Stephen G. Crowe, to serve on the ABA America’s Community Bankers Council
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| Stephen G. Crowe |
Composed of approximately 100 bankers from all 50 states, the Council meets twice a year to advise the Association on issues affecting the nation’s community banks and their customers. The first meeting of the 2008-2009 Council was held December 3-5 at the historic Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Council members discussed how recent legislation and regulatory proposals have impacted their local communities, including Treasury’s capital purchase program, and fair value and mark-to-market accounting issues. They also weighed in on current economic concerns such as mortgage lending and issues surrounding the government conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In addition, the Council heard reports on the recent Presidential and Congressional election and its impact on banking.
“This is an opportunity to let our voice be heard on national issues that also affect us locally,” Crowe said. “While we may come from many different communities, we share many common challenges.”
Members of the Council are from financial institutions generally under $1 billion in assets and are appointed by the ABA chairman.
Crowe has been in banking for over 27 years. He is a Certified Public Accountant, and originally began his career in public accounting. In 2002, Crowe was instrumental in bringing a multi-bank holding company concept to fruition with the formation of MountainOne Financial Partners, which includes Hoosac Bank; Williamstown Savings Bank; South Coastal Bank; Coakley, Pierpan, Dolan & Collins; and True North. In 2006, MountainOne Financial Partners was featured in Community Banker magazine in an article titled “Innovative Mutual Institutions: Mutual Institutions That Have Reorganized, Made Acquisitions, or Grown in Nontraditional Ways.”
In the community, Crowe serves on the Boards of Directors for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, the Massachusetts Bankers Association, the Savings Bank Life Insurance Company, and COCC, a regional provider of financial technology services. He is also past-Chairman of Northern Berkshire Health Systems. Crowe lives in Williamstown with his wife, Linda, and has two children.
Hoosac Bank, Williamstown Savings Bank, and, South Coastal Bank have combined assets of over $900 million, and offer a full spectrum of retail banking and business banking services, as well as a sophisticated array of online and electronic services. Coakley, Pierpan, Dolan & Collins provides property and liability insurance to families and businesses and True North provides individual investment and financial planning services, as well as comprehensive employee benefits programs for businesses.
MountainOne Financial Partners has customers in 48 out of 50 states, as well as from many foreign countries, and has nearly 200 employees.
