HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank, a mutually chartered bank serving Western Mass. 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,” said Amy Roberts, executive vice president and 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.”

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,” said Matthew Bannister, senior vice president of 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.”