New Hampshire Bankers Association Announces 2022 Community Banker of the Year Recipient

 September 15, 2022

At the New Hampshire and Vermont Bankers Annual Conference, NH Bankers announced the “2022 Community Banker of the Year” as Dick Jennings, Managing Director, Mascoma Community Development at Mascoma Bank.

Dick was selected for this prestigious honor by an independent panel, comprised of leading elected officials from the State of New Hampshire. This year’s panel included: Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro), Senator Minority Leader Donna Soucy (D-Manchester) and Chair of the House Commerce Committee, Rep. Hunt (R-Rindge).  

NH Bankers President Kristy Merrill said, “This year’s nominees reflect 170 years of experience in the banking industry and service to nearly 70 professional and community organization boards and committees.  Our nominees are a wonderful representation of the commitment to community service that New Hampshire bankers demonstrate in their work every day.” 

“Dick’s career is a reflection of his values that civic and community engagement go hand-in-hand with what he does every day as a commercial lender, leveraging both public and private resources to benefit an entire community. Dick exemplifies the spirit of the Community Banker of the Year, and we congratulate him and thank him for his service,” said Kristy Merrill.

Highlights from Dick Jennings Career and Service:

  • Served on the Board of Alice Peck Day Hospital in Lebanon
  • Helped found the Upper Valley Housing Coalition to create more affordable workforce housing
  • Served on the Hanover Affordable Housing Commission
  • Dedicated his career to promote and finance affordable housing projects utilizing the public Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program
  • He combined his expertise as a commercial lender and knowledge of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and Historic Tax Credits, to become a regional expert in the extremely complex federal program known as the New Market Tax Credits.
       - Through this program, Dick has been a key player in a number of projects, which have a significant economic impact on our communities by creating jobs that likely would not exist otherwise, redeveloping downtowns, and fostering additional development throughout the state of New Hampshire. Under his leadership, more than $230M in tax credit investing will be completed that would not have otherwise occurred. This includes countless projects in Concord and throughout New Hampshire.
       - Notably, the US Department of Transportation awarded the City of Concord a $5 million grant to redo its Main Street and cited the very projects involving Dick Jennings and his use of the New Market Tax Credits program.

2022 Community Banker of the Year Award Recipient (l) Richard “Dick” Jennings, Managing Director, Mascoma Community Development at Mascoma Bank. Pictured with Dick is (m) Ron Magoon, President and CEO of Franklin Savings Bank and current Chair of NH Bankers Association, and (r) Kristy Merrill, President of NH Bankers Association.

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About the Community Banker of the Year Award
Each year, NH Bankers honors a New Hampshire bank employee who has gone beyond the course of ordinary business to help improve the State of New Hampshire through civic and community engagement.  Recipients are respected industry professionals who have made a significant impact on those around them by inspiring others to become involved in community service.