipalities, education institutions, businesses, and other important community organizations. Since 2015, the Administration has invested $1.5 billion in grants in over 300 communities, aiding in the addition of thousands of jobs and housing across the Commonwealth and I look forward to contributing toward the excellent work that has already been instituted.”

Carlos will play an important collaborative role in the regional engagement sessions across the state to obtain public input in the development of a new economic development plan, and then as a Council member to collectively develop and adopt a written economic development policy that will be presented to Governor Baker and guide economic policy for the Commonwealth over the next four years. He brings over 30 years of financial experience to this diverse Council that is consisted of representation from every region of the Commonwealth, including appointees of the House and Senate, small business owners and leaders from key business sectors and represents individuals in a range of industries from higher education to manufacturing - ensuring benefits from a wide range of perspectives.

In addition to this Council, Carlos is heavily active in the local community, currently holding volunteer positions including Treasurer and Executive Director of the Bristol County Economic Development Consultants, Commissioner of the New Bedford Regional Airport, Steering Committee Member of the New Bedford Waterfront Urban Renewal Plan, Past President and current Director of the Prince Henry Society, Advisor to UMass Dartmouth’s Charlton College of Business, and member of the New Bedford CEO Council.

St. Anne’s Promotes Kerri Rivest to Assistant Vice President of Loan Servicing

4/5/2019

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the promotion of Kerri Rivest to Assistant Vice President of Loan Servicing.

Ms. Rivest has been with St. Anne’s Credit Union since 1999, starting as a Teller and subsequently holding several positions of increasing responsibility within the Loan Servicing and Quality Control departments. Most recently serving as Loan Servicing Manager, she has supported all facets of the Loan Servicing department including management of the Credit Union’s loan assets and daily operations of the department to ensure accuracy and timeliness of processing and unparalleled service to members.

In her new role, Kerri will be responsible for the total quality management of the servicing of all mortgages, commercial and consumer loans, continuously improving upon processes in order to contribute directly to the overall growth, stability and profitability of St. Anne’s.

“We are proud to recognize Kerri’s contributions to our institution’s success with this promotion”, said Eileen M. Danahey, President and CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “We are confident she will be even more effective in her new role as St. Anne’s continues to grow and add value for our members as for 20 years she has continuously demonstrated her commitment to the SouthCoast community, doing her part to help individuals and businesses succeed.”

St. Anne’s promotes jody lauzon to commercial loan officer

4/5/2019 

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the promotion of Jody Lauzon to Commercial Loan Officer. Ms. Lauzon has been with St. Anne’s Credit Union since 2005, most recently serving as Credit Analyst/Portfolio Manager where she facilitated comprehensive credit analysis, collaborating with the Commercial Lending team by providing superior service to the members that receive commercial financing from St. Anne’s Credit Union. In her new role, she will continue to expand the Credit Union’s portfolio of commercial loans, helping borrowers achieve their financial goals by tailoring the Credit Union’s available business product and service suite to the members’ defined strategic objectives.

Ms. Lauzon earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth and has 16 years of experience in the financial services industry, predominantly in commercial lending roles at St. Anne’s Credit Union. Throughout her career at St. Anne’s she has made many advancements, holding the positions of Credit Analyst/Portfolio Manager, Business Loan Specialist, Quality Control Analyst and Member Service Representative preceding this latest promotion.

“We are pleased to expand the Commercial Lending team to keep up with our increasing growth and promote Jody to Commercial Loan Officer. As we continue to place strategic emphasis on providing high-quality services facilitated by seasoned personnel, Jody is well-prepared to take on the additional responsibilities that come with her new position,” said Carlos DaCunha, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “Jody is committed to providing valuable support and service to our members and their businesses while contributing to the Credit Union’s overall success and will continue to help move this organization through our next phase of growth.”

NEW WEBSITE

3/25/2019