NOTICE OF MERGER

NORTH SHORE BANK, A CO-OPERATIVE BANK, Peabody, Massachusetts (NORTH SHORE BANK) has petitioned the Commissioner of Banks for permission to merge with ABINGTON BANK, Abington, Massachusetts. Under the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, ABINGTON BANK will merge with and into NORTH SHORE BANK under the charter, by-laws, and name of NORTH SHORE BANK. This multi-step transaction also includes the merger of NORTH SHORE BANCORP, the mutual holding company for NORTH SHORE BANK, with and into HOMETOWN FINANCIAL GROUP, MHC, the mutual holding company for ABINGTON BANK. The main office of NORTH SHORE BANK would remain the main office of the continuing institution and the banking offices of ABINGTON BANK would be retained as branch offices of NORTH SHORE BANK.

Any objections or comments relative to this proposal must be communicated in writing to the Commissioner of Banks, 1000 Washington Street, 10th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02118-6400 or via electronic mail to dob.comments@mass.gov no later than June 28, 2024. A public hearing may be held if the response is considered significant or circumstances warrant such a hearing, as determined by the Commissioner. The application and all communications relative to this application are available from the Division by request at dob.rao@mass.gov.

MARY L. GALLAGHER
Commissioner of Banks