Success Stories

North Shore Bank is proud to support all that have served our country and we are humbled by the sacrifices they have made on our behalf.

The bank made a $5,000 contribution to Veterans Legal Services (VLS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free legal services to low-income veterans in Massachusetts. This donation will support the organization’s general operating expenses, enabling them to continue their vital work of serving those who have served our nation.

“We deeply value the sacrifices made by our veterans and recognize the importance of supporting organizations like Veterans Legal Services,” said Michael Wheeler, president and chief operating officer of Abington Bank, a division of North Shore Bank. “Their work helps ensure that veterans have access to the legal resources they need to overcome challenges and achieve stability in their lives.”

We like to think that together, we’re “laying the foundation” for area families, one home at a time.

We’re proud to announce a $5,000 donation to South Shore Habitat for Humanity in support of the organization’s efforts to build a home at 26 Poquanticut Avenue in Easton. This contribution reflects the bank’s commitment to fostering strong, vibrant communities by supporting initiatives that provide safe and affordable housing for families in need.

“We are honored to support South Shore Habitat for Humanity and the impactful work they do,” said Kevin M. Tierney, Sr., chief executive officer at Abington Bank, a division of North Shore Bank. “We believe that safe, affordable housing is a fundamental building block for thriving communities, and we’re excited to see how this home will change the lives of the family who will live there.”

Are you looking for a reason to love North Shore Bank? How about $10,000 of them.

That’s how much we contributed to the North Shore Community Development Coalition (NSCD)– a local non-profit that invests in low-income or distressed neighborhoods on the North Shore to improve the quality of life for residents. This contribution supports NSCDC’s ongoing efforts to enhance affordable housing, foster economic development, and strengthen the communities across the North Shore.

Kevin M. Tierney, Sr., chief executive officer at North Shore Bank said, “This donation is part of our commitment to support local organizations that drive positive change and help build stronger communities.”

We’ve always been committed to serving the needs of our community. So, when the YMCA asked for our help, we were happy to support the cause— marking the first installment of a two-year, $50,000 commitment to support the organization’s mission of fostering healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility in the region.

“At North Shore Bank, we believe in investing in the communities we serve,” said Kevin M. Tierney, Sr., North Shore Bank chief executive officer. “The YMCA of the North Shore plays a vital role in enriching lives, building strong families, and creating opportunities for everyone. We are honored to support their efforts and look forward to seeing the positive impact this contribution makes.”

At North Shore Bank, our annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising drive is all about trying to make a difference by raising money for local food pantries that help our neighbors in need gain access to healthy food.

The Neighbors Helping Neighbors appeal is part of the bank’s charitable giving program, The Giving Tree, which reflects the bank’s commitment to making a difference in the neighborhoods it serves. Throughout each November, the bank invites customers, employees, and members of the community to donate at North Shore Bank and Abington Bank branches. All donations received are matched dollar-for-dollar by the bank and the total divided among food pantries in the North Shore, South Shore, and Southern New Hampshire communities the bank serves.

Kevin M. Tierney, Sr., chief executive officer of North Shore Bank said of the program, “We’re pleased to host this appeal and that so much is raised to help families over the holiday season and into the new year.”

Before lifelong Abington resident Shawn P. Cotter became an attorney, he was an advocate for youth education and sports, having served as a teacher at Abington Jr. High School, a coach for girls’ basketball, tennis, soccer, and youth baseball, and a founder of the Abington Education Foundation.

So as Abington Bank President and COO Michael Wheeler sees it, the bank’s sponsorship of the annual basketball tournament in Shawn’s memory is a fitting tribute to the man who was also the former chairman of the board and board member of the North Abington Cooperative Bank, later Abington Bank.

Each February, the tournament is hosted in Abington and features basketball teams from schools across the South Shore and South Coast.

As exclusive sponsor, Abington Bank funds all the team and MVP awards as well as player and fan t-shirts. The bank also funds two scholarships each year in Shawn’s name for Abington High graduating seniors. Since 2010, the bank has provided nearly $80,000 in support through the tournament and scholarships.

“Abington Bank is proud to sponsor this annual event in Shawn’s memory, because it’s a testament to his commitment to the Abington community and to youth education and sports specifically,” says Michael. “It means a lot to have this tournament be part of his legacy.”

“The Envision Bank Home for Veterans stands as a wonderful example of how public-private partnership can have a lasting, positive impact in our community,” says William Parent, former Envision Bank president and CEO and current chief strategy officer for Hometown Financial Group, parent company of Abington Bank, with which Envision merged in 2022. “It’s a testament to what we can accomplish when we work together to make a meaningful difference.”

According to Bill, the home was the brainchild of his predecessor, former Envision Bank President and CEO James P. “Jim” McDonough, and the bank’s former board Chairman Lou Trubiano. In 2017, both men were looking to put the proceeds of the newly formed Envision Bank Charitable Foundation (now the Abington Bank Charitable Foundation) to good use in support of two of its funding priorities: veterans and affordable housing.

In wanting to do something grand, they and former Envision Bank Senior Vice President, Retail Banking & Corporate Marketing Richard Olson turned to Father Bill’s & MainSpring, a local charitable organization recognized as a leading innovator in the fight to end homelessness. The idea? Collaborate on a new housing project that would offer priority placement to vulnerable veterans—funded and financed in large part by the bank and foundation, but with ongoing operations and upkeep managed by Father Bill’s.

The foundation provided a grant of $500,000 toward construction, and the bank donated a portion of its Randolph branch parking lot—valued at $225,000—as the project’s location, offering to finance the rest with a low interest construction loan. Father Bill’s ultimately received another $1.5 million in grants from the Department of Housing and Community Development and MassHousing and raised funds for the remainder of the $2.5 million project—some of it through personal donations by McDonough, Trubiano, and other bank executives.

The home, which opened in 2020, has 10 studio apartments, each 300 square feet with a private bathroom and a kitchenette. The building includes a small common area, communal laundry, an office with two desktop computers, and on-site case management assistance to support residents seeking mental health treatment, job searches, or any other services they may need.

More important than the amenities, though, is what it means to the veterans and their families who call it home and the safety, independence, and support it offers.

“As staunch supporters of veterans’ organizations and causes, Jim and Lou’s foresight in finding a partner like Father Bill’s to align interests is the reason this project came to fruition,” Bill said. “And now, it will leave a lasting legacy.”

Today, as Abington Bank, a division of North Shore Bank, the Randolph office staff are proud to remain connected to the home’s residents, providing financial resources and guidance as well as giving generously of their time and talents to fundraise and offer support, like serving an annual Thanksgiving dinner.

“Those who serve our country are owed a huge debt of gratitude for their contributions,” says Abington Bank President & COO Michael Wheeler. “So, we are happy to continue the legacy started by Envision Bank in supporting our veterans and thanking them for their service.”

Supporting a community takes all of us, doing our part. It’s true in community banking, and it’s especially true when it comes to health care.

“Every community needs an independent hospital that promotes the welfare of the entire population in ensuring access to safe and quality health care,” says Abington Bank President and COO Michael Wheeler. “For us, that’s South Shore Health.”

That’s why Abington Bank continues to be a Presidents’ Circle member of South Shore Health Foundation, joining 130 local corporate leaders in support of the independent, not-for profit, charitable health system and its mission to provide area residents with access to comprehensive health care and well-being resources.

Presidents’ Circle members like Abington Bank band together to provide the necessary funding for South Shore Health to advance technology, improve facilities, and expand programs that enhance patient care and meet the diverse needs of the community.

In the run-up to its 100^th anniversary, the health system raised more than $75 million through its capital campaign, Mission Critical: The Campaign for Our 2^nd Century, including more than $10.5 million from Presidents’ Circle members like Abington Bank, which alone has provided more than $175,000 in total support as a Gold-level member. The campaign’s funds were used for a new state-of-the-art critical care unit, an MRI upgrade and expansion project, renovations to the Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center in clinical affiliation with South Shore Health, and to establish the Grayken Center for Treatment, the cornerstone of the health system’s behavioral health and substance use disorder initiatives.

In addition to its annual Presidents’ Circle donation, the bank recently made a $100,000 grant specifically to support South Shore’s emergency services, which includes the Emergency Department, the Level II Trauma Center, EMS, the Pediatric Emergency Department, the Obstetric Emergency Department, and Mobile Integrated Health.

According to Wheeler, the bank’s support is designed to ensure that South Shore Health has the resources it needs in this continually evolving healthcare landscape to offer the highest quality care to those most immediately in need, especially critical high quality emergency services to the surrounding community.

“Unlocking potential means more to us than fulfilling the need for community banking,” Michael says. “It’s about fulfilling our mission of supporting our customers, our employees, and our communities to tackle the biggest problems we face—together.”